Llandrindod Wells (Welsh: Llandrindod), known locally as "Llandod", is a town in mid Wales. It grew as a spa town in the 19th century, when it became very popular with visitors after the town was linked to the railway network. This partly survived the Beeching railway cuts of the 1960s (although the line to Cardiff was lost) and the town's station now lies on the Heart of Wales line which runs from Swansea to Shrewsbury.
During the 1970s the mid-Wales area was popular with hippies many of whom settled permanently in the area. In Llandrindod a hippy wholefood shop and cafe was established. At the time this was viewed with curiosity and even suspicion by local residents, some of whom wondered about the unfamiliar herbs sold in the shop. The shop's practice of asking customers to return paper bags for re-use was also unfamiliar. In time, however, the shop became established and is now an accepted part of the local community, as well a being a successful business wholesaling to other outlets around Wales.
While Llandrindod was already the capital of the county of Radnorshire, the reorganisation of local government in 1974 resulted in Llandrindod becoming the capital of the newly-formed administrative county of Powys, which led to an influx of people employed by the new organisation. Most of these were paid salaries determined by national pay scales which, with the relatively low cost of living in the area, resulted in a boom in the town's economy as the newcomers spent their money on housing and entertainment.
In recent years the economy has flagged, with the town's carpet and stationery factories now closed, and many shops likewise. As in many such areas there are now many charity shops occupying the premises once used by for-profit enterprises. An open-air market is held once a week which brings many visitors into the town, but whether this benefits local businesses is debatable.
The architecture of the town includes many buildings in ornate styles dating from the boom period of the Victorian and Edwardian eras including the Metropole and the Glen Usk hotels, the Albert Hall theatre and former county hall building adjacent to it. There is a striking Art Deco building known as the Automobile Palace which, as the name suggests, was originally a garage. This was notable for a collection of antique bicycles owned by the proprietor, Tom Norton, which were displayed suspended from the ceilings in the building. Although no longer run as a garage the building has in recent years been renovated and is home to several small businesses and the National Cycle Exhibition, featuring some of the bicycles originally displayed in the garage. Pritchard's garage is also of architectural interest (and also no longer run as a garage).
Llandrindod has no pubs, but is far from teetotal, having 14 hotels with public bars. Cafes and restaurants have come and gone over the years. The biggest hotel in town is The Metropole with 120 bedrooms of 3 star standard, an indoor swimming pool and leisure centre, and an AA rosette for the food in the restaurant. The hotel's swimming pool used to be open-air and was open to the public (it was the only one in the town) but a public pool is available now at the sports centre adjacent to the local comprehensive school.
The town used to have two cinemas: the striking Grand Pavilion, which is now a conference centre; the other in now vacant premises on Middleton Street beneath the town clock. There is a local theatre, the Albert Hall, which is used by the thriving local amateur dramatic society and also hosts a widely respected annual Drama Festival. The town has an 18-hole golf club featuring more challenging topology than many clubs offer.
There is a large man-made lake which is popular for fishing and model boating, and which has recently acquired a striking sculpture featuring a water serpent and leaping carp, all spouting water. These scales of these sculptures are thousands of copper plates initialled by local people and visitors whilst the sculptures were being built. A distinctive tree-trunk sculpture known as the Llandoddy one of a tribe of ancient water keepers also stands beside the lake.
The drama festival, in May, attracts theatrical groups from all over the British Isles and achieves high standards of performances.
The annual Victorian Week at the end of August brings many visitors to the town. Many locals dress in Victorian, Edwardian or other antique costumes, and many of the town's shops and other high-street businesses dress their windows or otherwise join in the spirit of the event. The festival typically offers open-air and street theatre and music, a fairground, craft fair, historical re-enactment, and exhibitions of things old-time.
The town is twinned with Contrexéville in France and Bad Rappenau in Germany.
 Trains: Llandrindod Wells is on the Heart of Wales Line
 Theatre: Albert Hall |
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