Parc Howard Museum

Parc Howard
Bryn-y-caerau
General information
Status	Open, museum and civic park
Architectural style	Italianate
Town or city	Llanelli
Country	Wales
Coordinates	51.6894°N 4.1600°W / 51.6894; -4.1600
Construction started	1882
Opened	1886
Renovated	1912
Client	John Buckley
Owner	Carmarthenshire County Council
Design and construction
Architect(s)	James Buckley-Wilson
Other information
Parking	Yes

Parc Howard Museum & Art Gallery is an 18th century Italianate architecture country house converted into a museum and 24 acres (9.7 ha) civic park, located north of the town centre of Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, Wales.

History

The lands originally were home to a far older property, Bryn-y-caerau. In 1559, St Albans lawyer Alban Stepney married into the family of Richard Davies, Bishop of St David's. On 31 December 1561 the bishop appointed him receiver-general of the diocese of St David's, and he also served as its registrar. From this point he and his descedents buit up the Welsh branch of the Stepney family, and their associated estate.

By the early 1800's the property was the home of Mr R.T. Howell, a business man and Harbour Commissioner. After his death, in 1853 Sir John Stepney, 8th baronet Prendergast, agreed a 99-year lease of the property and its associated lands to the Buckley brewing family. After his death in 1857, he left the Stanley estate to his nephew Sir John Cowell-Stepney (1791–1877), a noted soldier and politician.

Under the lease, the property became home to James Buckley (1838-95) and his family, who commissioned his cousin James Buckley-Wilson, the grandson of the Revd James Buckley, to design a new large scale addition to the house. However, still wanting more space and to express his money and influence, James Buckley recommissioned his cousin in 1882 to undertake a more extensive reconstruction to create the present Italiante style mock-castle in Bath stone, known on opening in 1886 as Brynycaerau Castle.

Originally orientated south-west, Buckley-Wilson reorientated the entrance to the south-east to over look the earlier structures grounds, and the surrounding countryside towards the River Loughor estuary, and onwards towards the sea. He added a central three arched porte cochère (carriage porch) to accommodate the new drive, and the two small symmetrical supporting side extensions have projecting bays. All except the rear elevation are symmetrical, achieved by extending the northwest wing and reconfiguring the out buildings; on all the corners the quoins stand proud. There are square headed windows on the ground floor, and arched windows above. The house is topped by a low pitched slate roof to give a castle-like feel on approach, behind ballustraded parapets with urn finials. There is also a tall belvedere tower rising at the rear. Remodelling the gardens, behind the house sat a kitchen garden with 8 metres (26 ft) pergola and associated small orchard, with access to glasshouses, stables and coachhouse beyond (now converted to council offices and storage). The lodge that was to the south-east of the house has now been demolished. Buckley-Wilson was so proud of the finished structure, that it formed part of his application to be admitted as a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

In 1909, after the death of Sir Arthur Cowell-Stepney in Yuma, Arizona, his daughter Katherine Meriel Cowell-Stepney inherited the Stepney estate and Parc Howard. After she became the second wife of the noted Liberal politician Sir Stafford Howard in 1911, Sir Stafford agreed to buy-out the Buckley family from their residual lease for £7,750, with the intention to sell the property and its freehold to Llanelli Urban Council for civic use. However, the property was in need of extensive renovation and modernisation, and the council budget could not stretch to both purchase and renovation. In January 1912, the parties agreed a 999-year lease, on the conditions that:

1. The estate to be laid out by a competent gardener as a people’s park
2. The house to be converted into a local museum or otherwise used for the benefit or enjoyment of the public
3. The whole to be kept in order in order for the purpose to which it is devoted
4. No intoxicating liquor to be sold on any part of the house or councils grounds
5. The rent to be £5 per annum and the work to be completed (so) that the park can be opened to the public on 21 September, 1912

These were scoped to allow the property to be opened on the couple's first anniversary, and secondly that Sir Stafford had a belief that local authorities were inclined to be somewhat slow, and this was a way of enforcing progress. As the 1912 Miners strike was in progress by March, cheap labour was extensively available to complete the project in time at a budget of £4,500. As agreed the park was opened on 21 September 1912 by Lady Howard on her first wedding anniversary, and included a bandstand and tennis courts.

During the 1930s, the Council acquired 5 acres (2.0 ha) of additional land to the north-east, extending today to where Parc Howard Avenue lies. A new entrance was made from Felin Foel Road, and the perimeter path suitably extended.

During both World War I and World War II, the property was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers. In 1915 the mansion was converted into a hospital for wounded soldiers, with 40 soldiers occupying five wards, and being attended to by 18 Red Cross nurses. The hospital remained in operation post the end of hostilities until 1921, when it was let to the War Pensions Committee for a further three years to allow for disabled rehabilitation.

In 1965, Llanelli Borough Council bougth the house and 32 acres (13 ha) of surrounding grounds from the Stepney estate for £350,000.

Present

The site on Felinfoel Road (A476) is now managed by Carmarthenshire County Council. To the front is a small grassed terrace, while to north-east the informal lawn covers 5.2 acres (2.1 ha). There is a pond to the south of the lawn, and a sunken garden to its west. To the west of the house are the bowling greens and tennis courts, with a adjacent children's play area. On the western side of the site, a Gorsedd Circle marks the area where druids celebrate the Gorsedd ceremony to mark the National Eisteddfod, which was held in Llanelli in 1962.

After being threatened with closure by the council in 2011, local people formed the Parc Howard Association to ensure that the house remained opened and available for its specific donated purpose.

Collection & exhibits

Parc Howard Museum and Art Gallery is best known for its large and representative collection of the locally-made Llanelly Pottery (1839 - 1920). It also houses paintings, portraits and other art works and displays artifacts relating to the local area, its history and culture. There is a cafe attached to the eastern end of the main house.

Haunting

Many people who have visited or stayed at the house have reported hearing a knocking sound coming from the walls at the back of the property. Although extensively investigated over the years by the councils workmen and surveyors, nothig has yet been foud to explain the noise.

A search of the title deeds and land records later suggested that Bryn-y-caerau may have been the site of an ancient burial ground. Further, locals suggest that during the time of James Buckley, the lover of one of the kitchen maids hid in the extensive chimney system to avoid being caught by the children's the governess. After he got lost, it is assumed that the tapping comes from the since long dead sole. During both World War I and World War II, the property was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers, some of whom have said since to have been seen waving from now blocked-off windows.

External links

• Parc Howard Museum & Art Gallery - Parc Howard Museum & Art Gallery official page
• Parc Howard Association
• Exhibits from Parc Howard Museum on Gathering the Jewels