About LCH

The SarastoneOn January 11th 1941 the Llanelli Star carried the following headline ‘LLANELLY SHIP CRIPPLES U-BOAT'. Gallant Exploit on High Seas’…. Wartime censorship prevented the full story being told, however the story of that bold Llanelli ship is now known. The Sarastone was a 2,472 ton Welsh ‘collier’ with a crew of twenty two. She was built in 1929 and was owned by Stone & Rolfe of Llanelli, and was captained by John Herbert from Swansea. The Sarastone had been worked hard during the pre-war years and had become prone to engine problems. 01/52

 

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Launched on St David's Day 2004, the society's main aim is to consolidate the work of local historians in preserving historic buildings and structures and to promote the community's rich heritage. Through its work the society also aims to enhance community awareness and identity and encourage civic pride by bringing history to the local communities as well as promoting lifelong learning, recreation, leisure and tourism.  Since its inception it has succeeded in setting up interpretive panels at Old Castle, Furnace Village, Felinfoel Village, the former Llanelli Grammar School site, Llanelly Pottery, Seaside, Bwlch Y Gwynt, Dafen and at Bryntirion. In addition the society has also erected more than 40 blue plaques commemorating famous buildings such as the Royalty Theatre and Capel Adulam, and celebrities such as the actress Rachel Roberts, the artist James Dickinson Innes, and events as the Rebecca Riots and the Railway Strike of 1911.

The society supplements this work by producing framed interpretive panel proofs, DVDs, leaflets and booklets for use by schools, local organisations and individuals, holding lectures and social evenings and producing early history models which are on display at Llanelli's Parc Howard Museum.

The society of dedicated volunteers celebrated its achievements in September 2006 by holding the first open top bus tour of the area covering the sites of the interpretive panels and the blue plaques.  This work is by no means complete and the residents will see more panels and blue plaques in the near future.

Llanelli Community Heritage is grateful to the people who have sponsored the blue plaques and to organisations such as Communities First, Awards for All Wales, Antur Teifi, Cronfa 1 Fund, Carmarthenshire County Council, Llanelli Town Council Cadw and Llanelli Rural Council.