Publications
 
We have tried to list as many publications with are about or include information about Llandrindod Wells. Not all are still in print, however there are some really interesting and informative books available from the Llandrindod Wells Tourist Centre (and other good booksellers). We would be most grateful if visitors to the Town or Website would let us know if they are aware of any further publications about or references to the area for inclusion on the website.
Llandrindod Wells
INFORMATION
Visitors
Llandrindod Today
History
Architecture
Publications
 

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In Search of Wales
H. V. Morton (1932)
“It is a Spa set in a garden. Nature has shot up its medicinal waters in a rustic glen, and the municipality has with more than municipal wisdom, improved and cultivated the surroundings. I went to the pump-room in the park and tried a glass of Saline, which I thought pleasant and – just the sort of thing a doctor would offer when there is nothing seriously wrong with you…I was interested in the Spa’s most recent measure, one of the latest and most expensive X-ray outfits in the country. You stand behind a kind of screen, there is a flare of light and those on the other side of the screen can see through your head ort any other part of you.”

Voices of Llandrindod Wells
Compiled by Joel Williams
ISBN 1-903610-001(2001)
Black and white images, approx 60 pages. Anecdotes and reminisces by locals on a range of themes concerning everyday life in the last century in Llandrindod Wells. Should be available through Llandrindod Wells Tourist Board.

Bridging a Century
The Story of the Metropole Hotel 1872-1972
R.C.B. Oliver, B.A.
(1972) Sayce Brothers Printers, Llandrindod Wells
Black and white images, approx 28 pages.

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A Journey to Ye Wells, the Places Adjacent, the Humours of the Company there, etc.
Anonymous (a Shrophire Lawyer) (1744)
While praising the efficiency of the waters, this author poked merciless fun at the Welsh visitors and painted a gloomy picture of the accommodation with which visitors were likely to be provided.

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A Journey to Llandrindod
The Gentleman’s Magazine, October 1748
A very long poem, which was no doubt the result of two local families - the Jones of Trefonnen and Pencerrig and the Hopes of Llandrindod Farm – both of whom would greatly benefit from summer visitors in ever increasing numbers as they owned almost all of the available accommodation and two of the three sources of medicinal waters.

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English Photographic Views of
Llandrindod Wells and Neighbourhood
W. Thomas
Published at The Emporium Warehouse, Llandrindod Wells (1879)
A collection of mounted black and white photographs covering the main thoroughfares and points of interest in and around the town.

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Guide to Llandrindod Wells
J.A. Tuckey
Printer 3 and 7 Swan Passage, Worcester Street, Birmingham (1899)
Black and white images, approx 62 pages. Contains many adverts proclaiming the local services, amenities and shopkeepers wares in Llandrindod Wells. Text covers Accommodation, testimonial extracts from local and national publications of the time extolling the virtues of the medicinal and health properties of the waters and surrounding countryside, the climate, the hospital and convalescent home, the lake, committee, meeting and performance rooms, churches and local train connections (see image which includes fares).

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A Treatise on the three medicinal
mineral Waters of Llandrindod
Diederick Wessel Linden (1756)
A german medical student familiar with the use of continental spa treatments and a well known figure in this area, though by some he was regarded as a figure of fun or a ‘quack’. He came to Llandrindod Wells in 1756 and claimed the waters to be ‘inferior to none of those used elsewhere in Britain or abroad’. His publication with its long list of subscribers contains names ranging from H.R.H. The Dowager Princess of Wales to a modest printer in Fetter Lane. Over 200 members of the aristocracy, gentry, professions and business – so he had some influence on the fringe of the Royal entourage - bringing Llandrindod Wells to notice of a much wider circle than ever before. Linden Walk (south side of Temple Park) is named for him.

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The Holy Wells of Wales
Francis Jones (1984)
This author refers to the Eye Well at the Rock Park, concerning a special ritual to be carried out when seeking a cure for sore eyes. ‘The visitor started to walk to the well, taking a certain number of paces and uttering an incantation in a low voice. The visitor then dipped the fingers of the right hand in the well and applied the water to the right eye, this was repeated with the left. It was forbidden to wipe the eyes after this bathing; if they ‘smarted’ and produced tears this was a good sign.
Around Llandrindod Wells
The Archive Photographs Series
Compiled by Chris Wilson
The Chalford Publishing Company, St Mary’s Mill
Stroud, Gloucestershire GL6 8NX £8.99
ISBN 0 7524 0191 2
(1995)
Black and white images, approx 160 pages. Some lovely and unique scenes of buildings, religious life, people, sport and events of note from the past century.
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Spas and Springs of Wales
Audrey Doughty
Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 12 lard yr Orsaf, Llanrwst, Wales LL26 0EH
(01492) 642031 Fax: 01492) 641502
books@carreg-gwalch.co.uk, www.carreg-gwalch.co.uk
£4.50 ISBN 0 86381 728 9
(2001)
Black and white images, approx 160 pages. Some lovely and unique scenes of buildings, religious life, people, sport and events of note from the past century.

Victorian Architecture of Llandrindod Wells
Radnor District Council,
Department of Planning & Technical Services
(1985)
Black and white images, approx 30 pages. The booklet illustrates Llandrindod’s fine architecture and design. There is no other development is Wales which demonstrates the same valuable characteristics in such an attractive setting and it is unique in its architectural and historic context of the country. Such consideration led to the designation of the central areas of the town as a Conservation Area in December 1982.
The Rock Park, Llandrindod Wells
E. R. Williams
Black and white images, approx 12 pages.
History of the Rock Park
Llandrindod Wells
Bruce Osborne
(1999) New Millennium Spa Heritage Series
£12.99 ISBN 1 873614 06 3
The Millennium Spas Heritage Series provides the modern-day explorer of United Kingdom spas with a detailed insight into what can be seen at a modern resort and how the present evolved from a long and colourful history.
Black and white images, approx 174 pages. Should be available from the Llandrindod Wells Tourist Centre or The Spas Research Fellowship, Tower House, Tower Road, Tadworth KT20 5QY, United Kingdom.
Listings of other publications:

The Therapeutics of Mineral Springs and Climates
I.B. Yeo (1904) Cassel, London

Ye Wells Hotel Visitors Book
Radnorshire County Museum

British Spas and Health Resorts
Federation of Spas, Burrow, London

An Analysis of the Medicinal Waters of Llandrindod
Cox & Sons, London

Llandrindod Wells
Gossiping Guide Series (1903)
Woodall, Minshall & Thomas, Oswestry

Some Early Recollections of Llandrindod Wells
F. Edwards (1992)
Radnorshire Society Transcript

British Health Resorts
British Health Resorts Association
(1990)

British Spas Inland and Seaside Resorts
R. Fortescue Fox (1934)
J & A Churchill, London

Llandrindod Wells
Ward Lock Guide (1909)

South Wales, Llandrindod Wells
Kelly’s Directory (1926)

Spas and Health Resorts of the British Isles
T. D. Luke (1919)
Black, London

Spas That Heal
W.A.R. Thomas (1978)
Adam and Charles Black, London

The Treatment of Wounded and Invalided Soldiers
by Waters and Baths – IV. Great Britain.
W. Edgecombe (1924)
Archs. Med. Hydrol, No. 4, pgs 140-143.
Rheaumatism and the Decline of the Spa
D. Cator (1990)
Medical History, No. 10, pg 130. Wellcome Inst., London.


The Radnorshire Mineral Springs (Parts 1 & II)
Pryse’s Handbook (c.1859)

British Spas and Health Resorts
British Spas Federation (1920)

British Health Resorts, Spa, Seaside, Inland
British Health Resorts Assn (1938)

The Great American Water Cure Craze
H.B Keeble & H.R. Kemble (1967)
Past Times Press, New Jersey (USA). Pg 176

Taking the Cure
E.S. Turner (1967)
Quality Book Club, London.
Pgs 129, 192-292, 245-255.

100 Years of Physiotherapy
The Chartered Soc. Of Physiotherapy (1994)
‘Physiotherapy’, Jan 10, Vol. 90, issue A, pgs 12a-20a

The Political Economics of Spa Resort Development
in the Anglo Saxon Atlantic World and Continental Europe
W. Bacon (1997)
ELRA Congress, Croatia

The Spa in Medical Practice
British Medical Association (BMA) (1951)
Pgs 91-93