Builth Wells sits in the Welsh (upper) section of the Wye Valley, where the Rivers Wye and Irfon meet. It is in the county of Powys within the historic boundaries of Brecknockshire and Mid Wales.

Builth Wells Today

Builth Wells is well known nationally as the location of the Royal Welsh Showground, home to the Royal Welsh Show (although the showground is actually over the River Wye in Llanelwedd, Radnorshire). The high school is also the 2nd best performing state secondary school in Powys after Llanidloes High School. Builth Wells is home to local rugby union team Builth Wells RFC also known as 'The Bulls'. The town also has a cricket pitch, 4 tennis courts, a football pitch, a sports centre with 2 squash courts, and a 25m swimming pool. Many of the guest houses, hotels and pubs still remain from its time as a Spa town, making it a welcoming place for people to visit.

Builth Wells has the distinction of having one of the very few post boxes in the United Kingdom bearing the cypher of King Edward VIII, the uncrowned king whose abdication in 1936 caused a constitutional crisis.

Builth Wells Early History

The origin of the town dates from Norman times with the construction of the timber motte and bailey castle by Philip de Braose. Sadly the fabric of the castle no longer exists, and only the site remains.

A town grew up under the shadow of the castle, and gradually grew in importance and size, so much so, that in 1277 it became a borough town and was granted a royal charter by Edward 1.

In the 1350's, it is almost certain that Builth experienced the Great Plague - The Black Death. Local folklore says that when the plague ravaged the townspeople, the country folk surrounding Builth left food and provisions for them on the banks of a brook to the west of the town. In return, Builth's inhabitants threw money into the brook to pay for the goods in an attempt to prevent the spread of the plague. As a result, the brook became known as 'Nant Yr Arian' or 'The Money Brook' a name which remains today.

Builth Wells later history

Builth grew as a traditional Welsh market town, and later a spa. Modern Builth dates largely from Victorian and Edwardian times, when the health springs were discovered, and without doubt this lead to increased development of the town. The first recorded mention of the mineral waters at Builth was as far back as 1740. It was not until the 1830's that the Park Wells with its saline, and the Glanne Wells with its sulphur were well known.

During the second half of the nineteenth century large numbers of visitors came to Builth to 'take the Waters' and a plethora of hotels, guesthouses and shops were built to accommodate them. This process was helped during the 1860's by the arrival of the railways, allowing visitors to travel to Builth with ease, from all over Wales and England. It is from this time that the word 'Wells' was added to the name Builth.