Post office in Llandeilo

A carte-de-visite showing a shopfront at Llandeilo in Wales. The signage above the door indicates that these are the premises of David William Jones, who in addition to being the town’s postmaster was also the registrar of births, deaths and marriages for the district. He was also a bookseller and stationer, the proprietor of a ‘paper hanging warehouse’ (there’s a sample book of wallpapers hanging up outside the shop just behind the boy on the right), and the stockist of wide array of other goods. The window display includes toy drums and guitars, handbags, baskets, tins of tea and coffee, and — best of all — a display of photographs, which a strong lens reveals to be portraits of Welsh women in traditional costume, no doubt directed at the tourist market. There’s also a larger format portrait of the Prince and Princess of Wales (later Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) at the top of the right-hand window, which dates the image to 1863 (the year they were married) or shortly after.

Born on 15 April 1832 in Llanfynydd, Carmarthenshire, David William Jones was the son of David and Brichard Jones. He married Anne Mary Lewis in 1859 in Llandeilofawr, Carmarthenshire. He died on 27 July 1896 in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, at the age of 64. He left an estate valued at £329.

‘DEATH OF THE POSTMASTER.—Mr D. W. Jones, who for the last 40 years has held the office of postmaster at Llandilo, died on Monday last. He had been in indifferent health for many years, but last November paralysis set in, and this brought on with it other ailments, and from that time to his death he had been a great sufferer. Up to a couple of years ago, he probably held more appointments than any man in Llandilo. From its formation up to last year he had filled the post of Clerk to the School Board, and for as many or more years was clerk to the now defunct Highway Board, a post which he resigned when the new order of things came into force. He was also registrar of births and deaths, insurance and emigration agent. In the way of honorary offices, he held the post of treasurer to the District Auxiliary of the London Missionary Society, dispositary [sic] to the local auxiliary and the British and Foreign Bible Society, and secretary to the English Congregational Church. Recently he had resigned most of these appointments, and at the time of his death only held the postmastership and the registrarship’ (The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter, 31 July 1896).

The shop is still there at 115 Rhosmaen Street in Llandeilo. It is now a gallery called Fountain Fine Art.

Photographer unidentified.