Thursday, February 21, 2019

Montague Burton, the Tailor of Taste, 1937, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire



Llanelli 'boasts' a number of Art Deco buildings, but perhaps boasts is not quite the right word, as the buildings are somewhat or more than somewhat dilapidated. Burton's appears to have only retained the upper part of its facade, but that is at least something, as it is quite tastefully designed. Built in 1937, a foundation stone with an inscription, as well as a very nice copper/bronze (?) air vent are retained at ground level.


For the rest, one has to look upward, and it is worth it, for the beautiful Burton logo in relief, and the tile work. A rare gem amid advanced urban decay.


This building is screaming for cash for restoration, that will likely never come.


Residents of Llanelli mostly just seem to pass by with a downtrodden gaze born of economic depression.


In Llanelli, we are definitely witnessing the passing of an era.