A Building with History
14 High Street, Glynneath — circa 1930s
In the heart of the Vale of Neath — a region shaped by anthracite coal, the Vale of Neath Railway and generations of tight-knit valley communities — Leicester House has stood at 14 High Street since the 1930s. By 1935 the building was home to Blodwen M. Jones, Boot & Shoe Dealer, whose large display windows showcased ladies' and girls' clothing alongside sturdy footwear for Glynneath's mining families.
The name "Leicester House" was itself a statement of ambition — a nod to the English East Midlands city that was the heart of British hosiery and footwear manufacturing. The Jones family were woven into community life beyond the shop counter, with ties to the Glynneath Welfare Hall where miners gathered for cinema screenings, concerts and social events.
Over the decades, 14 High Street took on a new identity as a Lloyds Bank branch, then Lloyds TSB, and finally TSB — serving as the financial backbone of the town for half a century. When its doors closed for the last time in February 2021, the building joined a wave of bank closures across the South Wales Valleys, leaving Glynneath without a single branch on its High Street.
Now, we're bringing Leicester House back to life — restoring this heritage building to its original character while creating a new café and bar for the Neath Valley. It's a return to what 14 High Street was always meant to be: a place where the community comes together.