On 1st December 1865, Llandrindod Wells was linked to the rail network for the first time

The history of Llandrindod is heavily connected beneficial effects of the local waters and although these would have been known as far back as Roman times, the development of the town only took place after the arrival of the railway in 1865, when it became a fashionable Victorian tourist destination. 

The first attempt at developing the mainly agricultural area was in 1749 when a Mr Grosvenor built a large hotel on the banks of the present lake.  This venture, however, was unsuccessful as the hotel acquired a dubious reputation and closed shortly after 1787.

Then the railway arrived, bringing visitors from London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham and the town took off, with hotels and apartments springing up to cater for the approximated 80,000 visitors that visited the town every year.

The depression that followed the First World War and the popularity of seaside holidays saw a dramatic decline in the number of visitors to the town.  But in recent years, the town has again started to see the visitor numbers increase.  

On 1st December 1835, John Owen, mayor of Newport, cut the first sod as construction began on Newport Docks. 

However, despite its initial success, it soon became apparent that the dock was too small to deal with the rapidly increasing trade and in 1868 work began on the Alexandra Dock, which opened in 1875.  This along with the downturn in trade in the 1920’s led to the Town Dock being closed in October 1930.

On 1st December 1860, an explosion at the Black Vein Colliery at Risca killed more than 140 men and boys as well as 28 pit ponies.  They called this pit, the Death Pit because the methane gas was so bad, causing regular explosions and killing so many.

There is a Memorial Stone to the 50 men & boys who were unclaimed or unidentified on the hillside on the opposite side of the valley, which was donated by Lord Tredegar.   

Today is the feast day of Saint Tudwal

Saint Tudwal - Born c. 528 is said to be a son of Heol Mawr and brought up in Lydstep (nr Tenby), from where he travelled to Ireland to learn the scriptures, before becoming a hermit on what is now called Saint Tudwal's Island East, which is off the Llyn Peninsula.  Later, Tudwal travelled to Brittany and settled in Lan Pabu, where he founded a monastery under the patronage of his cousin, King Deroch of Domnonee.

Tudwal was later made Bishop of Treguier on the insistence of Childebert I, King of the Franks and is considered one of the seven founder saints of Brittany. In iconography, Tudwal is shown as a bishop holding a dragon, now the symbol of Treguier.    

On 1st December 2005, the village of Ystradfellte in the Brecon Beacons was the last in Wales to be connected to mains electricity.

Ystradfellte is chiefly known in Welsh history for being the spot where the Welsh nobleman and rebel leader Llywelyn Bren surrendered at the conclusion of his revolt of 1316. Llywelyn, who gave himself up on the condition that his men be spared, was put to death in 1318 at Cardiff.  The village is popular with tourists for hillwalking or to visit the nearby waterfalls and caves, such as Porth yr Ogof,  the biggest cave entrance in Wales.