Creativity
Connecting Community
a building with a history,
a Café, a music venue,
a community space.
a space to create. To commune. To connect.
Our mission
Communities thrive when they have the means to create and retain connection – Connection to people, to a sense of purpose, and to place. And what better means of connection than through creativity?
Whether enjoying music, learning a new skill, or expanding your culinary horizons, The Lost Arc’s purpose is to facilitate connection, creative expression, and community.
A right bunch of lovelies
want to work with us?
Whether it’s taking delight in feeding our neighbours, welcoming people to our events, keeping music lovers hydrated (and happy!), or helping manage a local community event, we’re often looking for staff and always welcome volunteers. If any of that sounds up your street, please get in touch!
a potted history of the lost arc
Rhayader Castle has a Mill on the site. Both are long gone.
1177
A new weir & weir race were built to supply the newly built wooden mill.
1803
Castle Leatherworks is built, as a 3 story building. A leat of water is channelled underneath the building to power machinery
1830
The building is taken over by Henry Batten of Church Street, to undertake leather dressing – but sadly, by now, the tanning boom was over.
1899
Purchased for £1650 by Mr Edward Pryce from D.T.M Hope-Edwards of Glanserth. The second floor is let to the Home Guard.
1906
In December, Fire destroys the top floors of the building. These are later rebuilt by the new owner, Edward Morgan, in it’s present form – the top floor being removed, and the ground floor raised about 5 feet.
1911
Cinematography comes to the Castle Cinema – “Kings of the Forest” is the first feature film.
1913
The hall continues as a cinema, whilst also being used for Whist drives, dances & concerts, run by Maisie Morgan (“Morgan the Organ”) up to 1957. Local legend states that people travelled from as far away as Builth, and the queue often stretched into the high street. The acoustics were apparently “superb” and the atmosphere “lively”
1914
The “D” Squadron Montgomery Yeomanry install a shooting range alongside the auditorium. The hall continues to be used as a drill hall.
1924
The hall is let to an engineering company “Compact Orbital Gears” who move to larger premises in 1980.
1958
Shirley Walton (neé Morgan) – who lived there when she was born – takes ownership of the property & is responsible for it up to 2013 with her husband, Bill Walton.
1973
We’ve found receipts dating from September 1975 for “J&B Supermarket”, with the address on the receipts as “The Old Castle Cinema”
1975
The property is taken over by “Mace”, operating as a supermarket & off-licence, run by John “the Mace” and his son Nigel the butcher
1996
Paul & Glenda purchase the Lost Arc, with some big dreams and lots of energy for the future!
2014
What’s coming next? Find out soon….