20th Century

This gallery explores the impact of war on the county, followed by a period of growing incomes, new technologies and changing tastes. 

From blackouts and rationing to labour‑saving appliances like fridges, washing machines and vacuum cleaners, home life was totally reshaped over several decades. Gadgets like the Kenwood Chef reflected a growing enthusiasm for cooking, decorating and entertaining. New ingredients appeared in kitchens, coffee overtook tea in popularity, and homes became places of greater choice and creativity.

The gallery also captures how leisure, communication and work evolved during these years. Television replaced radio as the main source of entertainment as the century went on, record players filled homes with music, and telephones became an increasingly common feature of daily life. On display are objects that would have felt exciting and familiar at the time, from a 1950s kitchen cupboard and Baby Belling cooker to a policeman’s uniform worn in Carmarthen during the 1960s. 

Moving towards the later decades, early portable televisions, push‑button phones and a Commodore 64 home computer reveal the beginnings of the digital age. Through these well‑loved objects, the 20th Century Gallery tells a personal and local story of change, innovation and everyday life in Carmarthenshire.