Editing Llantrisant (section)

===Model House===
The first [[workhouse]] in [[Glamorgan]] opened in Llantrisant in May 1784, using a number of adapted cottages on Swan Street and part of the Black Cock pub on Yr Allt,<ref name="Freemen1"/> a road to the south west of the Bull Ring, between the parish church (to the west) and the castle (to the east).

The Union Workhouse was built in 1884 on the Bull Ring – west of where Dr Price's statue stands today and behind the [[Water well|town pump]]. It became known as The Model House, in the rather optimistic belief that its inmates would lead a life of model Christianity. Two pubs, a shop and a cottage were demolished to make way for the expansion of the workhouse.<ref name="Freemen2"/>

The building closed as a workhouse in the early 1900s and first became a boarding house, then an inn and later a general store, called County Stores. They were known as a cornflour and provisions merchant, and a linen and woolen drapers, also selling boots and shoes. The site was bought in the 1950s by 'Planet Gloves', who manufactured gloves there until the late 1960s. The Model House stood empty for many years before being bought by the local authority to convert into a craft and design centre.<ref name="RCT">{{cite web|title=Destination RCT - The Model House|url=http://www.destinationrct.co.uk/1054/the-model-house|access-date=30 August 2008|publisher=Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC|year=2008|work=RCTCBC|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725040938/http://www.destinationrct.co.uk/1054/the-model-house|archive-date=25 July 2008}}</ref>

In 1989 the Model House re-opened as a craft and design centre. A registered charity, Model House was funded by the [[Arts Council of Wales]]<ref name="ACW">{{cite web|title=The Arts Council of Wales 2006/07 Budget |url=http://www.artswales.org.uk/viewnews.asp?id=499 |access-date=30 August 2008 |publisher=The Arts Council of Wales |date=1 March 2006 |work=The Arts Council of Wales |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927044959/http://www.artswales.org.uk/viewnews.asp?id=499 |archive-date=September 27, 2006 }}</ref> since the demise of the [[Arts Council of Great Britain]] in 1994, receiving about 35,000 visitors a year.<ref name="Vale Life">{{cite web|title=Exhibitions at the Model House Llantrisant|url=http://www.valelife.co.uk/aut_07/whaton/model.htm|access-date=30 August 2008|publisher=Vale Life|date=2007–2008|work=Vale Life|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513151334/http://www.valelife.co.uk/aut_07/whaton/model.htm|archive-date=13 May 2008}}</ref> The ground floor contains galleries that include glass, ceramics and designer jewellery from established British and Welsh artists, as well as a local painter. The upper floors have workshops that are used by individual craftspeople, whose work can be purchased either from their studio or from the ground floor shop.<ref name="Model House">{{cite web|title=Model House|url=http://modelhousecraft.co.uk/index.php?page=about-us|access-date=30 August 2008|publisher=The Model House|year=2008|archive-date=30 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830034648/http://modelhousecraft.co.uk/index.php?page=about-us|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
The Model House has a programme of art and crafts exhibitions throughout the year and hosts a varied series of workshops, where adults and children may learn the basics of a wide range of contemporary craft skills.<ref name="Model House 2">{{cite web|title=Model House exhibitions|url=http://modelhousecraft.co.uk/index.php?page=exhibitions|access-date=30 August 2008|publisher=The Model House|year=2008|work=The Model House|archive-date=30 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830034700/http://modelhousecraft.co.uk/index.php?page=exhibitions|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

The centre closed in December 2009 after the company which ran it, Model House Ltd, went into liquidation.  The management of the building was taken over by [[Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council]], who after tackling structural problems with the roof and outer walls reopened the centre in mid 2010.<ref name ="Model House In Llantrisant To Reopen">{{cite news |title=Model House In Llantrisant To Reopen|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/8528817.stm|access-date=23 February 2010 |publisher=BBC|date=23 February 2010}}</ref>