Full Report for Listed Buildings
The list description is not intended to be a complete inventory of what is listed: it is principally intended to aid identification. By law, the definition of a listed building includes the entire building (i) and any structure or object that is fixed to the said building and ancillary to it and (ii) any other structure or object that forms part of the land and has done so since before 1 July 1948, and was within the curtilage of the building, and ancillary to it, on the date on which said building was first included in the list, or on 1 January 1969, whichever was later.
Summary Description
Reference Number
10856
Building Number
Grade
II
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
05/11/1980
Date of Amendment
10/01/1991
Name of Property
The Old Courthouse
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Rhondda Cynon Taff
Community
Aberdare East
Town
Locality
Easting
300382
Northing
202611
Street Side
Location
On the corner of a lane that turns back behind Commercial Street. To W of the market.
Description
Broad Class
Civil
Period
History
Dated l9l4; built by George Kenshole, local architect.
Exterior
Edwardian Baroque 2-storey symmetrical Portland stone front. The composition is dominated by paired fluted Ionic columns flanking the central window over which is a crowning bracketed segmental pediment. This continues either side into a deep cornice over the columns; deep entablature. The façade is very slightly stepped forward behind these columns, Greek fret band below. Roundel to pediment with wreathed border and swags. High cornice over central window, short festoons below the brackets and leafy lintel band; small pane stained glass window now with modern outer glazing; volute brackets to base. The apron to this window has the date in Roman numerals. Modern sign below blocks an opening beneath sabre and palm emblem. 3 small blocked emblems to base. Either side are bracket pedimented doorways with lamps and similar deeply recessed overlights; recessed boarded doors.
Long side elevation has stone eaves cornice and lintels, chamfered over the openings; bull nosed rubble chimney stacks. Some l2-pane sash windows, some tripartite to the ends. Doorway at far end, bracket cornice, recessed boarded door and grilled overlight. Coursed rubble gable end and small projection to one side; 2-window front facing the lane - similar detail.
Interior
Internally the staircase rises against the front wall with broad handrail to metal cross pattern balustrade with turned newel. Deep frieze to top at landing with vacant escutcheons foliage trails and festoons of fruit. Egg and dart and bracket cornice and tall doors with architraves. The former Court Room has canted ceiling with rubbed and panelled decorative borders to ventilation roundels. Similar cornice and frieze; classical bracket like projections below each rib. Framed coat of arms over former dais in front of which the frieze continues. Modern alterations, especially to ground floor, in conversion to 'amusement arcade'.
Reason for designation
Group value with Aberdare Market and the New Market Tavern.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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