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
11354
Building Number
Grade
II
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
22/02/1989
Date of Amendment
17/02/1998
Name of Property
The Old Police Station
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Bridgend
Community
Porthcawl
Town
Porthcawl
Locality
Porthcawl
Easting
281740
Northing
176766
Street Side
W
Location
In the town centre on the main shopping street.
Description
Broad Class
Civil
Period
History
Built by John Prichard, Llandaff Diocesan Architect and designer of many public buildings in the area. Comprised Police Station, gaol, Superintendent's house with prisoners' yard to rear. Land conveyed by Mary Brogden, wife of James Brogden major founder and developer of Porthcawl, 1881 (but Buildings of Wales gives a building date of 1877). Remained in use until 1973. Now houses museum and other local organisations.
Exterior
Tudorbethan style. 2 storey gabled 6 bay front. Of rock faced stone, coursed to left and snecked to right with ashlar dressings; slate roof, terracotta ridge tiles and massive blue brick chimney stacks with octagonal flues, paired to left and 6 grouped to right with weathercoursing. Mullioned sash windows to first floor, mostly two-light, casement windows to ground floor with mullions and transoms, one cross frame, otherwise 3-light, all with relieving arches. Narrow attic openings to gables, paired to right. 3 bay former Police Station to left has central shouldered doorway beside sash window with lintel with original lettering; to left is a single storey bay with high parapet and cornice; 3-light window to front and similar shouldered doorway to side. To right is the former Superintendent's house (now the Porthcawl Museum and Art Society); visually separated from the Police Station by a deeply recessed pointed arched entrance of 2 orders with spur bases; strapwork hinges to boarded door; 3-light windows to both floors of the gabled bay at right end. Cross range to right and lean-to; bonded in rubble wall to front with broad shouldered gated entrance; gables to rear of Police Station; similar chimney stacks to outbuilding in rear yard.
Interior
No access to interior as closed for refurbishment (March 1997). Gaol reported to be largely intact with whitewashed brick corridor and 3 cells with small pane windows all with round arched brick vaulted ceilings, boarded and studded doors; exercise yard.
Reason for designation
Included as a well preserved civic building by John Prichard in the centre of the town; group value with Public Conveniences adjacent.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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