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
11673
Building Number
Grade
II
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
02/08/1984
Date of Amendment
30/03/1987
Name of Property
Castle Cinema
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Swansea
Community
Castle
Town
Locality
Swansea
Easting
265717
Northing
193115
Street Side
Location
Adjoining Swansea Castle on the edge of the slope above the Strand where there is a second facade.
Description
Broad Class
Recreational
Period
History
Built 1912-14. Designed by C S Thomas Meager and Jones, architects of Swansea, for the Andrews family of Cardiff. Damaged by fire 1927 and partly bomb damaged in 1944, interior refitted 1962.
Exterior
Worcester Place front set in slope, classical with Beaux Arts influence. 2 storeys 3 bays, ashlar with giant Doric order treatment, triglyph frieze, heavy cornice, openwork parapet with enriched supports and latticework panels. Brick gable end behind parapet. Elaborately carved cartouche with festoons and wreath to panel over central entrance, side windows with lattice-glazing and festoons. Channelled pilasters to ground floor with recessed swing-doors and fanlights.
Tall Strand Street facade of 3 storeys, brick with freestone dressings to main cornice over 1st floor, channelled quoins, cill bands, keystones etc. Frieze to 2nd floor with gilt "Castle Cinema" inscription, 7 openings to 1st floor with blind arched heads over, large centre doorway and lesser flanking doors to ground floor.
Interior
Interior retains original longitudinal foyer within Worcester Place facade, classical detailing to architraves, cornices and triple entrances to auditorium (centre on blocked by later paybox, and staircases with fine wrought iron brackets to handrails. Classical detailing continues under gallery (now partitioned from main auditorium) mostly original 3 panel doors.
Plain rectangular auditorium with segmental vault (now upholstered) coved cornice, pilasters behind 1960s wall coverings. Original sinuous gallery front with safety bars at circle level, stage end remodelled for wide screen about 1962. Subsidiary rooms below screen end.
Reason for designation
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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