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
13200
Building Number
Grade
II*
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
05/12/1963
Date of Amendment
16/09/1999
Name of Property
The Town Hall
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Vale of Glamorgan
Community
Cowbridge with Llanblethian
Town
Locality
Cowbridge
Easting
299568
Northing
174653
Street Side
N
Location
Prominently sited near the E end of High Street, with rear elevations to Town Hall Square.
Description
Broad Class
Civil
Period
History
1806-30. Built as the Glamorganshire House of Correction. When superseded by Swansea Prison 1829, the building became the Town Hall of Cowbridge, allowing demolition the old Guild Hall, in the centre of the High Street. The building incorporates some of the cells of the former gaol ; restored and enlarged in 1895 and renovated in 1974.
Exterior
Two storey front wing with five bay front elevation faced with ashlar with slate hipped roof and plain eaves. Centre three bays break forward slightly with three tall semi-circular recesses enclosing round-headed windows with glazing bars, left hand flanking bay with single tall window, right hand flanking bay with sash window with radiating tracery above and below and centre bay with short sash window above central panelled doors in square-headed opening with pedimented doorcase. Each end bay with circular window with tracery to upper level above plain round-headed door opening with blocked tympanum and panelled doors.
Loftier rear block at right angles, with square ashlar clock tower with pilasters and fluted frieze to front end, the tower surmounted by a square bellcote with cupola and crowning weathervane. Front clock face with the following inscription below: "This clock was presented to the Town by/The Right Rev Edward Coplestone DD Bishop of Llandaff/1836". Late C19 lean-to wings against long elevations of this higher rear wing have elliptical arched windows (former doorways). Also, lower rear gabled cross wings the SW cross wing with an inscription relating to restoration and enlargement of 1895.
Interior
Reason for designation
Graded II* as fine early C19 town hall on key site in conservation area.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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