Full Report for Listed Buildings
Summary Description of a Listed Buildings
Date of Designation
22/08/1975
Date of Amendment
13/01/1988
Name of Property
Thespian House at Theatre Royal
Unitary Authority
Merthyr Tydfil
Location
Massive rendered brick frontage set into the slope opposite Penydarren Park. Lower block attached on right.
History
1891. By T C Wakeling, architect of Merthyr.
Exterior
2-storey and attic, 5-bay classical front with modified parapets over centre (pediment removed), lean-to flanking parapets. Centre 3-bay cornice over small vents, THEATRE ROYAL panel below. First-floor sash windows, outer round-headed, inner with lion-mask brackets to cornices; central oculus over broken segmental pediment with urn finial and scrolled brackets. Ground-floor arched openings linked by impost and hood-mouldings, recessed doors up steps. Modern canopied entrance (replacing arched openings) to left. Bulky rear elevation with corrugated-iron fly-tower above wide slate roof.
Attached downhill to right is Thespian House, a 2-storey rendered block set back with a splayed bay further right. Continuous plain parapet (formerly crenellated), architraves with keyblocks to (boarded) windows, string-course over ground-floor links to theatre. Arched ground-floor openings also linked with segmental carriage arch on left, double boarded doors.
Interior
Fine auditorium completely rebuilt in later 1920s with a large balcony inserted. Splendid sunburst ceiling rose (1890s?) over stalls; Art Deco borders, rosettes etc. Art Deco proscenium with ramped and stepped surround, Royal Arms to centre, splayed crestings. Side walls with linked low-relief panels with stepped detailing, acanthus and anthemion cornices over. Organ pipes to niches flanking stage. Recessed coffering over gallery with convex, cantilevered front, Art Deco embellishments. Polygonal, pendant light-fittings.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]