87612

 

II  

Designated  

02/07/2010  

02/07/2010  

Seafront Wall  

 

Vale of Glamorgan  

Barry  

 

Barry Island  

311477  

166476  

 

On the seafront of Whitmore Bay enclosing the northern edge of beach  

 

 

Constructed c.1923 as part of the development of Barry Island as a seaside resort. The island had from the beginning of the C19 been used as a seaside resort and from 1897 Lord Windsor of Friars Point House had begun to develop the foreshore of Whitmore Bay with the construction of a Promenade and Pleasure Grounds with the intention of promoting Barry Island as a popular seaside resort. In 1909 he gifted the land between the high watermark of Whitmore Bay and Friars Road to the Barry Urban District Council who then drew up plans for further development of the island primarily as a democratic seaside resort aimed at the working classes of the industrial areas of south Wales. The First World War delayed this from happening but by the early 1920's the Council were able to bring about their improvements and the island quickly became a popular resort with crowds of around 100,000 people visiting on Bank holidays and summer weekends  

Sea wall. Extends for almost the whole width of Whitmore Bay with 6 sets of paired step exits giving access to the beach and two further projecting bays. Low wall in rock faced stone with terminating piers and curved copings. Incorporates two shelters at either end which rise from the face of the wall.  

 

Included for its historic interest as an integral component of the complex of structures constructed during the inter-war period at Barry Island as part of the development of the Island as a seaside resort. Important also for its architectural value as a good example of a well designed and well preserved seafront wall of definite quality and for its group value with the other structures of the inter-war and earlier developments.