Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Thespian House at Theatre Royal
Town, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Town, Merthyr Tydfil, designated on 22 August 1975.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Domestic
- Date of designation
- 22 August 1975
- Community
- Town
- Unitary authority
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.75094, -3.37559
- Cadw reference
- 11465
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1637 · The fourth table of England. Cornub. Devonia, Somerset etc. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV. Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. b. Frstenthum Wales: Shire: 37-40 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1895 · Sheet 11. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1898 · 231 Merthyr Tydfil (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
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.
Nearby in the register
- Theatre RoyalRecreationalunder 1 mi
- FlooksCommercialunder 1 mi
- Guard Rail & Steps at Merthyr Tydfil War MemorialCommemorativeunder 1 mi
- Merthyr Tydfil War MemorialCommemorativeunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.