Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Top Rank Club (formerly Albert Hall)
Castle, Swansea, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Castle, Swansea, designated on 30 March 1987.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Recreational
- Date of designation
- 30 March 1987
- Community
- Castle
- Unitary authority
- Swansea
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.62134, -3.94706
- Cadw reference
- 11573
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)
- 1865 · England and Wales. England No. 6. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1891 · Sheet 10. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. . (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1897 · 247 Swansea (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
Prominently sited on the corner with De La Beche Street.
History
Originally opened 1875 as public assembly and concert hall to designs by Richard Richards of Swansea. Converted to cinema 1921-2, possibly to designs by C T Ruthen. Principal alterations 1935 when new foyer extension, facade and new canopy added. Bingo hall 1977.
Exterior
Wide asymmetrical 3 storey painted frontage with open pedimented bay to right. Cornice and blocking course, twin columns with acanthus bands, Ionic pilasters to upper tripartite windows (top floor blocked), anthemion bands, fluted pilasters to outer bays. Similar treatment continues to 5-bay left hand section; heavy cill band over banded pilasters to ground floor. Pivot windows and modernised entrance canopy.
Long flank to De La Beche Street (3+3+3+2 bays). Dentil cornice, exposed rubble, keyblocked openings, arched openings to 1st floor (al blocked), cill band above arched ground floor treatment with recessed inner openings and impost bands. twin square-headed, larger openings to rear. Modern metal-clad roof with ventilators.
Interior
Interior of auditorium retains an ornamented ceiling with long guilloche panels coffering with central ventilator grilles, swagged frieze, segmental arched ceiling over rear balcony. Cantilevered and bowed gallery fronts with frond and wreath decoration; pilastered treatment under. Main landing has Art Deco frieze etc, good tube handrails to stairs etc.
Reason for designation
Dame Adelina Patti appeared at the concert hall here.
Nearby in the register
- Mount Pleasant Baptist School BlocksEducationunder 1 mi
- Mount Pleasant Baptist ChurchReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Mount Pleasant Baptist Church HallReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Offices of Community IndustryCommercialunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.