Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
H.M.Prison, Main Block (B.Wing)
Castle, Swansea, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Castle, Swansea, designated on 15 April 1985.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Civil
- Date of designation
- 15 April 1985
- Community
- Castle
- Unitary authority
- Swansea
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.61506, -3.94954
- Cadw reference
- 11605
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
Main L-shaped block for men at centre of prison compound and directly north of the gatehouse.
History
Dating from 1861 when the entire prison was rebuilt and enlarged (cost over £30,000), some later additions.
Exterior
Robust Italianate detailing to entrance block. Tall N and W wings with octagonal centre and diagonally-placed entrance block (forming the larger part of star plan). 4 storeys, coursed rubble with freestone dressings to quoins and window surrounds. Corrugated asbestos roofs, with oversailing eaves, massive square stacks with cappings. 8 plus 7 windows facing south to A wing, 3 lowered cills to top floor left, iron grilles to openings with many original cast iron window frames behind. Similar detailing to B wing running north. Tall round arched windows to N and W gable ends. Polygonal centre with brick infill wall on E face (for unbuilt wing?); arched voussoir treatment to advanced centre of S wall, half flying-arch attaches N wing to centre. 2 storey and basement entrance block facing SW. Rubble walls, hipped roof, eaves cornice, slightly advanced frontispiece with round-arched bipartite window with keyblocks to 1st floor, fine cavetto-moulded and rusticated doorpiece and keyblock linked to stringcourse, blind tympanum and lintel over modern double doors, flight of steps orientated south towards gatehouse. Modern extensions flank entrance block with links forward to buildings on left and right.
Interior
Interiors are mostly of painted brickwork with open trussed roofs, ironwork stairs, cantilevered landings with latticework handrails, segmental arched heads to internal openings and doorways. Ironwork-cell doors, metal grilles and screens to ends of wings and corridors etc.
Nearby in the register
- H.M.Prison, Main Block (A.Wing)Civilunder 1 mi
- H.M.Prison, Perimeter WallsCivilunder 1 mi
- H.M.Prison, Gatehouse BuildingCivilunder 1 mi
- Christ Church (Garrison Church of Swansea)Religious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.