Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Old Cross Keys PH
Castle, Swansea, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Swansea, Castle, designated on 23 April 1952.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Commercial
- Date of designation
- 23 April 1952
- Locality
- Swansea
- Community
- Castle
- Unitary authority
- Swansea
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.61934, -3.94193
- Cadw reference
- 11635
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
Formerly in the middle of a long street, now an isolated building in open ground opposite St Mary’s Church.
History
Originally a first floor hall-house of L-shaped plan dating from C14, largely altered in C17. Heavily restored in 1950 and 1959. Possibly formed part of the Hospital of the Blessed St David built by Henry Gower, Bishop of St Davids (foundation deed 1332). Later in the possession of the Herbert family.
Built with main block aligned parallel to St Mary’s Street and with a rear wing to N; the W end of the main block has been curtailed.
Exterior
2 storey frontage with twin 3-storey gables, rubble cills with recessed pointing, modern tiled roofs; tall parapet with low stack to (rebuilt) right gable end, second staff to left. 2 and 3-light moulded, timber mullioned windows with overall dentilled lintels, leaded glazing, moulded cills. Lean-to hood to doorway between gables. Flat roofed extensions in similar style, 2 doorways in angle, facing Princess Way.
2-storey and attic rear gabled wing retains medieval freestone lancets, single with chamfered surround to attic, cusped pair to 1st floor and cusped single light to ground floor. Further flat-roofed extension beyond.
Interior
Interior retains chamfered timber beams with chamfered uprights to bar interiors. Some parts of the early roof structure remain, including two early hall trusses of false arch-base type (or crucks?), the principal rafters shouldered at the centre to take the soffit in a continuous curve, scalloped decoration towards wall heads. Two similar, but simpler, trusses remain in rear wing. Remains of stone chimney-piece etc.
Reason for designation
Group value.
Nearby in the register
- 17 St Mary's StreetDomesticunder 1 mi
- Midland BankCommercialunder 1 mi
- Swansea County Court & OfficesCivilunder 1 mi
- Church of St MaryReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.