Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Castle Cinema
Castle, Swansea, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Swansea, Castle, designated on 2 August 1984.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Recreational
- Date of designation
- 2 August 1984
- Town
- Swansea
- Community
- Castle
- Unitary authority
- Swansea
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.62079, -3.94111
- Cadw reference
- 11673
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
Adjoining Swansea Castle on the edge of the slope above the Strand where there is a second facade.
History
Built 1912-14. Designed by C S Thomas Meager and Jones, architects of Swansea, for the Andrews family of Cardiff. Damaged by fire 1927 and partly bomb damaged in 1944, interior refitted 1962.
Exterior
Worcester Place front set in slope, classical with Beaux Arts influence. 2 storeys 3 bays, ashlar with giant Doric order treatment, triglyph frieze, heavy cornice, openwork parapet with enriched supports and latticework panels. Brick gable end behind parapet. Elaborately carved cartouche with festoons and wreath to panel over central entrance, side windows with lattice-glazing and festoons. Channelled pilasters to ground floor with recessed swing-doors and fanlights.
Tall Strand Street facade of 3 storeys, brick with freestone dressings to main cornice over 1st floor, channelled quoins, cill bands, keystones etc. Frieze to 2nd floor with gilt "Castle Cinema" inscription, 7 openings to 1st floor with blind arched heads over, large centre doorway and lesser flanking doors to ground floor.
Interior
Interior retains original longitudinal foyer within Worcester Place facade, classical detailing to architraves, cornices and triple entrances to auditorium (centre on blocked by later paybox, and staircases with fine wrought iron brackets to handrails. Classical detailing continues under gallery (now partitioned from main auditorium) mostly original 3 panel doors.
Plain rectangular auditorium with segmental vault (now upholstered) coved cornice, pilasters behind 1960s wall coverings. Original sinuous gallery front with safety bars at circle level, stage end remodelled for wide screen about 1962. Subsidiary rooms below screen end.
Nearby in the register
- Swansea CastleCastleunder 1 mi
- Original Swansea CastleCastleunder 1 mi
- Swansea CastleDefenceunder 1 mi
- Midland BankCommercialunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.