The Flag Ship Building

Cadw's description

Location

Situated high above the E bank of the River Tawe close to the Prince of Wales Dock.

History

Industrial building of late C19 probably begun c1880 as an ice-factory. The 1897 O.S. map shows only the engine-house S of the chimney and the E end of the tall range to N, probably enlarged to its present size soon after. However there is no structural joint between the N and S ranges on the W end. Part of range probably used for cold storage of fish. Altered to a ships chandlery in 1926, when the lean-to on the E front may have been added. In 2003 proposed for retention with J Shed and relocated Norwegian Church in Welsh Development Agency scheme for whole area called Port Tawe Innovation Village.

Exterior

Industrial building, red brick with slate roofs. Two parallel ranges, the taller one to the N, the lower S one also shorter as backing at E onto square base of a brick octagonal chimney. N range has gables each end, that to E obscured by early C20 brick lean-to. The W gables to the river of hard red brick with yellow brick dressings. Coped gable to left of N range and lower stepped coped gable of S range. End of N range has first floor recess with moulded brick head, containing yellow-brick roundel over arched windows with yellow brick heads and impost band. Yellow brick sill course below broken by yellow brick arched head of a small opening at mid-height below. Ground floor has cambered heads to broad entry to left and arch headed window right, both with yellow brick heads and band at impost level. The lower S range has roof with long raised clerestory light along ridge. Similar gable end with continuous brickwork, similar cambered-headed broad entry to centre, the impost band continued from left range, and similar roundel at first floor. Coped gable with apex stepped up (to terminate the clerestory light) on short yellow brick piers on corbels. S side of lower range had a lean-to, removed to expose wall of rough red brick infill between iron posts and beams. Seven bays overall. The chimney to E is on square base with stone cornice. The former engine house parallel to chimney to S has similar detail and clerestory to roof. End walls have stepped gable, S side has rough brick between iron piers in 3 bays. E end has yellow-brick cambered head to broad entry and impost band.
The N side of N range is of rough brick with loading doors in ground floor, upper part set back in panels. Some inserted windows. E end gable obscured by 2-storey added lean-to, roughly built.

Interior

The freezing floor is said to be below the modern floor.

Reason for designation

Included as one of the last surviving C19 industrial buildings in Swansea Docks and said to be the last surviving ice-factory at a dockside in Wales. Of group value with J-Shed opposite.