Masonic Temple

Cadw's description

Location

Opposite Bridge Street.

History

Formerly United Methodist Free Church of 1863-4. Architects: Hartland and Son of Cardiff (who also designed Tabernacl Chapel, The Hayes). Purchased by Freemasons in 1893 and converted for their use in 1895 with the conversion of the main chapel into the Duke of Connaught Temple. Further extended in the 1920s when the wing to the rear containing the Edgar Rutter Temple was constructed and the adjoining cottages along Guildford Street (now 4-5, 6 & 7) were incorporated into the Temple complex. Further altered and refitted in the 1970s, including the creation of the Lord Swansea Temple to the area behind the Grand Temple.

Exterior

Bath Stone facade with round-arched openings with keystones and order of Doric pilasters; cornice and parapet with inscription "MASONIC TEMPLE", hipped slate roof. Three bays with, to centre, triple arch window over blocked doorway; to each side, tall arched window.

Interior

Main entrance to side of former chapel, long passage leads to hall with Ionic columns and cantilevered staircase with wrought-iron balustrade with symbolic roundels. Building contains 3 temples: The main temple is the Grand or Duke of Connaught Temple in the body of the old chapel; lofty coved ceiling, moulded architraves to blocked windows; wooden panelling to lower walls, with stepped platforms for seats. At far end (W), chapel gallery remains; panelled frontal, organ (installed 1906 replacing earlier organ). The Small or Lord Swansea Temple, accessed by an ante-room from the main hall, lies behind the main temple within the main chapel building. The New or Edgar Rutter Temple is accessed from the opposite corner of the hall. First floor contains 3 dining rooms, Dining Room 1 over the Lord Swansea Temple retains large decorative cupola and stage area, further dining rooms over the Edgar Rutter Temple (No 2) and central (No 3).

Reason for designation

The special architectural interest of the building largely relates to the original block, where a striking mid C19 chapel by one of the best of Cardiff's C19 chapel architects was converted to a Masonic Temple in the late C19, and retains high quality detail. The subsequent development of the site as a Masonic Temple is also of special historic interest.