Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Temple of Peace & Health
Castle, Cardiff, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Institutional
- Date of designation
- 19 May 1975
- Community
- Castle
- Unitary authority
- Cardiff
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.48732, -3.18322
- Cadw reference
- 13740
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
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Location
To R of Bute Building, facing Welsh Office building.
History
1937-8; by Sir Percy Thomas. A building of classical proportions but with indirect reference only to details of classical orders, rather in the manner of public buildings in Germany and Italy in the 1930s. Conceived by Lord Davies of Llandinam to promote peace and health as memorial to fallen in Great War.
Exterior
Portland stone ashlar, pantiled roofs. Entrance (NE) elevation has high centre block flanked by 2-storey wings. Centre has portico with 4 square pillars supporting slab entablature with roundels and flat modillion cornice. Tall bronze window frames (central frame runs down as doorframe). To either side, 6 bay wing with hipped tiled roof with ridge lower than parapet of centre block; projecting cornice; tall rectangular windows to ground and first floors; much shallower windows to basement (small-pane metal casements). Behind centre, at right angle, hall.
Interior
Lobby and vestibule with coloured marble floor and facings. Temple-like hall with fluted piers of black Italian marble, veined with gold; coffered ceiling painted green and gold; tall side windows line narrow aisles. Small vaulted chapel in crypt below.
Reason for designation
Listed as striking building by South Wales' leading architect of C20, a rare example of this style in Wales. Group value with other listed buildings in Cathays Park.
Nearby in the register
- Redwood Building (formerly Welsh College of Advanced Technology), Cardiff UniversityEducationunder 1 mi
- Bute BuildingEducationunder 1 mi
- Cathays Park Welsh Government Offices (Crown Buildings)Civilunder 1 mi
- Colonnade and gateways at S end of Queen Anne SquareGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.