Temple Court (former Cardiff United Synagogue)

Cadw's description

Location

Set back from the south end of the road behind a boundary wall and hedges.

History

Built 1896-7. Delissa Joseph, architect. The synagogue was closed in 1989 and was converted to office use with a large block added at the rear. The restored building was opened by Peter Hain in 1997 (plaque).

Exterior

Built in a stripped Romanesque style from snecked rubble with freestone dressings, Welsh slated main roofs, leaded domes with finials. Wide one-storey porch, with central entry and flanking vestibules, forward from high gable end of synagogue, with domed apse flanked by domed polygonal towers, aisled nave to rear. Pediment treatment to main gable, moulded cornices with angle brackets over rainwater pipes, continuous arched clerestory with linked hoodmoulds to apse. Porch parapets with cappings (angled over doorway); corner buttresses, 2-light mullioned windows (arched to ground floor). Painted archway of 3 orders to doorway with roll moulded head, scalloped capitals and attached columns, Hebrew inscription to outer archring. Double panelled doors up steps. Tall nave with clerestory windows grouped under arches, gabled aisles with 3-light windows on two levels (round headed under segmental relieving arches to ground floor). Oval oculus to plain gable end, stained glass. Inscription on entrance front reads : 'This Foundation Stone of the Cardiff New Synagogue was laid by Col. Albert Edward W Goldsmid, 41st Regimental District. April 29th 1896 / 5656 Delissa Joseph FRIBA, Architect.' There is now a large late C20 office block attached to the rear of the building.

Interior

Interior not available for inspection at the time of listing (1984), since 1989 this has been converted to offices. Inspected in part at resurvey. The interior has been completely changed and the only original feature seen was the domed apse above the entrance with seven narrow coloured glass lights and panelled plasterwork in the half-dome above.

Reason for designation

Included as a good piece of synagogue architecture designed by a notable architect of the type, which, despite alteration, retains its external character and contributes to the adjacent group of Victorian houses.