Paradox Nightclub (former Bonded Warehouse)

Cadw's description

Location

Built into the steep bank immediately below the SE side of Castle Square, and facing Slate Quay.

History

Probably mid C19 and built on the site of a former school shown on the 1834 town plan, which was replaced by a National School c1843. The present building was possibly built by 1852, at which time the former school was labelled 'bonded warehouses' on the town plan of that date. It is shown in its present form on the 1888 Ordnance Survey as a bonded warehouse and was the premises of Morgan Lloyd & Son, wine and spirit merchants.

Exterior

A 4-storey 5-window warehouse of coursed rubble stone with slate roof to the front slope and felt-covered roof behind and to the rear projections. The SW-facing front has a central gablet over the loading bay, while the single-storey rear projections are at upper-storey level facing the higher ground of Segontium Terrace. Openings to the front have either tooled stone lintels or flat arches with stone voussoirs. In the lower storey are double central boarded doors under a replaced lintel, flanked by blocked windows under voussoirs. A doorway with double doors is further R, while further L is a narrower doorway, also with double doors and both under lintels. In the second storey are central double doors flanked by shuttered windows each side, under flat arches except for the outer windows which have lintels. In the third storey are 5 shuttered windows under lintels, of which the central has a thinner lintel and brick surround and is probably altered. A further small window in a brick surround has been inserted to the L. The upper storey has 5 barred sash windows under lintels and a pulley block in the central gablet. The central window has a brick surround. An added small paired sash window is to the R beneath the eaves.

Windows in the R gable end are all insertions. The third storey has 2 blocked windows in brick surrounds, while the upper storey has a small-pane sash window L of centre, a 2-pane sash window to the R, also with brick surrounds. In the L gable end are lintels to vented openings in the third storey.

The ground rises steeply at the rear, and the building has single-storey projections facing Segontium Street. These have a raised coped parapet facing the street, with details mostly hidden by an applied glazed tile facing.

Reason for designation

Listed as one of the few well-preserved C19 quayside buildings at Slate Quay and for its contribution to the historic townscape.