History

Cathays Park was purchased in 1898 by the Borough of Cardiff from The Third Marquess of Bute at a cost of £160,000 and developed as a civic centre to a layout by William Harpur, Borough Engineer. Cathays Park was developed over three-quarters of a century to become the finest civic centre in Britain reflecting Cardiff's status as city and eventually taking on a national importance as civic centre of the capital of Wales. A competition for Town Hall (Cardiff became a city only in1905) and Law Courts took place in in 1897; the Law Courts were built between 1901 and 1904 to designs of Lanchester, Stewart and Rickards; details of design by E A Rickards. Attic sculpture by Donald McGill and Paul Montford. Additional courtrooms 1966-1990; refurbishment 1991-95.

Exterior

Two storey quadrangular building in Baroque style, faced with Portland Stone; small pane metal casement glazing. Main entrance faces NE. Nine bay centre has splayed rusticated doorway (with entrances to front and sides) in portico of Roman Doric columns in antis; heraldic shield above door. Portico surmounted by pair of towers with Wrenaissance cupolas with orb and crown finials, paired colonettes to corners; portico at head of wide flight of steps flanked by lampstands surmounted by dragons; at either end and in same plane, 1 bay with giant rusticated pilasters. To north and south of this centre portion, recessed lateral wings, each of 5 bays (rectangular windows on both floors, upper windows with moulded architraves) and at each end projecting pavilions of 1 bay width, windowless, with giant rusticated pilasters and square attic storey. South-east elevation of 11 bays. First floor windows with moulded architraves and aprons and with panelling between windows; ground floor windows round-headed at each end, 2-storey splayed bay flanked by giant rusticated pilasters; centre light of ground floor with rusticated and centre light of first floor flanked by trophies; each bay surmounted by attic storey ornamented with groups of sculpture; western group illustrating "Science and Education" and eastern group illustrating "Commerce and Industry". South West elevation steps down to one storey; advanced centre with doorway with 3 windows to each side; blocks of 8 bays link to end towers. North West elevation has 2 windows at return from front, then archway to central courtyard, and 6 window, 3 storey block, set forward.

Interior

Magnificent interiors in severe Roman style. Most of the principal interiors are unaltered retaining original doors, doorcases, marble fireplaces, oak panelling, moulded ceilings, early electrical light fittings etc. Public areas at front of building all faced in Portland stone. At main entrance lobby, steps divide and rise to transverse 3-bay hall; to rear of entrance wall, relief cartouche borne by putti, druid keystone to doorway. Hall has 3 bays; shallow oval domes on pendentives; lunette windows to front and rear (corridor at lunette level to front). Foliage cornice and foliage capitals to wall-piers. Original brass electroliers sprout from foliage (and also to ceilings of lobbies and corridors). To each ends screen of 2 Ionic columns before entrance to Courts 1 & 2 (formerly Crown Court (N) and Nisi Prius Court (S)) each a mirror image. Oak panelled lobbies; both courtrooms square with high lunette windows, flat enriched ceilings, oak panelling, benches, other fittings; gallery with curved frontal over recessed tiered seating. Corridor to each end of hall. Two former magistrates courts (Courts 7 & 8), top-lit, have moulded panelled walls, wooden dado, doorways with segmental pediments; original seating etc. Other courts refurbished. Robing room at SE corner rises 2 storeys into attic, oval oculi, flat enriched ceiling, painted panelling, marble fireplace. Library at SW corner has W section as robing room, separated from E section by Doric columns and pillars; fitted wooden shelves. Rear entrance hall transverse barrel vault with windows to ends; at right angles, rear stair (iron portcullis to arch) divides at landing (wrought iron balustrade) landing with 4 sets of paired Doric columns, and rises again, similar treatment at barrel-vaulted landing. Offices and corridors with simpler classicising treatment to doors and doorcases etc. Former cells with glazed brick facings converted to interview rooms etc.

Reasons for Listing

Graded I as ambitious building reflecting Cardiff's claims to be a city of international importance by its use of the grand European Baroque style which was also used in London to promote that city's status as capital of an empire. The Law Courts form an essential part of Cardiff's civic centre, the finest in Britain. Group value with other buildings in Cathays Park.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Cardiff Crown Court at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q5038401

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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