History

Built as offices for the Taff Vale Railway, and first used in 1843, but southern section apparently an addition of 1860's. Following construction of new offices at Queen St in 1862, the building was let as consulates (and known as 'Consulate Chambers'), but with waiting room and ticket office in southern section. Adapted as station in early C20, following closure of old Cardiff Docks Station, formerly on the E side of the tracks.

Exterior

Stuccoed walls. Hipped slate roof with deeply overhanging eaves. Tall stuccoed chimneys with classicising cornices, northernmost 2 chimneys at right angles to road, others parallel. Bute Street facade in two sections, northern of 3 storeys and 4 bays, articulated by banding and pilaster strips. Second floor has 4 almost square windows set close to eaves, central pair are grouped closer. First floor windows are set deeply with panelled aprons below. Band course at this level continues round building. On ground floor, windows follow line of those above, and have stone sills but northernmost is round headed. To left (N) of this window is round headed doorway with architrave and keystone. Southern section of storey has group of three large tall windows (small pane sashes) with moulded architrave supported on brackets and bracketed cornice above. On ground floor 3 windows grouped together, central window blocked, R window without architrave (apparently blocked doorway). To L of windows, round-headed doorway similar to that at N end of facade. Elevation facing S has two storey semi-hexagonal bay with pierced parapet above. Each face of bay has window on each floor, each surrounded by moulded architrave on small brackets.

To W, elevation somewhat altered and obscured by station canopy (modern) but follows pattern of E facade, omitting large boardroom windows. Station platform with free standing cast iron columns in Italian Renaissance style probably relocated. To N, elevation has doubled pilaster strips at ends, but door and window openings altered for fire escape.

Interior

Ground floor altered for use as Railway Museum.

Reasons for Listing

Graded II* as an exceptionally early surviving example of purpose built railway architecture in Wales.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q17741006

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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