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Latitude: 51.6213 / 51°37'16"N
Longitude: -3.947 / 3°56'49"W
OS Eastings: 265307
OS Northings: 193187
OS Grid: SS653931
Mapcode National: GBR WRD.WC
Mapcode Global: VH4K9.JHQY
Plus Code: 9C3RJ3C3+G5
Entry Name: Top Rank Club (formerly Albert Hall)
Listing Date: 30 March 1987
Last Amended: 30 March 1987
Grade: II
Source: Cadw
Source ID: 11573
Building Class: Recreational
Also known as: Albert Hall, Swansea
Top Rank Club
ID on this website: 300011573
Location: Prominently sited on the corner with De La Beche Street.
County: Swansea
Community: Castle (Castell)
Community: Castle
Built-Up Area: Swansea
Traditional County: Glamorgan
Tagged with: Theatre Concert hall Bingo hall
Originally opened 1875 as public assembly and concert hall to designs by Richard Richards of Swansea. Converted to cinema 1921-2, possibly to designs by C T Ruthen. Principal alterations 1935 when new foyer extension, facade and new canopy added. Bingo hall 1977.
Wide asymmetrical 3 storey painted frontage with open pedimented bay to right. Cornice and blocking course, twin columns with acanthus bands, Ionic pilasters to upper tripartite windows (top floor blocked), anthemion bands, fluted pilasters to outer bays. Similar treatment continues to 5-bay left hand section; heavy cill band over banded pilasters to ground floor. Pivot windows and modernised entrance canopy.
Long flank to De La Beche Street (3 3 3 2 bays). Dentil cornice, exposed rubble, keyblocked openings, arched openings to 1st floor (al blocked), cill band above arched ground floor treatment with recessed inner openings and impost bands. twin square-headed, larger openings to rear. Modern metal-clad roof with ventilators.
Interior of auditorium retains an ornamented ceiling with long guilloche panels coffering with central ventilator grilles, swagged frieze, segmental arched ceiling over rear balcony. Cantilevered and bowed gallery fronts with frond and wreath decoration; pilastered treatment under. Main landing has Art Deco frieze etc, good tube handrails to stairs etc.
Dame Adelina Patti appeared at the concert hall here.
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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