Pierhead Building

Grade I listed building in Cardiff, Wales

Pierhead Building

Adeilad y Pierhead

General information
Architectural style| French Gothic Renaissance
Location| Cardiff, Wales
Town or city| Cardiff
Country| Wales
Coordinates| 51°27′49″N 3°09′48″W﻿ / ﻿51.463539°N 3.163389°W﻿ / 51.463539; -3.163389
Inaugurated| 1897
Design and construction
Architect(s)| William Frame
Website
pierhead.org

The Pierhead Building (Welsh: Adeilad y Pierhead) is a Grade I listed building in Cardiff Bay, Wales. It was built in 1897 as the headquarters for the Bute Dock Company.

The Pierhead Building is part of the estate of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament; Welsh: Senedd Cymru), which also includes the Senedd building and Tŷ Hywel.[1] The clock on the building is unofficially known as the "Baby Big Ben"[2] or the "Big Ben of Wales".[3]

## History

[edit]

The old clock mechanism in St Mary Street

The building was built in 1897 and designed by the English architect[4] William Frame. It was a replacement for the headquarters of the Bute Dock Company which burnt down in 1892. Frame's mentor was William Burges, with whom he worked on the rebuilding of Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch[3] until Burges's death in 1881.

The Bute Dock Company was renamed the Cardiff Railway Company in 1897. A coat of arms on the building's façade bears the company's motto "Wrth ddŵr a thân" ("by water and fire"), encapsulating the elements creating the steam power which transformed Wales.

The building became the administrative office for the Port of Cardiff in 1947.

The 1897 clock mechanism, by William Potts & Sons of Leeds, was removed and replaced with an electronic motor, and auctioned off by British Rail and sold to an American collector in 1973. It was returned to Cardiff in 2005 and in 2011 was restored by Smith of Derby Group[5] and installed as a piece of contemporary art created by the artist Marianne Forrest in Cardiff city centre.[6]

## Architecture

[edit]

Incorporating a French-Gothic Renaissance theme, the Pierhead boasts details such as hexagonal chimneys, carved friezes, gargoyles, and a highly ornamental and distinctive clock tower. Its exterior is finished in glazed terracotta blocks supplied at the end of the 19th century by J. C. Edwards & Co. of Acrefair, near Ruabon in Wrexham County Borough; they were once described as one of the most successful producers of terracotta in the world.[3] These features, along with the Pierhead's role in the development of the docks, Cardiff and industrial Wales, earned it the status of a Grade I listed building.

## Re-opening

[edit]

The 2010 re-opening of the Pierhead Building by Dafydd Elis-Thomas, then the Presiding Officer of the National Assembly

The building was re-opened in May 2010 as "The Assembly at the Pierhead", a visitor and education centre for the National Assembly for Wales.[7] The exhibition provided visitors with information on the Assembly.[8]

On 1 March 2010 the building re-opened again to the public as a Welsh history museum and exhibition.[3] It contains a number of films and exhibits exploring Welsh history as well as spaces for use as venues for public debate and Senedd-sponsored events, where people can express their views about what takes place in the nearby Senedd building itself.

Artefacts on display include the original binnacle (the stand housing the ship's compass) from Robert Falcon Scott's ship the Terra Nova, and the Pennal Letter sent by Owain Glyndŵr, Prince of Wales, to Charles VI of France in 1406. Another feature is an audio-visual display of Welsh heroes who have made significant contributions to Wales's cultural and political identity, such as the former prime minister David Lloyd George, the fashion designer Laura Ashley and the late rugby player and broadcaster Ray Gravell.

Films and exhibits explore the history of Cardiff Bay from the Neolithic era onwards and show how iron ore and coal exports made Cardiff one of the busiest ports in the world. They describe the impact of the coming of railways from 1841, which meant that goods could be transported as far in an hour as they would have been in a month using the canal system. They also illustrate how, following the crisis of a steep drop in demand for coal in the 1920s, and its decline as a port for container ships from the 1950s, Cardiff Bay entered a difficult period, ending with its regeneration at the century's close.[3]

## Gallery

[edit]

Views of the Pierhead Building

* Western façade

* Detail of a terracotta panel

* Detail of a terracotta gargoyle in the form of a dragon

* Northern (rear) façade

* Detail of the front entrance

* Detail of the side entrance on the western façade

* Terracotta panels on the southern façade

* Overhead view

* The Senedd building to the right and the Wales Millennium Centre in the background

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Annual Report and Statement of Accounts of the Assembly Commission: 2007–08". National Assembly for Wales. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
2. ^ "'Baby Big Ben' clock part returns". BBC News. 27 July 2005. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
3. ^ a b c d e "Historic Pierhead building in Cardiff re-opens". BBC News. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
4. ^ "The Pierhead Building, Cardiff Bay, William Frame (1848–1906)". Victorianweb.org. 9 March 2010. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
5. ^ Historic Pierhead clock back in Cardiff Archived 2012-04-27 at the Wayback Machine, Smith of Derby website. 22 November 2011.
6. ^ Simon Gaskell Pierhead clock mechanism returns to Cardiff, South Wales Echo, 4 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
7. ^ "Key Events in the Development of the National Assembly for Wales". National Assembly for Wales. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
8. ^ "Assembly visitor centre unveiled for the first time". National Assembly for Wales. Retrieved 4 May 2009.[permanent dead link]

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* The Pierhead on the Pierhead Sessions website
* Media related to Pierhead Building at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Landmarks and visitor attractions in Cardiff

Tallest buildings|

1. Bridge Street Exchange
2. Capital Tower
3. Stadium House
4. Zenith
5. HM Government Offices
6. Altolusso
7. Tŷ Pont Haearn
8. Meridian Gate
9. Tŷ Admiral
10. Holland House

Landmarks|

* Alliance
* Animal Wall
* Cardiff Central Library
* Cardiff Central Station
* Cardiff City Stadium
* Cardiff International Sports Stadium
* Central Market
* Ianto's Shrine
* Llandaff Cathedral
* Millennium Stadium
* Pierhead Building
* Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
* St David's Hall
* St David's Hotel
* St John the Baptist Church
* Senedd building
* Sophia Gardens
* Temple of Peace
* The Old Library
* Wales Millennium Centre
* Welsh National War Memorial

Visitor attractions|

* National Museum Cardiff
* St Fagans National Museum of History
* Bute Park
* Cardiff Castle
* Castell Coch
* Cathays Park
* Cardiff Bay
* Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve
* Cardiff Centenary Walk
* Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral
* Bute Park
* Cardiff International Sports Village
* Cardiff Story Museum
* Flat Holm
* Insole Court
* Roath Park
* Mermaid Quay
* Museum of the Welsh Soldier
* Norwegian Church
* Red Dragon Centre
* Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
* Techniquest
* Victoria Park

* v
* t
* e

Culture and recreation in Cardiff

Performing arts|

* Cardiff Singer of the World
* Welsh Singers Competition
* BBC National Orchestra of Wales
* Welsh National Opera
* Wales Millennium Centre
* Motorpoint Arena Cardiff
* St David's Hall
* Cardiff City Hall
* New Theatre
* Sherman Theatre
* Chapter Arts Centre
* Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
* National Youth Orchestra of Wales
* Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra
* Nofit State Circus

Music venues and acts|

* Music of Cardiff
* Tramshed
* Clwb Ifor Bach
* Spillers Records
* Cardiff University Students' Union
* Bute Park
* Catatonia
* The Automatic
* Jem
* Funeral for a Friend
* Lostprophets
* Bullet for My Valentine
* Stereophonics
* Manic Street Preachers
* Super Furry Animals
* Kids in Glass Houses
* Los Campesinos!
* Mclusky
* We're No Heroes
* The Hot Puppies
* The Oppressed
* Budgie
* Shakin' Stevens
* Charlotte Church
* Shirley Bassey
* Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
* Only Men Aloud!
* Under the Driftwood Tree
* Underworld
* Young Marble Giants

Festivals and concerts|

* Cardiff Big Weekend
* Cardiff Film Festival
* Cardiff Comedy Festival
* Cardiff Design Festival
* Sŵn
* National Eisteddfod
* Urdd Eisteddfod
* Iris Prize
* Party in the Park
* Tsunami Relief Cardiff
* Michael Forever – The Tribute Concert
* Welcome to Wales
* Armed Forces Day
* Millennium Stadium concerts
* Cardiff Arms Park concerts
* Sparks in the Park
* Tafwyl

Museums and galleries|

* National Museum Cardiff
* St Fagans National Museum of History
* Museum of the Welsh Soldier
* Chapter Arts Centre
* Norwegian Church Arts Centre
* The Gate
* Doctor Who Exhibition Centre
* Pierhead Building
* Techniquest
* Cardiff Story

Entertainment and dining|

* Red Dragon Centre
* Mermaid Quay
* Millennium Plaza
* The Glee Club
* Eastside
* Café Quarter

Recreation|

* Cardiff Central Library
* Libraries in Cardiff
* Leisure centres in Cardiff
* Bute Park
* Roath Park
* Victoria Park
* Roald Dahl Plass
* Llandaff Fields
* Thompson's Park
* Llanishen Reservoir

Shopping|

* Arcades
* St David's
* Queens Arcade
* Capitol Centre
* Central Market
* Castle Quarter
* The Hayes
* Howells
* Mermaid Quay
* Retail Parks

* v
* t
* e

Museums and art galleries in Wales

List of museums in Wales

Amgueddfa Cymru –
Museum Wales|

| Current museums|

* National Museum Cardiff
* St Fagans National Museum of History
* Big Pit National Coal Museum
* National Wool Museum
* National Roman Legion Museum
* National Slate Museum
* National Waterfront Museum

|

Former museums|

* Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum
* Turner House Gallery

Natural history|

* National Museum Cardiff
* Swansea Museum
* Tenby Museum and Art Gallery
* Newport Museum and Art Gallery

Ancient history|

* Roman Baths Museum

Galleries and art|

* Dylan Thomas Boathouse
* Dylan Thomas Centre
* Glynn Vivian Art Gallery
* Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre
* MOMA, Wales
* Mostyn
* Oriel Ynys Môn
* Turner House Gallery
* Tŷ Pawb

Industry|

* Bersham Ironworks
* Blaenavon Ironworks
* Cefn Coed Colliery Museum
* Internal Fire – Museum of Power
* Kidwelly Industrial Museum
* Llechwedd Slate Caverns
* Pierhead Building
* South Wales Miners' Museum
* Sygun Copper Mine

Military|

* Caernarfon Airworld Aviation Museum
* South Wales Aviation Museum
* Monmouth Museum
* Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh
* Museum of the Welsh Soldier

Local history|

* Abergavenny Museum
* Cardiff Story Museum
* Carmarthenshire County Museum
* Ceredigion Museum
* Chepstow Museum
* Haverfordwest Town Museum
* Judge's Lodging, Presteigne
* Lampeter Museum
* Llancaiach Fawr
* Menai Heritage Bridges Exhibition
* Milford Haven Museum
* National Coracle Centre
* Newport Museum
* Parc Howard Museum
* Pontypool Museum
* Scolton Manor
* Swansea Museum
* Tenby Museum and Art Gallery
* Wrexham County Borough Museum
* Y Gaer

Bus and motoring|

* Llangollen Motor Museum
* Pembrokeshire Motor Museum
* Pendine Museum of Speed

Railways|

* Borth railway museum
* Conwy Valley Railway Museum
* Narrow Gauge Railway Museum
* Penrhyn Castle Railway Museum

Maritime|

* Holyhead Maritime Museum

Other|

* National Cycle Museum
* Welsh Sports Hall of Fame
* Football Museum for Wales
* Proposed National Contemporary Art Gallery

* v
* t
* e

Government buildings in Wales

Devolved
institutions|

| Senedd estate|

* Senedd building
* Pierhead Building
* Tŷ Hywel

|

Welsh Government
buildings|

* Crown Buildings

UK Government
buildings|

* Eastgate House
* Tŷ William Morgan

Local
government|

| Principal council
buildings|

* County Hall, Cardiff
* County Hall, Carmarthen
* County Hall, Ruthin
* County Hall, Mold
* County Hall, Haverfordwest
* County Hall, Llandrindod Wells
* Council Offices, Caernarfon
* Swansea Civic Centre
* Swansea Guildhall
* Newport Civic Centre
* Pontypool Town Hall
* Wrexham Guildhall

|

Community council
buildings|

* Abergavenny Town Hall
* Beaumaris Town Hall
* Brecon Guildhall
* Caerwys Town Hall
* Conwy Guildhall
* Cowbridge Town Hall
* Denbigh Town Hall
* Fishguard Town Hall
* Flint Town Hall
* Grosmont Town Hall
* Holyhead Town Hall
* Laugharne Town Hall
* Llandudno Town Hall
* Llangollen Town Hall
* Llanidloes Town Hall
* Llantwit Major Town Hall
* Milford Haven Town Hall
* Mold Town Hall
* Old Town Hall, Criccieth
* Old Town Hall, Llandrindod Wells
* Pembroke Town Hall
* Sessions House, Usk
* St Davids City Hall
* Talgarth Town Hall
* Welshpool Town Hall

Former government
buildings|

* Aberystwyth Town Hall
* Assembly Rooms, Presteigne
* Old Market Hall, Blaenau Ffestiniog
* Bala Town Hall
* Bangor Town Hall
* Barry Council Office and Library
* City Hall, Cardiff
* Cardiff Town Hall
* Cardigan Guildhall
* Carmarthen Guildhall
* Cawdor Hall
* Cheese Market, Hay-on-Wye
* County Hall, Aberaeron
* County Hall, Caernarfon
* County Hall, Cwmbran
* County Hall, Dolgellau
* Crickhowell Market Hall
* Dylan Thomas Centre
* Glamorgan Building
* Holywell Town Hall
* Kenfig Town Hall
* Kidwelly Town Hall
* Lampeter Town Hall
* Llandovery Town Hall
* Llandrindod Wells Library
* Llanelli Town Hall
* Llangefni Town Hall
* Llantrisant Guildhall
* Maesteg Town Hall
* Merthyr Tydfil Town Hall
* Montgomery Town Hall
* Mountain Ash Town Hall
* Municipal Offices, Blaenavon
* Narberth Town Hall
* Neath Town Hall
* Neuadd Dwyfor
* Neuadd Maldwyn
* Old Town Hall, Loughor
* Old Town Hall, Usk
* Rhyl Town Hall
* Ruthin Town Hall
* Shire Hall, Llangefni
* Shire Hall, Haverfordwest
* Shire Hall, Monmouth
* Shire Hall, Newport
* Shire Hall, Presteigne
* St Clears Town Hall
* Swyddfa'r Sir
* Tenby Town Hall
* Tredegar Town Hall
* Tremadog Town Hall
* Y Gaer

* List of city and town halls in Wales

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Israel
* United States

Geographic|

* Structurae

51°27′49″N 3°09′48″W﻿ / ﻿51.463526°N 3.163412°W﻿ / 51.463526; -3.163412
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template