Swansea New Guildhall

Swansea New Guildhall

This is a major civic complex of generally two storeys, rising to three storeys in the main north-west block, with the ground floor set at semi-basement level and a high parapet throughout. The building is organised around a central courtyard and comprises four blocks: the north-east block containing council suites and surmounted by a tower with the main entrance; the south-east block housing Brangwyn Hall; the south-west block containing law courts; and the north-west block serving as municipal offices. Additional office accommodation occupies the central courtyard.

The exterior is faced in Portland stone over brick and concrete, with yellow brick used to the central courtyard. Windows are of small-pane metal type, and rainwater goods are in lead with decorated hopper heads.

The north-east block is dominated by a tapering central clock tower approximately 48 metres high, featuring an octagonal panelled dome with corner antefixes. The open loggia displays arches with inset pairs of columns supporting an entablature bearing urns, with ship's prows flanked by medallions. A clock is fitted to each face of the tower. The taller centre of the block projects forward, with square panelling to the parapet. The main entrance is set within a giant arch with a coffered soffit, glazed bronze screen and pedimented bronze doorcase. Steps to the entrance are flanked by polygonal bronze lamps. The two-storey wings employ banded rustication to the ground floor, with five windows to each floor. The upper windows have shallow architraves, while the set-back ends contain a further three windows to each floor. The returns feature five windows each, with the centre window emphasised by an architrave and balcony to the upper floor, and a doorframe with medallions to the ground floor.

The south-east block, housing Brangwyn Hall, displays a parapet with roundels depicting the arts. A lower entrance block has a panelled frieze, with steps rising to three deep arches possessing coffered soffits, glazed bronze grilles and panelled bronze doors. Bronze lamps are mounted on the walls to each side of the central arch, and windows with bronze grilles occupy each end. The entrance steps have a podium at each end. A lower block to the left of the entrance contains three windows, and the return to the left has three windows with the centre emphasised by an architrave, balcony to the upper floor, and a doorframe with medallions to the ground floor.

The south-west block comprises the law courts, linked to flanking blocks by flying passages with segmental arches and relief medallions. The parapet displays square panelling and the royal arms to the front. A tall coffered arch forms the central entrance, with a bronze glazed screen and pedimented doorcase with panelled doors. Entrances to public galleries are positioned in the jambs of the arch, with bronze lamps to each side. Four windows flank each side of the arch, while the returns contain ten windows each. Four lunettes above light the courtrooms and assize hall. The rear elevation facing the courtyard features a round arch with an inset Portland stone pedimented doorcase surmounted by a relief of the scales of justice.

The north-west block serves as municipal offices. The return to the right contains three windows, with the centre emphasised by an architrave, balcony to the upper floor, and a doorframe with medallions to the ground floor. The long elevation displays twenty windows (rising to twenty-two on the top floor), with a central coffered arch containing a glazed bronze screen and bronze entrance doorframe with pediment. Above the arch is a low relief of the Swansea arms and the inscription "Municipal Offices". The parapet features roundels depicting council functions. The central courtyard contains later extensions: a 1960s extension in yellow brick housing the city's computer, and a 1970s extension hung from a steel frame erected around the computer building, with walls of banded windows and Portland stone.

The interior of the building represents the finest civic design of its period in Wales, with the formal public areas remaining largely unaltered.

The north-east block entrance foyer rises the full height of the building, faced with stone and featuring a vaulted gilded coffered ceiling and travertine floors with green marble patterning. Bronze gates in Egyptian style flank each side, descending to the lower ground floor and the Rates Hall, which is decorated with plaster roundels of coins minted in Wales. A grand staircase with gilded coffered ceiling and bronze handrails ornamented with Viking ships' prows ascends to the grand corridor, lined with stone doorcases bearing grotesque heads and opening to an Antechamber in Roman Doric style with a coffered barrel-vaulted ceiling. Entrances at the ends lead to a reception room (left) and robing room (right), both featuring arches with inset columns and an entablature bearing urns, with lunettes above.

The Council Chamber is accessed via the lobby and is top-lit, featuring fluted Ionic columns in Australian walnut that, at the time of construction, were the largest ever built at approximately seven metres. The walls are panelled in Australian walnut with ebony banding, and a tapestry frieze above the panelling depicts a Gorsedd procession. Horseshoe benches in Australian walnut provide upholstered seating bearing the Swansea arms. The mayoral seat occupies an enclosure backed by a pedimented screen, with a table and upholstered chairs positioned at the centre of the horseshoe. Public and press benches are located to the rear. Original lighting and gilt bronze fittings incorporating Welsh symbols such as leeks and goats on radiator grilles remain in place.

The Reception Room includes a minstrels' gallery with railings in the form of a musical stave, complete with notes and violin bows. Doric columns flank the main doorway, and classicising doors feature Art Deco-style door furniture. Panelling with cross-banding adorns the walls. The Robing Room contains fitted lockers in walnut panelling. The Grand Corridor features a coffered barrel-vaulted ceiling, travertine and marble flooring, and classicising doorcases displaying heraldic shields of Swansea families. Offices and committee rooms flanking the corridor are fitted with walnut panelling and screens, Art Deco chimneypieces, and original tables and chairs.

The south-east block houses a councillors' library and a corridor leading to George Hall, which displays a coffered ceiling, broad fluted pilasters, a palmette frieze, and reliefs depicting drama through the ages, including Commedia dell'arte, and 16th and 17th century theatre scenes.

George Hall connects via a tunnel-vaulted corridor with Adamesque fanlights to end walls with Brangwyn Hall, a large rectangular concert hall measuring approximately 49 metres by 19 metres by 13.5 metres. The deeply coffered ceiling retains original polygonal bronze and glass light fittings. Broad fluted pilasters and a panelled frieze band run along the walls, with rectangular clerestorey windows providing light. Walls are faced with acoustic tiles simulating Portland stone and include a walnut-panelled dado. The Brangwyn Panels, comprising eighteen paintings of up to 6 metres by 4 metres, depicting nations, peoples, flora and fauna of the British Empire, hang on the walls. A large gilt bronze grille conceals organ pipework behind the deep stage and concert platform. The entrance lobby features a groined vault with relief-decorated tympana to the ends, travertine and marble flooring, and classicising architraves to doors. Two polygonal bronze booths with bronze inner doors are positioned within. A corridor runs along three sides of the hall, with artists' rooms to the rear of the stage.

The south-west block comprises law courts with two aligned courtrooms—one civil and one criminal—which are top-lit and possess simple classicising details, coffered ceilings, panelled friezes, and lunette windows to outer walls. Public galleries occupy the south-west. The Assize Hall displays a coffered barrel-vaulted ceiling with original polygonal bronze and glass light fittings. Two bridges to public galleries are carried on four Greek Doric columns, and a large low-relief lunette depicts early law-giving in Wales. Corridors with offices line the outer walls of the court block.

The north-west block serves as municipal offices with central corridors flanked by offices and simple classical detailing throughout.