David Morgan Department Store

Large department store building in 3 main blocks. Central block(1899), over entrance to Morgan Arcade. Four storeys and attic, Portland stone, bathstone, and red sandstone columns. Attic has 4-window central gable, with dormer to each side. On second and third floors, three bays, the central bay has 2-storey oriels flanking pair of windows; 2 windows to outer bays; 3rd floor windows with sandstone arches, and keystones; 2nd floor windows under red sandstone band, articulated by colonettes. On first floor, 9 arched windows with red sandstone columns. South block; 4 storeys plus attic with dormer windows; Pennant stone with dressings in bathstone and grey sandstone, red sandstone banding; sash glazing. Asymmetrical frontage arranged either side of 5 storey tower. Block to N of tower arranged in 2 bays articulated by banded pilasters, subdivided by colonettes on head corbels; corbelled eaves; 7 windows in all, arched to top floor, camber headed to other floors. Similar treatment to S with block of 5 windows, then 2 blocks eacg with 2 paired windows to upper floors, triple windows to first floor. North block has Portland stone facade of 5 bays, 4 storeys plus attic mansard roof large dormers with small-pane glazing; central splayed section within broken pediment has dome over splayed window. On 2nd and 3rd floors,splayed windows recessed between panelled pilasters, segmental pediments to 2nd floor; to centre, balcony to 3rd floor with black marble columns; window to 2nd floor with black marble columns supporting open pediment. First floor has large arched window to centre, flanked by pairs of round-arched windows with black marble columns. Ground floor unified by 1950s (?) remodelling uniting all 3 blocks and entrance to Morgan Arcade with travertine shopfronts (good bronze windows to N block), large plate glass windows, cantilevered canopy. The ground floor entrance to N block has to each side, pair of Larvikite columns (called in The Building Stones of Cardiff "one of the priceless geological treasures of Cardiff") with bronze Ionic capitals.