Glamorgan Building
Encyclopedia
The Glamorgan Building is situated in Cardiff
's prestigious civic centre in Cathays Park
, on King Edward VII
Avenue
. Formerly the county hall of Glamorgan
, the building was acquired by Cardiff University
in 1997 and is now home to the School of Social Sciences and the School of City and Regional Planning.
The Glamorgan Building is one of the most architecturally-distinguished buildings in the University's care. It was designed by Vincent Harris
OBE (1876–1971) and Thomas Anderson Moodie (1874–1948), who won the design competition for the building in 1909. The project was completed in 1911 and the building was opened in 1912. Outside the building, serving as reminders of the county's source of wealth, are two groups of statues by Albert H. Hodge (1875-1918), one representing navigation and the other coal mining.
Due to the Local Government Act 1929
, which transferred more powers to local authorities, a large extension was built to the rear of the University of Wales Registry to a design by Ivor Jones and Percy Thomas
. This opened in 1932.
The building housed Glamorgan County Council until 1974 and Mid Glamorgan County Council
from 1974 to 1996, and houses the former Council Chamber and Committee Rooms. It was also home to the Glamorgan Record Office from 1939 until the end of 2009, when it relocated to a new, purpose-built office in Leckwith next to the Cardiff City football stadium
, becoming Glamorgan Archives.
Between 1974 and 1996, Cardiff was additionally the administrative headquarters
for South Glamorgan County Council
, but this authority had its own purpose-built county hall
in Atlantic Wharf in Cardiff Bay
, built in 1986/7. This was the first major public building that had been built in the Bay after the proposed creation of the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
.
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
's prestigious civic centre in Cathays Park
Cathays Park
In addition to the large lawn in front of the City Hall, Cathays Park includes three formal gardens. All of the spaces are within conservation areas and many of the surrounding buildings are listed. The open spaces are very important to the image of the city. Several important buildings overlook...
, on King Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
Avenue
Street name
A street name or odonym is an identifying name given to a street. The street name usually forms part of the address...
. Formerly the county hall of Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
, the building was acquired by Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
in 1997 and is now home to the School of Social Sciences and the School of City and Regional Planning.
The Glamorgan Building is one of the most architecturally-distinguished buildings in the University's care. It was designed by Vincent Harris
Vincent Harris
Emanuel Vincent Harris OBE, RA was an English architect who designed several important public buildings.He was born in Devonport, Devon and educated at Kingsbridge Grammar School. He was articled to the Plymouth architect James Harvey in 1893; in 1897 he moved to London where he assisted E. Keynes...
OBE (1876–1971) and Thomas Anderson Moodie (1874–1948), who won the design competition for the building in 1909. The project was completed in 1911 and the building was opened in 1912. Outside the building, serving as reminders of the county's source of wealth, are two groups of statues by Albert H. Hodge (1875-1918), one representing navigation and the other coal mining.
Due to the Local Government Act 1929
Local Government Act 1929
The Local Government Act 1929 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that made changes to the Poor Law and local government in England and Wales....
, which transferred more powers to local authorities, a large extension was built to the rear of the University of Wales Registry to a design by Ivor Jones and Percy Thomas
Percy Thomas
Sir Percy Edward Thomas OBE , was an award-winning British architect based in Wales for the majority of his life. He was twice RIBA president ....
. This opened in 1932.
The building housed Glamorgan County Council until 1974 and Mid Glamorgan County Council
Mid Glamorgan
Mid Glamorgan is a preserved county of Wales. From 1974 until 1996, it was also an administrative county, with a county council.Mid Glamorgan was formed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972...
from 1974 to 1996, and houses the former Council Chamber and Committee Rooms. It was also home to the Glamorgan Record Office from 1939 until the end of 2009, when it relocated to a new, purpose-built office in Leckwith next to the Cardiff City football stadium
New Cardiff City stadium
The Cardiff City Stadium is a 26,828 all-seated sports stadium and concert venue in the Leckwith area of the capital, Cardiff, which is the home of Cardiff City Football Club who previously played at Ninian Park. The stadium is managed by Cardiff City Stadium Ltd., which is owned by Cardiff City...
, becoming Glamorgan Archives.
Between 1974 and 1996, Cardiff was additionally the administrative headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
for South Glamorgan County Council
South Glamorgan
South Glamorgan is a preserved county of Wales.It was originally formed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, as a county council area...
, but this authority had its own purpose-built county hall
County Hall, Cardiff
The County Hall is the head office of Cardiff Council , located beside the disused Bute East Dock in the Atlantic Wharf area of Butetown, Cardiff.-Design and construction:...
in Atlantic Wharf in Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay is the area created by the Cardiff Barrage in South Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The regeneration of Cardiff Bay is now widely regarded as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the United Kingdom. The Bay is supplied by two rivers to form a freshwater lake round the...
, built in 1986/7. This was the first major public building that had been built in the Bay after the proposed creation of the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
The Cardiff Bay Development Corporation was set up by the United Kingdom Government on 3 April 1987 to redevelop of one sixth of the area of Cardiff to create Cardiff Bay.-Objectives:...
.