Swansea Guildhall

Guildhall
General information
Location	Swansea, Wales
Address	Swansea SA1 4PE
Coordinates
Construction started	1930
Completed	1934
Inaugurated	23 October 1934
Cost	£300,000
Owner	City and County of Swansea Council
Height	48 metres (clock tower)
Design and construction
Architect	Sir Percy Thomas
Main contractor	Messrs. E Turner & Sons Ltd

The Guildhall is one of the main office buildings of the City and County of Swansea Council, designed by Percy Thomas and opened in 1934.

File:The council chamber in Swansea Guildhall - geograph.org.uk - 1491171.jpg

The council chamber

Before local government re-organisation in 1996 it was the headquarters for the former Swansea City Council. The Guildhall complex comprises the City Hall, Brangwyn Hall (concert hall) and the County Law Courts for Swansea. The Swansea Crown Court is now located in a building immediately opposite the Guildhall.

It was designed by architect Sir Percy Thomas and built on what was once part of Victoria Park. Construction began in 1930 and was completed in 1934, and the building was formally opened on 23 October of that year. At that time it was a somewhat controversial building, being representative of the modern movement in architecture, and was described as having a 'stripped classical' style. The building is finished in white Portland stone, and includes a tall art deco clock-tower, making it a landmark. Part of the clock-tower design features the prow of a Viking longboat, a reminder of Sweyn Forkbeard, thought to be the founder of Swansea.

See also

• Swansea Civic Centre
• City and County of Swansea Council
• Dylan Thomas Centre, which occupies the building that was the former Swansea Guildhall

External links

• Media related to at Wikimedia Commons
• Architectural Gallery: Swansea Architecture
• City & County of Swansea: Architecture of the Guildhall