Pierhead Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pierhead Building |
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Adeilad y Pierhead
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| 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 |
| Inaugurated | 1897 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Frame |
The Pierhead Building (called Adeilad y Pierhead in Welsh) is a famous old building in Cardiff Bay, Wales. It was built in 1897. It used to be the main office for a company called the Bute Dock Company.
Today, the Pierhead Building is part of the Senedd estate. The Senedd is the Welsh Parliament. The building also has a clock that many people call the "Baby Big Ben" or the "Big Ben of Wales."
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The Pierhead Building was finished in 1897. It was designed by an English architect named William Frame. This new building replaced the old Bute Dock Company office, which burned down in 1892. William Frame learned a lot from his teacher, William Burges. They both worked on famous places like Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch.
The Bute Dock Company changed its name in 1897. It became the Cardiff Railway Company. You can see their special symbol on the building. It has a saying in Welsh: "Wrth ddŵr a thân" which means "by water and fire." This saying shows how steam power, made from water and fire, helped Wales grow.
In 1947, the building became the main office for the Port of Cardiff.
The Famous Clock
The clock mechanism from 1897 was made by William Potts & Sons. It was later taken out and replaced with an electronic one. In 1973, the old clock was sold to a collector in America.
Luckily, the clock came back to Cardiff in 2005. In 2011, it was fixed up by Smith of Derby Group. Now, it is a cool piece of art in Cardiff city centre.
Building Style and Details
The Pierhead Building has a special look. It mixes French-Gothic and Renaissance styles. You can see cool details like hexagonal chimneys and carved decorations. It also has gargoyles and a very fancy clock tower.
The outside of the building is made of shiny glazed terracotta blocks. These blocks were made by J. C. Edwards & Co. in Acrefair, near Ruabon. This company was known for making some of the best terracotta in the world. All these features, plus its important role in Cardiff's history, make it a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historic building.
Open to Visitors
In May 2010, the building opened again. It was called "The Assembly at the Pierhead." It became a place for visitors and students to learn about the National Assembly for Wales.
On March 1, 2010, it opened again as a Welsh history museum and exhibition. Inside, you can watch films and see exhibits about Welsh history. It also has spaces where people can talk about what happens in the nearby Senedd building.
What You Can See Inside
Some of the cool things on display include:
- The original compass stand from Robert Falcon Scott's ship, the Terra Nova.
- The Pennal Letter, a letter sent by Owain Glyndŵr, a Prince of Wales, in 1406.
- A special show about Welsh heroes. These are people who helped shape Wales's culture and politics. They include former prime minister David Lloyd George, fashion designer Laura Ashley, and rugby player Ray Gravell.
The films and exhibits also tell the story of Cardiff Bay. They show how exporting iron ore and coal made Cardiff one of the busiest ports in the world. They explain how railways, starting in 1841, made transport much faster. Goods could travel in an hour what used to take a month by canal. You can also learn how Cardiff Bay faced tough times when coal demand dropped. But it was later rebuilt and became a lively place again.
Gallery
Views of the Pierhead Building
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See also
In Spanish: Pierhead Building para niños
