Shire Hall, Newport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shire Hall |
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Shire Hall, Newport
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| Location | Newport |
| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | William Tanner |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Designated | 9 October 1998 |
| Reference no. | 20528 |
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The Shire Hall (which is Neuadd y Sir, Casnewydd in Welsh) is an important public building in Newport, a city in south Wales. It is a special building because it is a Grade II listed building, meaning it's protected for its history and design.
Contents
The Shire Hall's Story
Why the Shire Hall Was Built
Back in 1888, a new law called the Local Government Act 1888 was passed. This law created "county councils" in every county. These councils were groups of people who helped run local areas. The county of Monmouthshire needed a place for its new council to meet. They chose a piece of open land in Newport for their new building.
Designing a Grand Building
The building was designed by William Tanner, who was the county's main architect. It opened in 1902 and was first called the "County Council Offices." The original building had two floors and a balanced, fancy design. It faced a street called Pentonville.
The front of the building had five sections, with the ones at each end sticking out a little. The middle section also stuck out and had a special entrance with a curved top part, called a pediment. On the first floor, there was a window with three parts. Above that, a triangular part of the roof, called a gable, held a round circle. Inside the circle, it said: "Monmouthshire County Council 1889."
Cadw, which is the Welsh government's historic environment service, has called the Shire Hall an "impressively-designed Edwardian civic building." This means it's a beautiful public building from the time of King Edward VII.
Changes Over Time
In 1913, the Shire Hall got bigger. An extra section was added to the right side, and three more sections were added to the left. They also added another floor to the top of the whole building. The Queen's Chambers, which were rooms on the right side, were also updated and given an extra floor. Later, a special eight-sided room for council meetings was built at the back.
The Monmouthshire County Council used the Shire Hall for their meetings until 1974. That year, the county council system changed, and the old council was no longer in charge.
A New Purpose for the Hall
After the council left, the building was used as offices by the local council until 1978. Then, it stayed empty for many years, until 2012.
In 2013, a businessman named Jahan Abedi bought the Shire Hall. He was known from a TV show called "Secret Millionaire." He had plans to turn the building into 11 one-bedroom and 7 two-bedroom apartments. He also planned for a reception area and a place to store bicycles.
Mr. Abedi faced some challenges with paperwork to get permission for his plans. However, he eventually got help from Finance Wales to pay for the work. The project was finished in 2014, and the historic Shire Hall became a home for many people.
