Temple of Peace, Cardiff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Temple of Peace and Health |
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| Location | Cathays Park, Cardiff |
| Built | 1937–38 |
| Architect | Sir Percy Thomas |
| Architectural style(s) | 1930s German/Italian public building style; Art Deco |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: Temple of Peace & Health | |
| Designated | 19 May 1975 |
| Reference no. | 13740 |
The Temple of Peace and Health is a special building in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. It's also known as the Temple of Peace. This building was designed by a famous architect named Sir Percy Thomas. Since it was built, it has been a home for groups that work on health and international issues. It's a place where people come together to make the world a better and healthier place.
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What is the Temple of Peace?
The Temple of Peace and Health is a public building in Cathays Park, a beautiful area in Cardiff. It's not a religious building, but a place for everyone. It was created to help people and promote peace around the world.
Spaces for Meetings and Events
The building has different rooms for meetings and events.
- The Marble Hall is a large room that can hold up to 200 people.
- The Council Chamber is a wood-paneled room for about 50 people.
- There's also a smaller meeting room for up to 20 people.
The Temple is easy to get to, with parking nearby and a train station called Cathays railway station within walking distance.
The Temple's Story
The idea for the Temple of Peace and Health came from a man named David Davies, 1st Baron Davies. He wanted the building to do two main things.
Helping Health and Peace
First, it was a home for the King Edward VII Welsh National Memorial Association. This group worked to prevent and treat a serious illness called tuberculosis. Lord Davies started this group in 1910.
Second, Lord Davies also helped start the Welsh National Council of the League of Nations Union. This group worked for peace between countries. In 1934, he gave a lot of money, about £58,000, to build the Temple.
A Memorial for Peace
Lord Davies wanted the Temple to remember "gallant men from all nations who gave their lives" in World War I. This war was sometimes called "the war that was to end war." So, the Temple is a special memorial to everyone who died in that war.
The building's design, by Sir Percy Thomas, even won an award! The first stone was laid in 1937, and the Temple officially opened on November 23, 1938. A woman named Minnie James, who lost three sons in World War I, was part of the opening ceremony.
Recent History of the Temple
In 1968, there was a protest at the Temple by some Welsh nationalists. They were protesting the upcoming ceremony for Prince Charles (now Charles III) to become the Prince of Wales.
In 2018, Cardiff University bought the Temple of Peace. However, the Welsh Centre for International Affairs still uses part of the building.
Inside the Temple
The Temple of Peace and Health is shaped like the letter T. It has two wings and is built from a light-colored stone called Portland stone. The roofs are made of dark red Italian tiles. The wings hold offices and meeting rooms on three different levels.
The Marble Hall
The middle part of the building is taller and holds the large Marble Hall. This hall is on the ground floor, right when you walk in. It's covered in dove-grey marble, which is a symbol of peace. Many cultural and social groups meet here. Lots of talks and conferences about international topics happen in this hall. It's also used for groups campaigning for causes and for social events.
The Crypt and the Book of Remembrance
Below the Marble Hall is a special room called the Crypt. Here, you'll find the Welsh National Book of Remembrance. This book remembers everyone from Wales who died in World War I. It has 1,100 pages and lists 35,000 names of men and women. These were people born in Wales, had Welsh parents, or served in Welsh army groups. The bronze around the book's glass case is from France, and the marble stand is from Belgium. This is because most of these soldiers died in Belgium or France. Hidden lights make the book shine.
The Council Chamber
The Council Chamber is a room on the first floor with wood-paneled walls. It's used for meetings and also holds many books about international topics. Some of these books were even from Lord Davies' own collection.
Filming Location
The Temple of Peace has been used as a setting for many TV shows!
Doctor Who
A lot of the 2005 Doctor Who episode "The End of the World" was filmed in the Marble Hall and other parts of the building. It was made to look like a space station five billion years in the future! The hall was also used in other Doctor Who episodes, including "Gridlock" (2007), "The Fires of Pompeii" (2008), "Cold Blood" (2010), "Let's Kill Hitler" (2011), and "Nightmare in Silver" (2013).
Other TV Shows
Other TV shows have also filmed scenes here. These include the 2010 Sherlock episode "The Blind Banker" and His Dark Materials.
Groups at the Temple
Several important groups are based at the Temple:
- CEWC-Cymru
- United Nations Association Wales
- Wales Genocide Memorial
- Welsh Centre for International Affairs
