Y Gaer (cultural hub) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Y Gaer |
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Y Gaer
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| Location | Glamorgan Street, Brecon |
| Built | 1843 |
| Architect | Thomas Henry Wyatt and David Brandon |
| Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical style |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Brecknock Museum | |
| Designated | 16 January 1952 |
| Reference no. | 7116 |
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Y Gaer (which means The Fortress in English) is a special building complex in Brecon, Powys, Wales. It's a place where you can find a museum, an art gallery, and a library all in one spot! This building used to be the main hall for the old county of Brecknockshire, where important meetings and court cases happened. It's so important that it's a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's protected for its history and special design.
Contents
History of Y Gaer
Building the Shire Hall
The original part of Y Gaer was built a long time ago, in 1843. It was called the "shire hall" and was designed by two architects, Thomas Henry Wyatt and David Brandon. They built it in a grand style called Neoclassical, which looks a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings.
The building was made from large, smooth stones. It had a big, fancy entrance with tall columns, like you might see on a temple. Above the columns, there was a stone sign that said "Victoria Regina MDCCCXLII," which means "Queen Victoria 1842." Inside, the most important room was the courtroom, where legal cases were heard.
A New Purpose for the Building
Over time, the way local government worked in Wales changed. In 1888, new county councils were created. The shire hall became the meeting place for the new Brecknockshire County Council.
The building continued to be used for court hearings until 1971. The county council also met there until 1974, when it was replaced by a new council for Powys. After that, the old shire hall was empty for a while.
The Museum Moves In
The Brecknock Museum had been in a different building since 1928. But in 1974, it moved into the empty shire hall! The museum had many interesting things, including an old tombstone of a Roman soldier named Candidus. This tombstone was found at a nearby Roman fort also called Y Gaer, which is where the modern building gets its name.
Creating a Cultural Hub
A few years ago, people decided to make the building even better. With money from the Heritage Lottery Fund, a big project started in 2016. The plan was to create a brand new "cultural hub" for the area.
This project involved building a modern new section next to the old shire hall. They also fixed up the historic shire hall itself. The new parts included a modern art gallery and a new home for the Brecon Library. All this work cost about £14 million and was finished in December 2019. The whole complex was then officially named Y Gaer, just like the ancient Roman fort.
Images for kids
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Y Gaer
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Powys
