# Cardigan Guildhall > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cardigan_Guildhall > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cardigan_Guildhall.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardigan_Guildhall > Source revision: 1345577924 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Municipal Building in Cardigan, Wales}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Use British English|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox historic site | name = Cardigan Guildhall | native_name = Neuadd y Dref Aberteifi |native_language=cy | image = Guildhall, Cardigan.jpg | caption = Cardigan Guildhall | locmapin =Wales Ceredigion | map_caption =Shown in Ceredigion | coordinates ={{coord| 52.0837 |-4.6610 |type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | location =Pendre, [Cardigan](/source/Cardigan%2C_Ceredigion) | area = | built =1860 | architect = [Robert Jewell Withers](/source/Robert_Jewell_Withers) | architecture =[Gothic Revival style](/source/Gothic_Revival_architecture) | governing_body = | designation1_number =10479 | designation1_date = 16 June 1961 | designation1_offname = The Guildhall and markets | designation1 = Grade II* Listed Building | website = }} '''Cardigan Guildhall''' ({{langx|cy|Neuadd y Dref Aberteifi}}), is a municipal building in Pendre, [Cardigan, Ceredigion](/source/Cardigan%2C_Ceredigion), [Wales](/source/Wales). The structure, which is now used as an art gallery and community events venue, is a Grade II* [listed building](/source/listed_building).{{NHAW|desc= The Guildhall and markets|num=10479|access-date=21 May 2022}} == History == The first municipal building in the town was a market hall which was commissioned by a local [publican](/source/Pub), William Phillips, and erected in Market Lane in 1823.{{cite web|first= Samuel|last= Lewis|title= 'Cardigan - Carew' in A Topographical Dictionary of Wales |location=London|year=1849|pages= 158–180|publisher=British History Online |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-dict/wales/pp158-180 |access-date= 21 May 2022}} By the mid-19th century, the old market hall had become inadequate and civic leaders decided to commission a larger structure: the site they selected in Pendre was occupied by the local grammar school and by a house and a coach-house owned by a local businessman, Abraham Morgan.{{cite web|url= http://www.guildhall-cardigan.co.uk/history/the-site-of-the-guildhall/ |title=The site|publisher=Cardigan Guildhall| access-date=21 May 2022}} The foundation stone for the new building was laid by the mayor, Richard David Jenkins, on 8 July 1858.{{cite book|first=W. J. |last=Lewis|title= The Gateway to Wales, a history of Cardigan|year= 1990|pages=18–21|publisher=Sue Lloyd-Davies Books|isbn=978-0-86075-036-9}} It was designed by [Robert Jewell Withers](/source/Robert_Jewell_Withers) in the [Gothic Revival style](/source/Gothic_Revival_architecture), built by local builders, David Jenkins, John Davies and John Thomas of [Cilgerran](/source/Cilgerran) in [Blue Lias](/source/Blue_Lias) stone at a cost of £4,055 and was officially opened on 9 July 1860.{{cite web|url= https://www.cardigan-guildhall-market.co.uk/about-us/history/ |title=About us|publisher=Cardigan Guildhall Market| access-date=21 May 2022}} The design involved an asymmetrical main frontage with seven bays facing onto Pendre; the main hall section, formed by the five bays on the right which were slightly projected forward, featured arched openings on the ground floor and [mullion](/source/mullion)ed and [transomed](/source/Transom_(architecture)) windows with [hood mould](/source/hood_mould)s on the first floor. The first bay on the left, which was gabled and also slightly projected forward, was fenestrated by a single window on the ground floor and by a pair of [cross window](/source/cross_window)s on the first floor, while the second bay of the left featured an arched doorway on the ground floor and a single window on the first floor. At roof level, the main section was covered by a [mansard roof](/source/mansard_roof). Internally, the principal rooms were the corn exchange on the ground floor and the great hall on the first floor.{{cite news|url=https://www.tivysideadvertiser.co.uk/news/10690331.open-doors-at-guildhall/ |title=Open doors at Guildhall|date=21 September 2013|newspaper=Tivyside Advertiser| access-date=21 May 2022}} The guildhall was one of the first buildings in the UK to adopt the principles of Gothic Architecture contained in the book by the art critic, [John Ruskin](/source/John_Ruskin), who claimed that "nothing can possibly be better or more graceful" than a well-constructed Venetian Gothic arch.{{cite book|first=John|last=Ruskin |title=The Stones of Venice: Volume 7 of The Complete Works of John Ruskin |location=New York|publisher=Thomas Y. Crowell & Co.|year=1905|page=139}} A Russian [cannon](/source/cannon), which had been captured during the [charge of the Light Brigade](/source/charge_of_the_Light_Brigade), led by [Lord Cardigan](/source/James_Brudenell%2C_7th_Earl_of_Cardigan) against Russian forces during the [Battle of Balaclava](/source/Battle_of_Balaclava) in October 1854 in the [Crimean War](/source/Crimean_War), was installed outside the building in 1871. In the early 1890s, a clock tower with a [pyramid](/source/pyramid)-shaped roof was installed above the second bay on the left at the expense of the then mayor, David Davies. The tower was designed by a local architect, Richard Thomas, built by a local builder, John Evans, and completed in August 1892.{{cite web|url= http://www.guildhall-cardigan.co.uk/history/guildhall-features/ |title=Guildhall Features|publisher= Cardigan Guildhall| access-date=21 May 2022}} A public library was officially opened in the former corn exchange on the ground floor of the building on 6 February 1950.{{cite web|url= https://www.archifdy-ceredigion.org.uk/sched/lib024.html |title= Cardigan Library opening invitation|year=1950|publisher= Ceredigion Archives| access-date=21 May 2022}} The building continued to serve as the meeting place of the Cardigan Borough Council for much of the rest of the 20th century{{London Gazette|issue=39290|page=3934|date=20 July 1951}} but ceased to be the local seat of government when the enlarged [Ceredigion District Council](/source/Ceredigion_District_Council) was formed in 1974.{{cite book|title=Local Government Act 1972. 1972 c.70|publisher=The Stationery Office Ltd|isbn=0-10-547072-4|year=1997}} After the public library relocated to the Canolfan Teifi in 1994, an art gallery was established on the ground floor of the building.{{cite web|url=https://www.cardigan-bay.com/whats-on/locations/corn-exchange-gallery/ |title=Corn Exchange Gallery|publisher=Cardiff Bay| access-date=21 May 2022}} A substantial programme of refurbishment works was carried out with financial support from the [Heritage Lottery Fund](/source/Heritage_Lottery_Fund) by a not-for profit local regeneration company, Menter Aberteifi, at a cost of £2.5 million and completed in 2008.{{cite web|url= https://earthbornpaints.co.uk/case-study-guild-hall/ |title=Case Study: The guildhall|date=16 November 2017 |publisher=Earthborn Paints| access-date=21 May 2022}}{{cite web|url= https://www.celticsustainables.co.uk/blog/the-guildhall-makeover-/ |title=The Guildhall Makeover|publisher=Celtic Sustainables | access-date=21 May 2022}} ==See also== * [Grade II* listed buildings in Ceredigion](/source/Grade_II*_listed_buildings_in_Ceredigion) == References == {{reflist}} {{Government buildings in Wales}} Category:Cardigan, Ceredigion Category:City and town halls in Wales Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Ceredigion Category:Government buildings completed in 1860 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cardigan Guildhall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardigan_Guildhall) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardigan_Guildhall?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.