The Mansion House ( cy, Y Plasty), located on Richmond Road, was the official residence of the Lord Mayor of

Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...

until 1971. It was designed in 1896 by the architects Habershon & Fawckner for James Howell, the owner of Howells department store. It was originally called 'The Grove'. James Howell was a Cardiff businessman who opened his first shop in 1865. In 1890 he made arrangements to build a property on land leased from

Lord Tredegar Baron Tredegar, of Tredegar in the County of Monmouth, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 16 April 1859 for the Welsh politician Sir Charles Morgan, 3rd Baronet, who had earlier represented Brecon in Parliament ...

. The plans were for a large family home, to house his 11 children. An unusual aspect of the house is that it was designed to be able to be divided into two: it has two front doors and a wall in the cellar was designed allow extension upwards. The house was bought by the Cardiff Corporation in 1913. It has been listed Grade II by

Cadw (, a Welsh verbal noun meaning "keeping/preserving") is the historic environment service of the Welsh Government and part of the Tourism and Culture group. works to protect the historic buildings and structures, the landscapes and heritage s ...

since May 2002. The Mansion House was used as the home of the Lord Mayors of Cardiff until 1971. It has two apartments on the first floor and was also used by judges sitting in the city. The building had a major overhaul in 1998, for the Cardiff European Council summit held on 15 and 16 June 1998. It was then used by

Cardiff Council Cardiff Council, formally the County Council of the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Cyngor Sir Dinas a Sir Caerdydd) is the governing body for Cardiff, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. The principal area and its council were established ...

for events, functions, civil ceremonies and weddings. It was also the base for the council's protocol team.

References

{{reflist

External links

Original plans of the Mansion HouseMansion House website
Mayors' mansions in the United Kingdom Grade II listed buildings in Cardiff Houses in Cardiff Houses completed in 1896 Roath Grade II listed houses in Wales

See also

References

External links