Another Palazzo Building

In Cambrian Place, Swansea another example of the Palazzo style , called Pembroke Buildings. Again 3 storeys with 5 bays. However unlike the others in Aberdare and Cardiff this has a portico to the main entrance.

Designed by architect H C Portsmouth the building has Portland stone below and Bath stone above. Early twentieth century.

Midland (now HSBC) Bank, Aberdare

The grand Palazzo ex  Midland Bank with National School in foreground of about the same period

Following on from the previous post of the old NatWest bank in Cardiff, this is another bank built in the palazzo style, but this time in Aberdare. The proportions are similar with three stories and five sets of windows on each floor and was built in the same year, 1857. Unlike the Cardiff bank,  this building has a façade of imported stone with Bath stone ashlar and grey Newbridge stone.

This bank was designed by Bristol architect, William Gingell who co-incidentally worked with T R Lysaght, the architect who designed the Cardiff building.

Rock faced dressed stone on the façade of the old Midland Bank

Old Nat West Bank, St Mary's Street.Cardiff

 

 

 

Described by Newman (1995) as a five bay Palazzo front designed in 1857 by Thomas Lysaght. Probably influenced by the English architect Charles Barry who helped revive interest in  Italianate architecture during the early Victorian period. Palazzo basically means like a palace or grand residence typically found in Venice. The quoins (cornerstones) and arches of the windows are heavily vermiculated.

 

 

 

 

 





 

Vermiculation refers to the wavy patterns on the quoins and arches that appear to be like worm casts. The key stones for these arches are taken by occupied by dramatic bearded heads.

 

 

Newman, J. 1995 The Buildings of Glamorgan Yale