History in Structure

Pontypridd Railway Station Main Platform including buildings and canopy

A Grade II Listed Building in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff

More Photos »
Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

Coordinates

Latitude: 51.5991 / 51°35'56"N

Longitude: -3.3412 / 3°20'28"W

OS Eastings: 307203

OS Northings: 189771

OS Grid: ST072897

Mapcode National: GBR HQ.BG98

Mapcode Global: VH6DR.12JG

Plus Code: 9C3RHMX5+JG

Entry Name: Pontypridd Railway Station Main Platform including buildings and canopy

Listing Date: 17 July 1990

Last Amended: 26 February 2001

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 13525

Building Class: Transport

Also known as: Pontypridd Railway Station Main Platform including buildings and canopy

ID on this website: 300013525

Location: At the S end of the town, entered from the S end of Sardis Road. A high-level station, it is built partly over the S section of High Street.

County: Rhondda Cynon Taff

Town: Pontypridd

Community: Pontypridd

Community: Pontypridd

Locality: Graig

Built-Up Area: Pontypridd

Traditional County: Glamorgan

Tagged with: Railway station

Find accommodation in
Pontypridd

History

The Taff Vale Railway was the first major locomotive railway in Wales. It was incorporated in 1836, built 1837-40 and opened in 1840-1 from Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff, primarily to serve the ironworks of Merthyr Tydfil. The chief engineer was Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Pontypridd developed into a major network as the focal point for transporting coal from Merthyr and the Cynon and Rhondda Valleys to Cardiff. It also enjoyed increased passenger traffic, and in 1907 reconstruction of the station was begun. At its peak it dealt with 11,000 passengers a day and had 7 platforms. The main, island, platform that remains in use was said to have been the longest in the world when built and is still the longest in the Western Region. Remodelled in 1970s.

Exterior

A long, distinctly curved platform, the majority of which is roofed. The roof is 14 bays long, 8 of which have broad projecting canopies. The roof is carried on I-section steel piers (by the Lanarkshire Steel Company) which stand on fluted oval cast iron bases. The lightly trussed steel roof has segmental principals and a boarded underside. The canopies have deep ogee valencing. Beneath the roof are 6 buildings including ticket offices, station master's office, waiting rooms and toilets. These are in a free Egyptian revival style, of red brick with terracotta. All have parapets, deep bracket cornices, panelled pilasters and high plinths. The openings have labels over lugged and tapered architraves. Mainly fielded panel doors and T-framed windows. A 2x2 bay toilet block with long side bays is at the S end. To its N is the largest of the buildings, incorporating the ticket office, which has a 9-bay platform elevation and 2-bay end elevations, the N end having a square panel with an urn sprouting foliage. The next building N is the station master's office, which has a 6-bay E wall and single-bay end walls, on the S side of each bay being opposed flights of stairs (both now closed) descending to ground level beneath the platform. Both have tall panelled gate piers, the W side with Baroque style overthrow and sliding lattice gates. Side railings with simple Art Nouveau detail are by Bayliss Ltd of Wolverhampton. Another stair, now the main stair, is further N, which has similar piers and overthrow with addition lettering reading 'Way Out'. The lower level is faced in white-glazed tiles. Beyond the N stair is a lift and 3 further buildings.

Several benches are retained which have cast iron uprights, including 2 styles of GWR benches and others with 'BR(W)' (British Rail Western Region).

Interior

The main waiting room has pediments to ends and turned balusters to roof trusses.

Reasons for Listing

Listed for architectural interest as a fine Edwardian railway station retaining original character, and for group value with other listed railway items in the centre of Pontypridd.

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

BritishListedBuildings.co.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact BritishListedBuildings.co.uk for any queries related to any individual listed building, planning permission related to listed buildings or the listing process itself.

British Listed Buildings is a Good Stuff website.