Aberdare Hall

Aberdare Hall was originally founded as a residence for female students at 54 Richmond Road[1] largely as a result of the efforts of Lady Aberdare and the Principal of the University College, John Viriamu Jones. It was established in 1885 though by the early 1890s the building was too small and it was decided to seek new premises.[2]

A site was found on the north side of Corbett Road (which is not strictly part of Cathays Park) and construction of a new building, designed by H.W. Wills of Swansea, began in 1893. It provided accommodation for a total of 43 students. The new Aberdare Hall was first occupied in Janurary 1895 with 31 students, but was full at the beginning of the following session in October 1895.[3] The official opening was performed by Mrs Sidgwick of Newnham College, Cambridge on October 8th 1895.[4] Part of the ceremony was the unveiling of a portrait of Lady Aberdare. Miss Ethel Hurlbatt was the first Principal of the new Aberdare Hall.[5]

On the opening day the Western Mail gave a detailed description of the new hall, which included:

The buildings, of which two-thirds of the entire scheme are now completed, will form a square, measuring 88ft. in each direction. In the centre of this is placed the library, which is 30ft. square. ... The cost of the buildings, including the fittings and furniture and boundary walls is about £8000.

The architect's drawing shown below appeared in The Builder, March 13th 1897.

 

By the end of the 1890s the building was occupied to full capacity and it was necessary to rent a house in Corbett Road to provide more accomodation. Subsequently a new extension was built providing space for 19 students.[6] It was completed in 1904 and the overflow house was given up.

Early in the twentieth century an alteration was made to the Corbett Road face of the building by addition of a third gable to make a symmetrical front - this can be seen on the 1920 Ordnance Survey map. Between 1938 and 1940 a detached wing designed by Verner O. Rees was built to the north east and incorporated a ground-floor library. A second free-standing extension was added in 1963, designed by Verner Rees, Laurence & Mitchell.[7]

Sources of Information

  1. Directory of Cardiff 1891-92
  2. Western Mail 29th January 1894 page 6
  3. Western Mail 2nd October 1895 page 5
  4. Western Mail 9th October 1895 page 6
  5. Western Mail 8th October 1895 page 6
  6. Aberdare Hall 1885-1935 page 10 [pamphlet produced for Jubilee Commemoration]
  7. British listed buildings - Aberdare Hall

Other sources: