The following is a timeline of buildings constructed by E. Turner and Sons. Lisvane Historical Society is looking for information on any of the projects and would particularly like to attribute dates to the buildings at the end of the list, or know of any omissions. Please forward details to [email protected] - Thank you for your assistance.
1800’s LMS Railway – Stone arch bridges.
1880’s Canadian Building Fredrick Street.
1883 The Exchange Mount Stuart Square. Designed by, James, Seward and Thomas.
1883 St David’s Presbyterian Church, Gelliwastad Road, Pontypridd. Architect Henry Harris Cardiff.
1890 The Royal Clarence Theatre, Pontypridd was built in 1890, and by 1901 had been re-named New Theatre.
1891 Ynysybwl Police Station.
1891 Wood Street School – enlarged.
1891 - 1904 Morgan’s Drapers and David Morgan’s Arcade. Designs prepared by Messrs. James & Morgan F.R.I.B.A. The western end of the arcade was erected in 1897, to the design of Edwin Seward F.R.I.B.A.
1893/1911 William Hancock & Co Limited, Brewery – Written on the back of the photograph was ‘The old bottling stores showing the new annexe, date unknown, but certainly between 1893 and the fire which destroyed the roof (subsequently replaced by a flat roof) in 1911.’
1895 The Isolation Hospital for Infectious Diseases (Lansdowne Hospital, Leckwith) Cardiff’s first municipal hospital. The Cardiff Health Committee on 25th October 1892 received 9 tenders for the Hospital. The Borough Engineer was asked if his estimate of £29,000.00 had taken into account the change in the labour market and the increase in the cost of materials. The highest estimate was £30,999, with the majority being between £27/28 thousand. Turners tender was for £24,858.15s.0d.
1896 Ebenezer Chapel, (Ebenezer Street).
1896 General Post Office contract was signed. The Architect was Sir Henry Tanner. On the 12th December 1897 (which was a Sunday) The Post Office was officially opened.
1896 Free Library, Cardiff – An extension to the original building built in 1882 was undertaken at a cost of £15,000. The extension was formally opened by King Edward VII. Designed by, Messrs Seward & Thomas.
1896 Empire Theatre, Cardiff. Turners erected three Theatres on this site each of these exceeding the former in beauty and magnitude. Architects Messrs William & T. R. Milburn F.R.I.B.A., Sunderland. Newspaper article in the Western Mail reporting on a fire which destroyed the theatre on the morning of 31st October 1899. The original theatre opened on the 5th May 1896, rebuilt after the fire and again in 1937 as a Cinema. Finally closed in 1961 and demolished in 1962. Turners had to demolish their own building to construct the C & A store.
1896 Cefn Coed House, Penylan built for Ephraim Turner.
1898? Roath Park Wesleyan Church. Architects Messrs I. P. Jones, Richards and Budgen.
1898 Extension of a cottage in Havelock Place, Grangetown.
1898 John Cory & Sons, Mount Stewart Square designed by Tudor Thornley Esq., Cardiff.
1898 Atlantic Building. Used entirely for offices and was designed by H. Tudor Thornley, Esq., Cardiff.
1899 Lease on a Quarry at Dark Hill and also set up a stone works at Fetterhill. In 1900 leased a quarry at Bixslade and set up a second stone works at the lower end of Bixslade. In 1910 the Forest of Dean interests of Turners were taken over by the firm United Stone.
1898 Cardiff Corporation paid £161,000 for 59 acres of land owned by the Marquis of Bute.
Sept 1900 E. Turner and Sons’ tender for the Town Hall (now City Hall) in the sum of £129,708 and the Law Courts for £96,583 was accepted and started what would be their main legacy to Cardiff. Preparation and foundation work took a year with the foundation stone being laid on October 1901 which was described as ‘a day for silk hats and proud hearts’.
They used 184 diamonds for cutting 12 or 15 ton blocks of Portland stone. A 10 ton gantry and 8 five ton cranes were used to place the stone in the new buildings. One disappointment is that I have been unable to find photographs of the 40 shire horses, working in teams of six, to bring the stone from the Docks.
Almost 500 men worked on the building with the main building work being finished in 1904. Opening ceremonies were held on 29th October 1906. The day started with a parade of public servants and officials followed by lunch in the Assembly Rooms. The Ceremony started with a fanfare of trumpets, the Lord’s Prayer and a large gold key was presented to the Marquess of Bute. James and William were then presented to the Marquis by Alderman Robert Hughes who also lived in Lisvane.
Designed by Messrs Lanchester, Stewart and Rickards. Lead covered dome surmounted by the Welsh Dragon cast in lead and modelled by Mr. H. C. Fehr. The sculpture on the Western Pavilion representing Science and Education is by Mr D. McGill, the Pavilions on each side of the Avenue are by Mr. Paul Montford representing Commerce and Industry and Music and Poetry, whilst on the Eastern Pavilion is a representation of Welsh Unity and Patriotism by Mr Henry Poole. c1900 St Stephen’s Church Mount Stuart Square. It was known as the ‘tin church’ because the nave was originally constructed from corrugated iron sheets.
1900 The Coal Exchange - An extension to the 1886 building was being undertaken to provide a restaurant and banking premises.
1900’s Bishop’s Palace, Abergwili.
1900’s Technical College Neath.
1900’s Cefn Hengoed School.
1900’s Housing for Swansea Corporation at Pentrechwyth.
1902 - Duke Street Arcade – front elevation in Grey Forest of Dean Stone. Architects Ware and Williams, Cardiff.
1902 Tredean, Wolvesnewton, Monmouthshire – Mansion erected and estate laid out to the design of A. Jessop Hardwick, F.R.I.B.A of Kingston-on-Thames, for the late H. J. Simpson, Esq.
1904? J. Rank, Atlantic Flour Mill, Barry.
1904 Employment Exchange, Westgate Street.
1906 Ty-Gwyn, Lisvane. Originally stood in grounds of 15 acres (they even kept cows on part of the land) but the majority being gardens. Sold to Mr & Mrs Doug Smith of the Reardon Smith Shipping Company on 14th September 1937 and was then sold in 1961 to Sir Julian Hodge. Currently (December 2014) in the process of being sold.
1906 Dulverton (now Cwrt Cefn) and the Lodge, Lisvane.
1907 Bethania Baptist Chapel, Maesteg – Erecting a new Chapel. Enlarging school and making alterations to classrooms £4,388 – Turners signed the contract on 14th March 1907 and would take possession of the site on 18th March 1907 the work to be complete (except for decoration) by 18th January 1908.
1907 Metropolitan Bank Building, Wind Street, Swansea. Architects F. Adams Smith F.R.I.B.A., London (now the Varsity Bar 2014).
1909 University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire. Building opened by the President, the Right Hon. The Earl of Plymouth in October 1909 Designed by Mr W. D. Caroe, F.S.A. London. The library in the building was a gift from the Drapers’ Company.
1910 Young Men’s Christian Association, Central Building, Cardiff. Designed by Messrs Speir & Bevan, Cardiff (later this building was extended for Bell and Nicolson’s.).
C1910 Llanishen Baptist Church, Fidlas Road.
1910 Lisvane Baptist Chapel (Renovated). 1911 The Coal and Shipping Exchange was reconstructed on a grand scale with tiers of encircling balconies, paired columns and splendid panelling executed to the design of the late Edwin Seward, F.R.I.B.A. The building was formally opened on 20th February 1912. In 1978-79 the building was being adapted as the home for the proposed Welsh Assembly, but the adverse verdict in the St David’s Day Referendum of 1979 left its destiny in doubt.
1912 Cardiff Central Fire Station, Westgate Street and junction of Quay Street. Built on an old river bed which necessitated the pile foundations being carried down to a depth of 20ft. At the time of the competition for this building, only one fire engine was mechanically driven, the remainder being hand or horse vehicles. Architect was E. Vincent Harris F.R.I.B.A., London. The building was completed in 1917 and demolished in 1973 to make way for a multi-storey car park.
1912 Viriamu Jones Laboratory adjacent to University opened by His Majesty King George V.
1912 Glamorgan County Hall. There was a competition held for the design of this building which was won by Messrs. E. Vincent Harris and Moodie, London.
1914 Gasholder Tanks at Grangetown.
1914 Principality Building. When this building was constructed on the junction of Queen Street and Priory Street, a new street was formed which leads to Cathays Park. Architects Messrs. Haberhon and Faulkner, F.R.I.B.A., Newport.
1916 Technical Collage, Cathays Park – first part with the whole building completed in 1927. The building was designed by Messrs Ivor Jones and Percy Thomas, Cardiff. They obtained 1st prize in a competition to build the College.
1918 Medical Collage, Newport Road. Architect Colonel E. M. Bruce Vaughan, F.R.I.B.A.
1918 Merthyr House, Docks, Cardiff – Building used entirely for offices and was designed by Henry Budgen F.R.I.B.A.
1920 The Capital Cinema (seats for 3000 and standing room for 1500) and Messrs Cox Café. Architects Messrs Phillips and Wride, Cardiff. These buildings are deceptive from the outside. The café had billiard Room, Shop, 2 tea rooms, lounge, luncheon room with recess for orchestra, dance hall, main hall and even had its own bakery on site. The Theatre closed on 21st January 1978 and was demolished in 1983 to make way for the Capitol Shopping Centre.
1921 The Chapel, Cardiff Royal Infirmary built to the design of architect Col. Bruce Vaughan, thanks to the generosity of Mrs John Nixon.
1924 Repairs to the Canal Wall, West Wharf, Cardiff for the Company of Proprietors of the Glamorgan Canal navigation – contract signed on 18th February 1924.
1924 Birchwood Grange, Penylan the residence of Sir William James Thomas, Baronet. Designs prepared by J. B. Fletcher, Cardiff. 1925 Bell and Nicholson Ltd of Birmingham acquired the Junior YMCA building (1910) and it was extended using the designs of Messrs Ewen Harper Brothers & Co. Birmingham.
1926 Medical College, The Parade, Cardiff. This was built adjacent to the building erected by Turner in 1918. Cost £53,000. Designed by J. B. Fletcher, Cardiff.
1927 National Provincial Bank, Bute Street, Cardiff. Contract awarded in 1924 and the building included a number of underground vaults. The elevation in West Bute Street is similar to the front of the building.
1927 Research Building, Royal Infirmary, Newport Road. This building was one of many built by Turners at the Royal Infirmary to the design of the Colonel E. M. Bruce Vaughan F.R.I.B.A, Cardiff. The research building was five storeys high built at the rear of the King Edward VII Hospital War Memorial. The designer was E. Stanley Hall Esq., F.R.I.B.A., London and was the gift of the Board of Trustees of the Rockefeller Foundation.
1928 The Welsh National War Memorial unveiled on 12th June 1928 by Edward H.R.H. The Prince of Wales. Designer Sir J.Ninian Comper Esq, Contractor Messrs E. Turner & Sons Ltd. Bronzes by A. Bertram Pegrum Esq. Three inscriptions in Welsh – “Over the sea he to die ‘for the sailor, ‘Nigh the trench resting’ for the soldier, and ‘Grappling in the central blue’ for the airman. Opposite each inscription is a corresponding figure in bronze 6’ 6” high and on the summit of the fountain is another bronze figure of a Messenger of Victory 7’ high.
1928 Mental Hospital (Cefn Coed) Swansea for the Swansea and Merthyr Corporation.
1928 Tir John Power Station.
1929 Superb Buildings book published detailing some of the buildings erected by E. Turner and Sons. Works listed as in the course of construction:-
St Mary’s School, Cardiff for the Rev. A. Byrne.
National Provincial Bank, Pontypridd.
Extensive additions to Newport High Street for the Great Western Railway Company.
Extensive premises for Messrs. James Howell & Co., St. Mary Street, Cardiff.
1930 St Patrick’s Church, Grangetown for The Most Rev. Francis Mostyn D.D. Archbishop of Cardiff – opened on St Patrick’s day.
1931 Two houses on Lisvane Road next to the War memorial (Mount View and Eryl) now respectively Cerrig Llwyd and Carn Ingli.
1934 Guild Hall Swansea – The scheme went out to competition and attracted seventy seven submissions, from which the assessor chose Mr Percy Thomas, Cardiff. Turners tendered successfully for the main contract and started work in 1930, with the foundation stone being laid in May 1932. In 1933 there was an announcement that sixteen panels painted by Frank Brangwyn would be exhibited at Olympia, and afterwards given to such municipality or other body who, in their opinion could worthily house and display them. Among the first to see the panels in Olympia was Councillor Leslie W. Hefferman, who informed the Council that they were a ‘must’ for Swansea. A committee was formed and their simple proposition was that they could alter the plans for the Hall they were building to accommodate the panels. Cordial negotiations ensued and on 28th October 1933 it was decided that the panels should find a home in what would be called ‘The Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. The Guild Hall was opened on the 23 October 1934 by Prince George, Duke of Kent.
1934 Church of the Resurrection, Ely.
1934? Newbridge Grammar School.
1937 Electricity Showroom, Cardiff.
1937 Empire Theatre.
1938 The Temple of Health and Peace.
1939 University Library Swansea.
1944? Bridgend Boys Grammar School.
1950’s Blind Institute, Newport Road.
1950’s Synagogue in Brandreth Road Cyncoed – now demolished.
1950’s Fairwater Secondary Modern School.
1950’s St Michael’s College, Llandaff.
1950’s St David’s Cathedral (rebuilding).
1950’s Cambrian United Dairies, Marshfield – drainage work and loading bay.
1950’s Jones and Porter Ltd – four supermarkets at Pontypool, Newbridge, Blackwood and Brynmawr.
1960’s Cardiff Dental Hospital.
1960’s East side of Castle Street and telephone exchange.
1960’s Gas Showrooms, Kingsway, Swansea.
1960’s Computer Building, National Coal Board, Tredomen.
1961 Royal Insurance Building, Windsor Place, Cardiff.
1962 University of Wales Engineering Department – Architect Sir Percy Thomas &Partners. 1963 C & A Modes Ltd, Cardiff – Had to demolish the Empire one of their own buildings to build C & A.
1963 National Museum of Wales (West Wing Extension) – Architect Alex Gordon & Partners.
1963 Newport Civic Centre Clock Tower – Architect C. Howitt & Partners cost £126,900.
1964 Office Block, Cathedral Road – Architect F. G. Bruton & Partners.
1966 University of Wales (Chemical & Biology Department) (Black Box) – Architect Alex Gordon & Partners.
1966 Wales Gas Board Control Centre.
1966 Plant Depot for Eddison Plant at Gorseinon.
1966 Heath Sewer extension for the Ministry of Public Works.
1966 Atlantic College, St Donats – The College, Staff Houses and swimming pool.
1967 Alex Gordon Architects, Office Block, Cathedral Road. Architect Alex Gordon & Partners.
1967 St Marks Church Gabalfa.
1968 City of Cardiff Police Headquarters, Cathays Park – Official Opening Thursday 22nd August 1968.
1968 ABC Cinema, Newport – opened on 28th November 1968.
1968 Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Heath Hospital.
1968 The Jane Hodge Home for the Handicapped, Trerhyngyll, Vale of Glamorgan – closed 2008.
1969 Automatic Telephone Exchange, Newport for the M.O.P.B. & Works.
1969 Automatic Telephone Exchange Cardiff for M.O.P.B & Works.
1970 Statistics Office, Newport – Ministry of Public Buildings and Works awarded contract on 22nd January 1970.
1977 Welsh Industrial & Maritime Museum, Cardiff.
1982 Jones Court off Womanby St – Redeveloped.
Buildings where date of construction or opening is unknown:-
St Mary Church, Swansea.
Swansea University. Poor Law Union, Cottage Homes, Church Village.
House at Llandaff for William Taylor.
School of Engineering adjacent to Medical College, Newport Road.
Atlantic House, St Mary Street.
St German’s Hall.
Borough Chambers, Wharton Street
Stone Brothers, Working Street.
Hurst Bros Tailor, 31 High Street.
Royal Building, Queen Street.
The Barry Deep Dock.
Treforest Estate installing engine pits – just after the war.
WWII Turners men were working in London repairing houses – After the War they helped rebuild Swansea Centre and St Mary’s Church.
Royal Building, Queen Street, Cardiff. Built on the corner of Queen Street and Park Place designed by the late Henry Hartley, Esq., F.R.I.B.A., Liverpool.
Residence of the Late Lord Buckland – This mansion has arisen on the ruins of the 18th-century house destroyed by fire. Built for I. P. W. Gwynne Holford Esq whose family had occupied the site for generations. Architect Stephen Williams F.R.I.B.A, of Rhayader.
South Wales Electricity Board Headquarters in St Mellons.
Newport Civic Centre.
West Wales Hospital, Carmarthen.
St. David’s Hospital, Carmarthen.
Health Centre, Pentwyn.
Civic Administration Building, Llanelli.
UWIST.
Factories for the milk industry.
Industrial & Maritime Museum, Cardiff.
Row of tiny cottages, Jones Court.
Schweppes Factory, Cardiff.
Offices for Pearl Assurance Co. Ltd. Additions to Hewell Grange, Worcestershire, for the Earl of Plymouth.
Cardiff Sanatorium for the Cardiff Corporation.
New Factory and kitchens for Messrs. Thos. Stevens (Confectioners) Ltd.
Penylan Reservoir for the Cardiff Corporation.
Roath Outfall Sewer for the Cardiff Corporation.
Foundations for the Welsh National Museum, Cardiff.
Premises for the Wholesale Co-operative Society, Cardiff.
Additions to Parc Gwyllt Asylum, Bridgend.
Tea Warehouse for Messrs Phillips & Co., Cardiff.
Garden Village Scheme at Pontypridd and Gilfach Goch.
Alterations and additions to various Banks for Messrs. Barclays Bank Ltd.
Windsor Slipways for Messrs Elliott & Jeffery, Cardiff.
Abergwili Palace, near Carmarthen for The Lord Bishop of St Davids.
Several Offices, Mount Stuart Square, Docks, Cardiff.
Cliffside, Penarth for Sir Sven Hanson, Bart.
Aberthaw Cement Works Extensions.
Warehouse, Cardiff for Messrs H. & C. Spiridion.
Caerleon School.
Court Road School Grangetown.
Boys School, Pengam, near Cardiff.
Alliance Assurance, Newport Road.
31, Cathedral Road.
Engineering School of the University College in Newport.
Royal Engineers’ Headquarters, Cardiff.
Penarth Cement Works Extensions for the South Wales Portland Cement Co. Ltd.
Numerous Churches and Chapels in Glamorganshire.
C & A’s in Cardiff, Southampton, Oldham and Hull.
Candy Factory, Porchester.
Office and Warehouse, Colchester. Plenty & Sons, Factory in Newbury.
Ealing Town Hall, Entrance and Reception.
GUS, Wythenshawe, Manchester.
McGraw Hill Publishing Co. Ltd, Shoppenhangers Road, Maidenhead.
Town Hall Maidenhead.
Offices and Shops, Bath.
192 Oxford Street, Sheffield and Ealing.
Luton Project.
Sheffield Project.