Pierhead Building, Cardiff

The Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay is an iconic Grade I-listed building with a storied history and architectural significance. Constructed in 1897, it originally served as the headquarters for the Bute Dock Company, which later became the Cardiff Railway Company in the same year. The building was designed by English architect William Frame, a protégé of William Burges, and replaced the original headquarters that burned down in 1892.

The Pierhead Building, renowned for its distinctive French-Gothic Renaissance style, features ornamental details like hexagonal chimneys, carved friezes, gargoyles, and a prominent clock tower. Its exterior is clad in glazed terracotta blocks from J.C. Edwards & Company. of Acrefair, making it a visually striking structure. The clock on the building, often referred to as the "Baby Big Ben" or the "Big Ben of Wales," adds to its unique character.

Throughout its history, the building has played various administrative roles. By 1947, it became the administrative office for the Port of Cardiff. Its original 1897 clock mechanism, crafted by William Potts & Sons, was replaced and sold in the 1970s but was returned to Cardiff in 2005 and repurposed as contemporary art in 2011.

On 1 March 2010, the Pierhead was re-opened as a museum dedicated to Welsh history, featuring exhibitions and films that explore the region’s past. The Pierhead Building holds a significant place in the cultural and historical fabric of Cardiff and Wales, celebrated not only for its architectural beauty but also for its contribution to the industrial and social history of the region.