Hayes Island Snack Bar is located on The Hayes in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. It was built as a parcel depot for Cardiff Corporation Tramways in 1911. Closed in 1942, the kiosk was redeveloped as a snack bar which opened in 1948. It is described as the oldest operating snack bar in Wales. Since 2013 it has been operated by the Worton family, under licence from Cardiff Council. The kiosk is a Grade II listed building. The adjacent Ladies' and Gentlemen's toilets date from 1898 and were the first public conveniences in Cardiff. The toilets, and the two contemporary lamposts, are also Grade II listed.
| Hayes Island Snack Bar | |
|---|---|
 “an unmistakeable Cardiff landmark” | |
| Type | Snack bar |
| Location | The Hayes, Cardiff, Wales |
| Coordinates | 51°28′48″N 3°10′37″W / 51.4799°N 3.1769°W |
| Built | 1911 |
| Governing body | Cardiff Council |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Hayes Island Snack Bar |
| Designated | 13 December 1996 |
| Reference no. | 18053 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Gentlemen's Toilets |
| Designated | 13 December 1996 |
| Reference no. | 18051 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Ladies' Toilets |
| Designated | 13 December 1996 |
| Reference no. | 18052 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Lamp Post |
| Designated | 13 December 1996 |
| Reference no. | 18054 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Lamp Post |
| Designated | 13 December 1996 |
| Reference no. | 18055 |
  Location of Hayes Island Snack Bar in Cardiff | |
History
editThe Hayes forms a rectangular space in the centre of Cardiff, bounded to the east by St David's Hall and to the west by the former David Morgan's department store.[1] At its, triangular, northern end, a pedestrian space forms Hayes Island, the location of the snack bar, and of a statue of John Batchelor, a Victorian Mayor of Cardiff.[a][3] In the early 20th century, Cardiff Corporation Tramways was established to operate electric trams throughout the city, replacing the previous horse tram system.[4] In addition to passenger services, the Corporation operated an extensive parcel distribution service. The Hayes Island Snack Bar was built in 1911 as a parcels depot.[5] It continued in use until 1942, when the parcel service ceased. In 1949, the structure was redeveloped and reopened as a snack bar. It continues in operation and in 2018 celebrated its 70th anniversary as the oldest operating snack bar in Wales[6] and an “unmistakeable Cardiff landmark.”[7][8]
The Ladies' and Gentlemen's Toilets date from 1898 and were the first public conveniences in Cardiff.[9] Closed due to budget cuts in 2013,[10] they were reopened in 2014 and are operated by the Worton family, licensees of the snack bar, under arrangement with Cardiff Council.[6]
Architecture and description
editThe snack bar is of timber construction, the woodwork being original, although the roof has been replaced. The ends of the structure are gabled with scallop designs, a motif also used on the overhanging canopy. The kiosk is a Grade II listed building.[5] The toilets have original Victorian fittings, decorations and railings and are also listed Grade II.[11][12] The lampposts are contemporary with the toilets and have their own Grade II designations.[13][14] Cadw's listing record for the snack bar notes its importance as "a rare survival of Cardiff's tramway system" and its "group value with other listed buildings at Hayes Island."[5]
Notes
edit- ^ John Batchelor, known as "The Friend of Freedom", was a shipbuilder and Radical politician who opposed the "Tory" control of Cardiff politics led by the Marquesses of Bute. The erection of a statue in his memory was fiercely contested by his political opponents, who gathered 12,000 signatories for a petition demanding its removal.[2]
References
edit- ^ Newman 1995, p. 217.
- ^ Cadw. "Statue of John Batchelor (Grade II) (13721)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Statue of John Batchelor, Cardiff". Historypoints.org. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Cardiff Corporation Tramways". British Tramway Company Uniforms and Insignia. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ a b c Cadw. "Hayes Island Snack Bar (Grade II) (18053)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ a b Owens, David (17 September 2018). "The revival of Wales' oldest snack bar". Wales Online.
- ^ Nottingham, Stephen (8 March 2011). "Cardiff's top ten lunch spots". The Guardian.
- ^ Thomas, Simon. "Cardiff: eating like a local". Visit Wales. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Cardiff's Victorian loo glimpse from phones". BBC News. 30 December 2014.
- ^ "Victorian toilets, The Hayes". Historypoints.org. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ Cadw. "Gentlemen's Toilets, Hayes Island (Grade II) (18051)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ Cadw. "Ladies' Toilets, Hayes Island (Grade II) (18052)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ Cadw. "Lamppost at north entrance to Gentlemen's Toilets, Hayes Island (Grade II) (18054)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ Cadw. "Lamppost at south entrance to Gentlemen's Toilets, Hayes Island (Grade II) (18055)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
Sources
edit
- Newman, John (1995). Glamorgan. The Buildings of Wales. London, UK: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-140-71056-4.