Brangwyn Hall

The Brangwyn Hall (Welsh: Neuadd y Brangwyn) is a concert venue in Swansea. It is named after the artist Frank Brangwyn, whose British Empire Panels, originally intended for the House of Lords, are displayed there.

Brangwyn Hall
Welsh: Neuadd y Brangwyn
Brangwyn Hall entrance
General information
LocationSwansea, Wales, United Kingdom
AddressGuildhall, Swansea SA1 4PE
Coordinates51°36′50″N 3°57′36″W
Inaugurated23 October 1934
OwnerSwansea City Council

History

The Brangwyn Hall was designed and built as part of the Swansea Guildhall in 1934 but, before the British Empire Panels could be installed, the ceiling of the hall had to be raised in order to show them off.[1]

The British Empire Panels are sixteen large paintings by Frank Brangwyn which were commissioned in 1924 for the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords, to commemorate the First World War. Brangwyn had worked as an official war artist, and was selected by the sponsor Lord Iveagh, an Irish peer. He chose to create a "decorative painting representing various Dominions and parts of the British Empire", and five finished panels were displayed in 1930. The work was completed in 1932,[2] but, after some sections of the media argued that the panels were too colourful and spirited, the House of Lords declined them.[1] So Swansea Council acquired them instead.[1]

Description

The Brangwyn Hall is used for awards ceremonies and social events as well as classical music concerts and rock concerts. Among the ceremonies held at the Brangwyn Hall are the annual Chinese New Year celebrations (for the Chinese community in Swansea) and the graduation ceremony for students graduating from University of Wales, Trinity Saint David. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales frequently use this venue when performing in Swansea. Additionally, the BBC has filmed some scenes from the Doctor Who episodes "Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Dead", as well as "The Big Bang".[3]

The hall has a concert organ, with four manuals, designed by Henry Willis & Sons.[4]

Views of Brangwyn Hall
  • The stage with its built-in pipe organ
  • Three of the British Empire Panels by Frank Brangwyn
  • Brangwyn Hall external door and window

References
  1. "About the Brangwyn Hall". Brangwyn Hall. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  2. City and County of Swansea - History of the Brangwyn Panels Archived 17 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 21 October 2015
  3. "Out of Time". Doctor Who Confidential. Series 5. Episode 13. 26 June 2010. BBC. BBC Three.
  4. "Brangwyn Hall". Swansea Festival Diary. p. 6. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
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