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John Street
Built on 30acres of rough land called ‘Picketts Lease’, John Street
was built by the Brogden family. It was this family who gave the local authority 100 feet of frontage to contruct a police
station in 1881. The public conveniences next door to this were built on a cabbage patch! In 1883, the other side of the street
was begun, with construction of a ‘coffee palace’ which eventually became the ‘Porthcawl Hotel’ Built
in 1884, it was the first of three large hotels built in the resort before the end of the century
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The Old Police Station
Situated in John Street, this listed building was a working Police Station
from 1881 to its closure in 1974, and the original cells are still in use, albeit for storage, while the original Charge Room
now houses the local Heritage Coast Tourist InformationCentre. The Building also houses the town Museum, tracing in fascinating
detail the social history of the area, as well as a collection of war momentos of the 49th Recognisance Regiment. On show
also is a continually changing collection of purchasable works by Porthcawl Art Society.
Lloyds Bank
Originally the Whites Hotel which was described as a Commercial Family Temperance Hotel.
Spar Shop and
Post Office
This was originally the Coliseum cinema opened in 1912 with local authority offices situated on the
first floor. During the Second World War, ration cards were issued from here and the results of local elections were announced
from the balcony over the present shop door.
Boots the Chemist
This site has a varied history. Check
the corner of the building, on the upper level and you will see the original Home Stores sign.
Knights Arms
Square
The public house of the same name was built some time before 1830. The area shares a mixture of some of
the oldest buildings in the town and some of the newest.
Pilots Row
The site now occupied by
the Pier Hotel was originally Pilots Row, a series of five houses built by the Tramroad company in 1827.
Cosy
Corner
In 1922 this area housed a theatre which later converted to a cinema showing Silent films. It then became
a roller skating rink before it became a ballroom. During the Second World War it was the headquarters for RAF rescue launches
used to patrol the Bristol Channel.
Jennings Building
On the south-eastern wall of the Jennings
Saw Mill building, you will see a brass plug marking the highest recorded tide of 42 feet. The oldest dockside warehouse in
South Wales.
Customs House
On the slipway, near the RNLI is a round building that served as a
Custom House. Unused now, it has been severely weathered over the years.
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Grand Pavilion
Every seaside resort has to have a traditional summer theatre, and if its on the promenade
facing the seas, that’s even better. Well Porthcawl’s Grand Pavilion is just that. Built at a cost of £25,000
in 1932, you cannot fail to miss it, with its distinctive facade and unique features illuminated at night. Before it was built,
the site was just an expanse of sand that was occasionally occupied by a small fair or by picnic parties. The difference with
this theatre though, is that it is open all year and offers top class entertainment to suit all age groups and tastes. The
Pavilion offers shows all the year round, culminating in the ever-popular Christmas Pantomime. It also has an elegant Cafe
Bar for light snacks overlooking the sea front.
The Harbour
The 19th century harbour was once the site of immense activity until bigger and deeper harbours were built at Barry and
Port Talbot.
The Lighthouse
Right at the very end of the breakwater is the Lighthouse built around 140 years ago
to provide important navigational aid for the Swansea lifeboat and vessels using the Bristol Channel.
Coney Beach Pleasure Park
No seaside resort is complete without a pleasure park and Porthcawl has a
terrific one! A great selection of rides and amusements including the 'Megablitz' rollercoaster are available to try, along
with slot machines, candy floss, fish and chips, hot do-nuts, cafes, sweet stalls, bars, cabaret evenings, and limitless enjoyment!
Station Hill
As it’s name suggests, there was once a railway station at the top of the hill with
trains for Bridgend and elsewhere stopping there in the summer seasons bringing visitors for their main holiday. On the right
hand side of Station Hill is Smith’s Television Shop. In 1831, the site was occupied by a steam mill. Nearby is a small
cottage, which in 1896 was rented as a small board room and offices for the first Porthcawl Urban District Council.
Philadelphia Road
Under the subway from Station Hill and along slightly is Philadelphia Road. This
was one of the earliest streets built in the town other than those around the dock area. One of the plots of land along here
was purchased in 1847 for the princely sum of £30!
Noddfa Chapel
Built at a total cost of £5000 in 1939, despite the outbreak of World War II in August
1940.
All Saints Church
Between 1892 and 1914, there was an iron church standing on the site of the present
All Saints Church. When the present church was built in the style of 15th century English Gothic, using Forest of Dean stone,
the original iron building was sold and re-erected in Maesteg and used as a Mission Church.
The Promenade
The Brogden family visualised Porthcawl as a fashionable seaside resort as well as a
thriving port for the export of coal. It is easy to see Brogden’s image as you stand at the top of John Street and view
the broad sweep of the frontage. You might even be able to imagine his workmen changing an empty expanse into a commercial
enterprise. Modern developments in coastal defences have covered most of his original sea wall, but from the lower platform,
a portion of the original is still visible.
The Seabank Hotel
The Seabank stands on the site of a house built in 1867 by George Dement. By 1908
the house belonged to the Brogden family and was their only sole surviving asset, already mortgaged beyond their means.
Esplanade Hotel
Now demolished and replaced by luxury apartments, the hotel was designed so that it
could be converted into houses, should it fail.
Contact Details
24 Victoria Avenue * Porthcawl
* South Wales * CF363HG
Telephone 01656 782215
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