Sophia Gardens Pavilion

Sophia Gardens Pavilion
General information
Status Demolished
Address Sophia Gardens
Town or city Cardiff
Country Wales
Coordinates 51°28′56″N 3°11′17″W / 51.4822°N 3.188°W / 51.4822; -3.188Coordinates: 51°28′56″N 3°11′17″W / 51.4822°N 3.188°W / 51.4822; -3.188
Opened 1951[1]
Demolished January 1982[1]
Owner Cardiff County Borough Council

Sophia Gardens Pavilion was a performance venue located in Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Wales. The venue was built in 1951 for the Festival of Britain, and later became the boxing and wrestling venue for the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

History

Slade on stage in 1981

The pavilion was built in 1951 for the Festival of Britain.[2][1] Due to government restrictions on building materials during the post-war period, the framework of the building was adapted from a surplus aircraft hangar from RAF Stormy Down near Bridgend.[1] The building was host to many concerts, but by 1982, the roof had collapsed due to an estimated 4 ft (1.2 m) of snow,[1] and the building was subsequently demolished.[3] Just one month before the collapse, Cardiff County Borough Council had approved an extensive improvement programme, which would have cost approximately GB£100,000.[1]

The pavilion was used for the boxing and wrestling competitions of the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.[4]

Many notable performers played at the pavilion, including Danny Kaye, Cliff Richard, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and Slade.[5][4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sophia Gardens Pavilion" (PDF). overthefootlights.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  2. ↑ "Sophia Gardens - Pavilion". Cardiffparks.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  3. ↑ Misstear, Rachael. "Wales weather: Before St Jude Storm see some of the worst weather to hit country". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  4. 1 2 "A brief history of Sophia Gardens". ESPN. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "Jimi Hendrix in Cardiff". BBC. 2010-08-11. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
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