Hear more about this location(Need help with RealPlayer?)This Grade One listed building was built in 1897 and designed by William Frame. His mentor William Burges was the architect of Castell Coch and the newer elements of Cardiff Castle. It was a replacement for the headquarters of the Bute Dock Company which burnt down in 1892.
The firm was renamed Cardiff Railway Company in 1897. A coat of arms on the building's façade bears the company's motto "wrth ddwr a than" (by fire and water) encapsulating the elements creating the steam power which transformed Wales.
Incorporating a French-Gothic Renaissance theme, the Pierhead boasts details such as hexagonal chimneys, carved friezes, gargoyles, and a highly ornamental and distinctive clock tower. Its exterior is finished in glazed terracotta blocks.
These features, along with the Pierhead's role in the development of the docks, Cardiff and industrial Wales earned it the status of a Grade One listed building.
The Pierhead became the administrative office for the Port of Cardiff in 1947 and is now the Visitor and Education Centre for the National Assembly for Wales.
The exhibition provides visitors with a unique opportunity to access the most up-to-date information on who's who, what's happening and how the Assembly works.
The Pierhead is now home to another landmark building, the Senedd, which opened on St David's Day 2006.
your comments
Allan Lee from Hitchin, formerly Canton
I'm so pleased to see it still there, reminding me of boarding a Campbell's paddle steamer at the pierhead for a romantic evening sail to Clevedon with my wife-to-be 60 years ago. How hugely the rest of that area has changed since then. Hurrah for the building saved.
Yvettte Anderton from Cardiff
I think the Pierhead building is very nice and since my dad used to work there I like it more.
Sophie Melhuish, Ely, Cardiff
I reckon the Pierhead building is absolutely amazing - I have never seen anything like it.
Mark Nethercott, Barry
Beautiful as it is as a building with historic significance the Pierhead Building should now become an Icon of a forward looking Wales and Capital City. With the forthcoming closure of the Coal Exchange, serious consideration should be given to its future use for our creative youth and their art forms. Museums abound in the City. The Millenium Centre has its focus clearly tilted towards the so-called 'High Arts' with their restricted, subsidised appeal. Isn't it about time those in positions to make things happen recognise that the Bay needs to 'come alive' - which means attracting the under 25s. Not a small sop - real commitment...and what better than putting such a prominenent building to such use?
In no way is this meant to imply a need to take away from the external beauty of the building, but to signify the need for the Bay to appeal to all.
Paul from Cardiff
I love this building, it looks amazing and stands out even from the modern buildings on the skyline of Cardiff Bay.
Sophie, Zoe, and Charlene, Mary Immaculate High School
We have lived in Cardiff all our life. We visited the pier head building the other day and we took some people from Germany. The thought it is so lush they wanted to move to Cardiff - they said were definitely coming back to Cardiff to book a hotel somewere near the pier head building.
Charlene Payne
I think the building is very extraordinary. It looks absolutely beautiful in the night.
Kevin Martin, Solihull (born in Cardiff)
I visited the Pierhead Building on the weekend and was astounded to see the coat of arms of Cardiff Railway Company had been lovingly restored by a tiler clearly highly trained in geometrics. It was a wonderful restoration and must have taken many months of painstaking work. Furthermore, I would hazard a guess it cost a great deal of money from the £1m refurbishment budget. Why then has some fool come along and plonked a security scanner right in the middle of it? The tiler that restored it must be either laughing or be in tears. Here is another example of a complete waste of money.
kelly marie
I love the site it has loads of infomation its amazing I love the pictures too.
Megan from monmouth
I thought it was really beautiful
