Bandstand: Victoria Park, Barry

My previous blog post focused on the bandstand on Barry Island; this post covers the bandstand in Victoria Park, Cadoxton, as well as reporting on one further bandstand, in Barry's Romilly Park, which, sadly, no longer survives.

I'm not sure when the idea of a bandstand in Victoria Park was first mooted but, in the Barry Dock News's 2 April 1909 report on the monthly meetings of the various council committees, it was announced that a tender of £247 17s. had been accepted from Mr H. Fisher for the bandstand's construction. And, in a few short months, building was well underway: the Barry Herald, of 23 July 1909, included information about Victoria Park in an article about newly opened bowling greens:

Victoria Park, Cadoxton, about six acres, is on a lofty eminence, commanding a wide sweep of the Bristol Channel, and is one of the breeziest spots in the district, Originally, it was common land, but it is now enclosed with wall and railings, and is being laid out with paths, gardens, and bandstand....

Just over a century later, the bandstand was receiving 'a renovation makeover'. The Barry and District News 26 March 2016 report explains what was happening, and includes the unsurprising information that the current structure is not, in fact, the original bandstand:

Over the last few years the bandstand has shown signs of water damage and some rot ...

Local craftsmen and carpenters from Woodspec Joinery Specialists are currently carrying out the repairs on the bandstand. This includes custom made stainless covers and rain channels to help prevent leaking on the upper tier.

Larger drainage pipes and renovated gutters will ensure that water flows away from the roof.

Cabinet Member for Visible and Leisure Services, Councillor Gwyn John, said: “With the old ceiling removed and work well underway sealing the upper tier, we are looking forward to seeing the finished result.

"Since the Bandstand was rebuilt in Victoria Park it has become a much loved landmark, and stage for some superb events and music concerts. It’s the centrepiece of the Cadstock Music Festival every year.

“This work will make sure that the bandstand will last for many years to come and will be ready for upcoming events, including African drumming, 2 brass band concerts, several fun-days and of course the Cadstock Festival.”

The original Victoria Park bandstand was built in 1907 by Hill and Smith of Brierley Hill, West Midlands [* incorrect – see below] and survived until the early 1970s.

During restoration of Victoria Park in early 2005 the bandstand was rebuilt as part of the Heritage Lottery funded reconstruction using the original plans, by the Heritage Engineering Company of Glasgow.

* The details about the original bandstand's construction are incorrect, the result of some sloppy journalism by the Barry and District News reporter. They have confused Barry's Victoria Park with Victoria Park, in Denton, Greater Manchester, which also has a very fine bandstand – see the History and Heritage section on the Tameside Metropolitan Borough website.

Romilly Park

There used to be one more bandstand in Barry, in Romilly Park. In the Barry Dock News of 2 April 1909, an article entitled 'Tenders for the parks' reports the acceptance of a tender by Messrs W. Ruckley and Son, for the amount of £261 7s. 3d., for the construction of a bandstand in Romilly Park. The Barry Herald, of 23 July 1909, mentioned that the Romilly Park improvements, including the bandstand, were nearing completion, and there is an article in the Barry Herald, dated 19 August 1910, that describes an illuminated concert in Romilly Park.

In a report on the Coflein website, the bandstand is described as being 'a central focal point of the park' and, further, 'From old photographs it appears to have been hexagonal, with a two-tiered ogee roof'. In fact, the domed bandstand structure is clearly visible in the centre of an undated postcard, the product of F. Frith & Co. Limited, which has been uploaded to the Peoples Collection Wales, and can be seen in several other photographs here, here and here. To my eye, the structure looks almost identical to the bandstand in Victoria Park. Sadly, the Romilly Park bandstand has not survived – the Coflein report mentioned above says the bandstand was removed some time after the Second World War.

Bandstand: Barry Island

There are two bandstands still standing in the south Wales coastal town of Barry. This blog post covers the bandstand on Barry Island; a further blog will cover the bandstand in Victoria Park, Cadoxton.

The bandstand on Barry Island is an elegant structure, though, as it does not appear on the schedule of British listed buildings, I doubt very much that this is the same one mentioned in the Evening Express, of 5 June 1896, where it was reported that 'Lord Windsor has kindly acceded to an application by the Barry Chamber of Trade and Improvement Association for the erection of a bandstand on Barry Island for the entertainment of the public'. 

Despite Lord Windsor's approval, it was some years before improvements got under way. In an article entitled 'Beautifying Barry', the Evening Express, of 4 September 1907, reported that a joint meeting of the public works and licensing committees of the Barry District Council had been held

to consider the report of Mr. W. T. Douglas, M.Inst.C.E., upon the proposed improvement of Whitmore Bay, Barry Island, Pebble Beach, and Porthkerry Park.
Mr. W. J. Williams pointed out that the scheme was estimated to cost over £98,000, exclusive of the purchase of Porthkerry Park and land at the island. He was in favour of leaving the island severely alone, except as to the erection of a shelter and bandstand at a cost of £ 3,000.
Mr. J. A. Manaton disagreed, contending that the large influx of visitors to Barry Island warranted substantial improvements at Whitmore Bay.
The committee recommended that the following works be carried out:-
Sea wall and promenade 1,900ft. long at Barry Island £11,900
Seating accommodation £300
Seven shelters £2,310
Concrete stairs £130
Tar paving and railings for Friar's Point Gardens £2,900
Bandstand and drinking fountain £850
Six shelters and open seating in the East Gardens £530
The proposal to erect a shelter to accommodate 6,000 people at a cost of £16,800 was rejected, and a sub-committee appointed to further consider the portion of the report relating to the Pebble Beach and Porthkerry Park and Bay.

Though I doubt the current Barry Island bandstand is the same one mentioned in these old newspaper reports, I was very pleased to learn that this bandstand is still very much in use, at least during the summer. So, if you're in the local area, you can attend one, or more, of the brass band concerts scheduled for the coming months: the Love the Vale website has the details. Enjoy!