A pavilion was built for the 1951 Festival of Britain and occupied a large space in the southern half of the park, the area where formerly the fountain stood and where there is now a car park. Owing to post-war controls on building materials it was necessary to adapt a war surplus aeroplane hangar to provide the framework for it. The hangar was obtained from Stormy Down aerodrome near Pyle, Bridgend in late 1949. The cost of dismantling and transporting it was £3,400 and rebuilding it in Sophia Gardens was estimated to cost £40,000.[1] The pavilion when completed seated approximately 2,500 people, and the final cost of construction was £80,000.[2] The Cardiff City Engineer at the time, E.C. Roberts, gave an account of the building of the pavilion in an article published in Glamorgan Historian.[3] The official opening, performed by the Lord Mayor, Alderman George Williams, took place on Friday 27th April 1951.[4][5]
Subsequent to the Festival of Britain the pavilion was used for a variety of events and sporting occasions. One such event was a fashion show held in 1952, featured in the British Pathé Film - Fashion Show In Cardiff AKA Berketex Fashions. This short film clip shows the interior of the pavilion, along with shots taken outside in Sophia Gardens. It was also the venue in 1958 for the Empire and Commonwealth Games, held between July 18 and 26th, for boxing and wrestling matches as well as for the grand dance on the last day of the Games.[6]
A wide variety of entertainments were staged at the pavilion over several decades. They included pop concerts and pantomime performances, an example of which is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs December 1967 to February 1968, advertised in the poster shown below.
A heavy snow fall on the night of 9th January 1982[7] caused the roof of the pavilion to collapse. In November the Leisure and Amenities Committee decided that the site be cleared and made safe.[8] In April 1984 the Committee agreed that temporary planning permission be obtained for the site to be used as a car park.[9]
A car park now occupies this space.
Sources of information