Brangwyn Hall
Encyclopedia
The Brangwyn Hall is a concert venue in Swansea
. It is named after the artist Frank Brangwyn
, whose famous "panels", originally intended for the House of Lords
, are displayed there.
The Brangwyn Hall is part of the Swansea Guildhall complex, and is used for awards ceremonies and social events as well as classical music concerts and rock concerts. Among the ceremonies held at the Brangwyn Hall are the annual Chinese New Year
celebrations (for the Chinese community in Swansea) and the graduation ceremony for students graduating from Swansea University
and Swansea Metropolitan University. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales
frequently use this venue when performing in Swansea. Additionally, the BBC has filmed some scenes from the Doctor Who
episodes "Silence in the Library
" and "Forest of the Dead
."
The British Empire Panels were commissioned in 1924 as a means of commemorating the First World War. Brangwyn, who had worked as an official war artist
, was selected by the sponsor, Lord Iveagh, an Irish
peer. He chose to create a "decorative painting representing various Dominions and parts of the British Empire
", and five finished panels were displayed in 1930. The work was completed in 1932, but the House of Lords had already rejected it as too colourful and spirited.
The town of Swansea was in the process of erecting its new Guildhall, which included a large assembly hall. The ceiling of this room was raised in order to show off the panels, and the building was inaugurated in 1934.
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. It is named after the artist Frank Brangwyn
Frank Brangwyn
Sir Frank William Brangwyn RA RWS RBA was an Anglo-Welsh artist, painter, water colourist, virtuoso engraver and illustrator, and progressive designer.- Biography :...
, whose famous "panels", originally intended for the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, are displayed there.
The Brangwyn Hall is part of the Swansea Guildhall complex, and is used for awards ceremonies and social events as well as classical music concerts and rock concerts. Among the ceremonies held at the Brangwyn Hall are the annual Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
celebrations (for the Chinese community in Swansea) and the graduation ceremony for students graduating from Swansea University
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
and Swansea Metropolitan University. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales is a Welsh symphony orchestra and one of the BBC's five professional orchestras. The BBC NOW is the only professional symphony orchestra organisation in Wales, occupying a dual role as both a broadcasting orchestra and national orchestra.The BBC NOW has its...
frequently use this venue when performing in Swansea. Additionally, the BBC has filmed some scenes from the Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
episodes "Silence in the Library
Silence in the Library
"Silence in the Library" is the eighth episode of the fourth series of the revived British science fiction television series Doctor Who, first broadcast on 31 May 2008. It is the first of a two-part story, followed by "Forest of the Dead", and is the second two-parter Steven Moffat contributed to...
" and "Forest of the Dead
Forest of the Dead
"Forest of the Dead" is the ninth episode of the fourth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast by BBC One on 7 June 2008...
."
The British Empire Panels were commissioned in 1924 as a means of commemorating the First World War. Brangwyn, who had worked as an official war artist
War artist
A war artist depicts some aspect of war through art; this might be a pictorial record or it might commemorate how "war shapes lives." War artists have explored a visual and sensory dimension of war which is often absent in written histories or other accounts of warfare.- Definition and context:A...
, was selected by the sponsor, Lord Iveagh, an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
peer. He chose to create a "decorative painting representing various Dominions and parts of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
", and five finished panels were displayed in 1930. The work was completed in 1932, but the House of Lords had already rejected it as too colourful and spirited.
The town of Swansea was in the process of erecting its new Guildhall, which included a large assembly hall. The ceiling of this room was raised in order to show off the panels, and the building was inaugurated in 1934.