Howells, Grade II listed department store in Cardiff city centre, Wales
Howells is a Victorian department store along St Mary Street in central Cardiff, constructed with an elaborate neoclassical facade and detailed architectural ornamentation from 1875. The building spans multiple levels with ornate stonework and decorative elements that define its presence on the street.
The store was established in 1865 by James Howell as a small fabric shop that grew through successive acquisitions over decades. It underwent major expansion in the 1920s and joined the House of Fraser group in 1972.
The building preserves architectural elements from a former chapel that once stood on this site. This religious past remains visible in the structure today, showing how commercial and spiritual spaces have shared this location.
The building is easily accessible on foot from Cardiff city centre and sits in an active shopping district. It has been closed since 2023 and is undergoing conversion for mixed-use development.
During World War II, part of the building was converted into a parachute factory to support the war effort. This unusual secondary use shows how the city's infrastructure adapted to meet pressing national needs.
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