Council Offices, Caernarfon, Gothic government building in Caernarfon, Wales
The Council Offices in Caernarfon is an administrative building with a three-bay entrance block featuring pointed arch windows and a central doorway. The structure extends between Castle Street and Shirehall Street, combining older elements with modern office facilities added in recent decades.
The building began in 1869 as a county prison, replacing an earlier jail from 1793. It was later converted into the administrative headquarters of Gwynedd Council while retaining parts of its original structure.
The building incorporates a medieval tower from Caernarfon's original town walls, which remains visible as part of its physical form today. This historical element connects the place's administrative function to the medieval heritage that shapes how locals perceive their town center.
The building sits in the center of Caernarfon on Shirehall Street and is easy to locate. Visitors should note that this is an administrative site where access to interior spaces may depend on opening hours and ongoing business.
An artwork in the Castle Street courtyard commemorates Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, a significant figure in Welsh history. The sculpture by artists Glen Hellman and Jonah Jones reveals how this administrative site connects to the region's medieval past.
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