Cardiff Castle

Winter Smoking Room in the Clock Tower of Cardiff Castle with painted ceiling and Burges decoration
Photo: IsaacIvanov, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cardiff Castle was remodelled in the second half of the nineteenth century by the architect William Burges for John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute, one of the wealthiest men in Britain. The interiors are among the most complete expressions of the Gothic Revival in a domestic setting.

The Winter Smoking Room

The Winter Smoking Room in the Clock Tower was completed in 1874. Its six stained glass windows show the Norse gods who gave their names to the days of the week, and the painted ceiling carries the signs of the zodiac, work associated with the artist Frederick Weekes. Burges conceived the room as a single scheme, in which the glass, painted decoration, fireplace and woodwork were designed together.

PlaceDetails
LocationCardiff, Wales
TypeHistoric house and castle interior
PeriodVictorian, 1874
Glass artistsWilliam Burges (architect); Frederick Weekes (designer)

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Published 4 November 2026