The St. Mary Street Conservation Area is one of 27 Conservation Areas within the Cardiff City Council area. It was defined in 1975 to include the area of the walled medieval borough to the south of Cardiff Castle. The area is now dominated by Victorian or early-20th century buildings. It is one of the busiest areas at the heart of the city and includes many shops, cafes, public houses and restaurants alongside offices and financial institutions.

St. Mary Street may follow the line of the main southward medieval road from the castle through the walled borough town. Some properties to the eastern side of St. Mary Street stand in narrow, linear plots, which are thought to reflect the boundaries of medieval burgage plots. 

There is no distinctive architectural style, but rather “the area demonstrates a diverse range of styles, materials and building techniques.” (Cardiff City Council, 2006, 10). Styles present within the area include fine examples of Gothic Revival, Classical Revival, Georgian Revival and Dutch Style buildings with Victorian and Art Deco details. Some buildings, including No.22, have undergone modification in more recent times and present modern façades. Although the finest buildings are generally listed, there are also a large number of unlisted buildings in the area which have architectural merit.

Reference: Report  of a Heritage Impact Assessment and Impact on Setting for 22, St Mary Street, Cardiff, carried out by Trysor in 2022. Trysor Project No. 2022/856.

RCAHMW, 2024.