The Exchange Chambers (Swansea Coal Exchange Buildings) were built in 1913-14 by Henry Billings and Sons to the design of C. T. Ruthen, architect also of the Carlton Cinema in Oxford Street (NPRN 31755) and of the Mond Buildings in Union Street. The main facade is built of Aberdeen grey unpolished granite (lower portions) and Portland stone, with reinforced concrete used in its foundation. The foundation stone was laid by Sir Alfred Mond on Saturday 3 May 1913. Interior consisted of around 80 offices, a restaurant, banking and post office premises, lavatories, and automatic passenger lifts to serve all floors. The building cost an estimated £24,000 and occupies a prominent corner site, between Adelaide Street and Cambrian Place, and opposite the Royal Institution (Swansea Museum NPRN 146). This site was previously occupied by the Hotel de Paris which opened c.1878.

Updated November 2022.

Sources: 'New Exchange: Foundation Stone Laid', The Cambria Daily Leader, 3 May 1913, p.1; 'The New Exchange When Completed', The Cambria Daily Leader, 3 May 1913, p.3; 'The New Exchange', The Cambria Daily Leader, 5 May 1913, p.4