Schmap Cardiff Historical Background

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Cardiff - Historical Background
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Cardiff Home
Schmap Cardiff guide and map

Taking its name from the river Taff on which it stands (Caer Taff means fortress on the Taff,) Cardiff is Europe's youngest capital city, only being officially recognised as the capital of Wales in 1955. But the history of the city goes back several thousand years. According to John Davies' A History of Wales, people were living in Wales 250,000 years ago. Evidence of habitation can certainly be traced back to 600 BC, with the arrival of Celts from Europe, but it was the Romans who put Cardiff itself on the map by building a fort here in AD 75. Remains of a Roman wall are still visible beneath Cardiff Castle. The first written mention of Cardiff dates back to 465 AD in the Annates Cambriae (The Welsh Annals). The first Viking attack on the Welsh coast is recorded in AD 850 and then the Normans took over in the 12th century, building Cardiff Castle on the same site. William the Conqueror himself visited Cardiff during 1081.

Invasion and Occupation

During the following centuries, Cardiff remained quite a small entity, relying, like much of the rest of South Wales on the coal and iron industries. But small by no means signified peaceful. There were frequent clashes with the English rulers and well as raids at the hands of the Saxons, Irish and Norse. In 1542 Thomas Capper was burned at the stake in the city for heresy, becoming the first Christian Welsh martyr. In the same year, the second Act of Union came into force, reorganising the structure of Wales, introducing a coherent justice system, but at the same time making English the official language of Wales and barring Welsh speakers from holding public office. This sowed the seeds of a conflict that has lasted until the present day.

Growing Prosperity

Cardiff came briefly to the fore again when Welsh involvement in the English Civil War came to a head with the Battle of St Fagans on May 8th 1648. Occasional re-enactments are still held at the Museum of Welsh Life that now stands on the site. The city really came into its own, however, in the nineteenth century, with the construction of a canal, and the opening of the Taff Vale Railway in 1841. This linked Cardiff with Merthyr Tydfil - the largest iron producing area in the world - such that goods could be transported in less than an hour. This revolutionised the exportation of Welsh coal and catapulted Cardiff to the forefront of the industry. The opening of the East Dock in 1859 by the Marquess of Bute reflected Cardiff's flourishing trade status and resulting population expansion to 33,000.

The Bute family were prominent at this time. Among the wealthiest landowners in Britain, they owned estates in Scotland and Wales, along with Cardiff Castle, Castell Coch (built for the third Marquess of Bute, John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, as a summer residence in 1875 and never occupied), large parts of the city centre and most of Cardiff docks. Under the influence of this new wealth, Cardiff continued to grow in size until it was officially made a city in 1905 by Edward VII. By then, it was the world's major exporter of coal, shipping up to 10 million tons in a year. Indeed, the world's first £1,000, 000 deal was struck in the Coal Exchange, now a concert venue in Cardiff Bay.

20th-Century Cardiff

With the decline of the coal industry, the city became an administrative centre. The Bute family gifted their Cardiff holdings to the city council - with certain height restrictions placed on future building developments, which explains why the civic centre area of the city retains much of its old character. The 20th century saw the building of the City Hall, the National Museum of Wales and the Welsh Office, and then in 1955, it was made the official capital of Wales.

Despite the collapse of many of the industries upon which it has traditionally relied, the end of the 20th century has proved to be an exciting period for Wales. In 1999 Cardiff became the home of the independent Welsh Assembly - a body with many powers, made up of Welsh people to govern Welsh people. The Welsh language is seeing a rise in popularity as it is given equal status alongside English. And the city continues to grow.

For more information on Cardiff, visit the National Museum for an exhibition on the history of Wales from the beginning of time to the present day. The Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre has a scale model of the redevelopment of the docks as well as lots of information about the area.

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Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre

The tube

Harbour Drive
Cardiff CF10 4PA
United Kingdom
+44 29 2046 3833

A major landmark and an award-winning design, the Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre's tube-like appearance resembles the fuselage of a plane. Inside, a dynamic exhibition tells the story of how the bay was successfully resurrected after the demise of one of Britain's busiest ports. The centre also contains a gift shop, information booklets and a large model of the Cardiff Bay development plans. An exciting interactive display of the Spirit of Cardiff, one of the world's most high-tech powerboats which has broken several world records, is on display. Admission is free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre photo by Gareth John Williams

Photo: Gareth John Williams

Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre photo by ashwin.rao

Photo: ashwin.rao

Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre photo by sirens_spaceships

Photo: sirens_spaceships

Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre photo by Garry Bunkall

Photo: Garry Bunkall

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Photo: miketroll

Cardiff Castle

Heart of the city Castle Street
Cardiff CF10 2RB
United Kingdom
+44 29 2087 8100
http://www.cardiffcastle.com/ Cardiff Castle is an impressively gaudy affair with its flamboyant Victorian clock tower and extraordinarily ornate gilded interiors. This site has been crowned a castle, since the early days of the Roman occupation of Wales, and parts of a Roman wall are still visible, beneath the outer battlements. It was the third Marquess of Bute, who with the help of the architect William Burgess, began the grandiose alterations we see today. Admission: adults GBP6.50; child GBP4.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Castell Coch

Sleeping Beauty's castle Castle Rd
(Tongwynlais)
Cardiff CF15 7JQ
United Kingdom
+44 29 2081 0101 Located five miles north of Cardiff Castle, Castell Coch, or the "Red Castle," was built to be its country companion. Built on the foundation of a 13th century castle, it was always intended more as a realisation of a romantic fantasy, than as a practical residence. The castle, which looks like something out of a fairytale, was the culmination of the combined efforts of the Marquess of Bute and William Burges.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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City Hall

Civic majesty Cathays Park
(Cathays)
Cardiff CF10 3ND
United Kingdom
The domed roof of City Hall is one of the landmarks of Cardiff city center and forms the focal point of the civic center buildings. Dating from the turn of the century, it is built of beautiful white Portland stone and has recently been renovated. Inside, the marble hall is dominated by statues of Welsh heroes. City Hall is located next door to the National Museum & Gallery. Opening times vary when the building is in use as it sometimes plays host to special events, but it's worth popping in for a look if you happen to find it open.

Admission is free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Coal Exchange

Small and intimate concert venue Mount Stuart Square
Cardiff CF10 6EB
United Kingdom
+44 29 2049 4917
http://www.coalexchange.co.uk/ Built in 1886 as the coal dealing centre of Great Britain, the Coal Exchange achieved fame in 1911 when the world's first million pound deal was struck within its walls. Today, the building forms an exciting concert venue, with its original architecture and interior columns, balcony and wood paneling preserved. The programme features much jazz and popular music, and for such a small place, some surprisingly famous names have appeared on the stage: The Manic Street Preachers, Ultravox and Jools Holland have all performed here. Early booking is recommended as concerts often sell out - online booking is possible through the website. The centre is also available for corporate and private hire.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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National History Museum

Open-air museum A4232
(St. Fagans)
Cardiff CF5 6XB
United Kingdom
+44 29 2057 3500
http://www.nmgw.ac.uk/mwl This expansive museum is set on an open-air site that incorporates a small castle and the site of a Civil War battle. Most visitors come to see the buildings, which have been taken from all over Wales and carefully moved and rebuilt here. From a medieval church, a terrace of miners' cottages (each one reflecting a different decade) and a wartime shopping centre to the energy-efficient House of the Future, the museum offers a comprehensive view of Welsh life through time.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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National Museum & Gallery

Bringing art to life King Edward VII Avenue
(Museum Avenue)
Cardiff CF10 3NP
United Kingdom
+44 29 2039 7951
http://www.nmgw.ac.uk/nmgc Wales' premier museum is an impressive, white stone building, housing a number of separate exhibition rooms and art galleries. The central exhibition is the multimedia "Evolution of Wales," which documents the history of Wales. The galleries include works by some of the world's most famous impressionist painters, as well as displays by Welsh artists. There are sections on natural history, Celtic art and archaeology, while the new Glanely Gallery offers activities, talks and a hands-on exhibition for all ages. Admission is free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Cardiff - Historical Background"
Cardiff
Cardiff - Neighborhood Guide
Cardiff - Where to Stay
Cardiff - Dining & Drinking
Cardiff - Art & Entertainment
Other nearby cities:
Bristol (42 miles)
Bath (62 miles)
Oxford (136 miles)
Birmingham (136 miles)
Southampton (145 miles)
Plymouth (148 miles)
Liverpool (204 miles)
Manchester (221 miles)
London (223 miles)
Brighton (227 miles)

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