 |
|||
| | |||
 |
|||
 |
   |
||
 |
|||
|
A BRIEF HISTORY OF CARDIFF...
In 2005, Cardiff celebrated two significant Birthdays. It has been over 100 years since it was granted City status, and over 50 years since it was declared Capital of Wales by Edward VII. Cardiff has a long and interesting history and people have lived in Cardiff for thousands of years. But the real history begins in A.D. 43, when the Romans invaded Britain. Many historians believe that the capital takes its name (Caerdydd) from the Roman general Aulus Didius (Caer Didi) which means "Fort of Didius" - where Cardiff Castle now stands. Within 20 years of the Battle of Hastings, the Normans were marching on Wales. In 1091 Robert FitzHamon began work on Cardiff Castle and a small settlement grew up around it. By the Elizabethan times Cardiff was a lawless, pirate-infested port. In 1608 King James I granted a Royal Charter and by the 18th century it was a sleepy backwater of 1,500 people. |
|||
|
|
|||
 |
|||
|
|
|||
|
The Industrial Revolution changed everything. In the 1790's the local gentry, the Butes, built the Glamorganshire Canal to join Cardiff with Merthyr Tydfil, followed by the first Cardiff dock in 1839. The population reached 250,000 in the first half of the 20th century, after being granted city status in 1905.
Cardiff became the biggest coal-exporting port in the world. At its peak in 1913, more than 13 million tons of coal left here. Today, Cardiff is Europe's most dynamic capital city. It's a great place to visit and the ideal base from which to explore the coast, culture and heritage of Wales and western Britain. The Sci-Fi programs Torchwood and Doctor Who, are filmed in the City, as well as the Welsh drama 'Caerdydd". The City is host to many major events, including World Class Rugby at the Millennium Stadium, the massive annual 'Cardiff Festival' and the latest musical talent at the Cardiff International Arena. |
|||
    |
|||
|
What inspired me to create the site?
|
Learn about the geography of Cardiff
|
Disclaimer |
|||
| Site updated: 5th April 2009 | © Matthew Witty 2005 - 2009 | |||
| Best viewed using Firefox 3 or IE 7; 1280 x 1024 resolution; 32-Bit Colour - New content may not show unless you clear your cache. Please enable cookies and pop-ups for this site. | |||
 HOMEPAGE | CARDIFFIANS | IMAGE INDEX | TIME LINE | SUBURBS | LINKS | SITE HISTORY | REFERENCES | FORUM | CONTACT ME | INSPIRATION | GEOGRAPHY | DISCLAIMER | SITE MAP |
|||
