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Adamsdown |
Butetown |
Caerau |
Canton |
Cardiff Bay |
Cathays |
City Centre |
Coryton |
Creigiau |
Cyncoed |
Ely |
Fairwater |
Gabalfa |
Grangetown |
Heath |
Lisvane |
Llandaff |
Llandaff North |
Llanedeyrn |
Llanishen |
Llanrumney |
Maindy |
Morganstown |
Pentwyn |
Pentyrch |
Penylan |
Plasnewydd |
Pontprennau |
Radyr |
Rhiwbina |
Riverside |
Roath |
Rumney |
Splott |
St. Fagans |
St. Mellons |
Thornhill |
Tongwynlais |
Tremorfa |
Trowbridge |
Ty Glas |
Whitchurch |
Caerau became part of
Cardiff in 1922, and lies south of Cowbridge Road West. Places
associated with Ely's history, such as the racecourse and Ely Homes,
actually lay in Caerau due to the area's history being closely
linked with Ely.
The remains of an Iron Age hill fort overlook the modern housing
estate. Even today, though much reduced in size, the earthworks
remain clearly visible. At the summit, a wooden palisade would have
provided cover for defenders to bombard their enemy with stones. For
hundreds of years, this stronghold allowed the Roman forces (called
Silures) to control the Taff-Ely Estuary. In Latin, 'Silures' means
'the people of the rocks', reflecting to the mountainous region in
which they lived. 1,000 years later the Normans recognised its
importance when they built a castle inside the fort. |
In 1894 a Roman villa was discovered
on Ely Racecourse and excavations were carried out in 1922. The
results showed several outbuildings and a bath suite used to exist
there. Caerau House which unfortunately no longer exists, was
built in 1903 and was set near Caerau Wood and St Mary's Church. Its
grounds included a farm used mainly for breeding horses.
By 1864 racing at Ely was a regular event and the races that year
were acclaimed as 'the most brilliant and successful ever held'.
In 1895 the first Welsh Grand National was held and crowds of 40,000
were not uncommon for such an event.
Unfortunately, the racecourse never recovered from a fire in 1937
which destroyed the grandstand. In 1939 the last race to be held
there was won by Grasshopper, ridden by Keith Piggott, father of the
famous Lester Piggott. |
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Ely Industrial School (or Ely Lodge,
as it was also known) provided education and training for orphan or
destitute children who were taught simple trades. Ely Lodge became
Ely hospital in 1948 and was given the responsibility of treating
patients with psychiatric problems. The hospital closed in 1999.
The opening of a depot by the Western Welsh Omnibus Company along
Cowbridge Road in 1931 was welcomed at a time of high unemployment.
The unemployment levels were increased when the Depot closed in
1981, but there was hope when the Safeway superstore was opened in
its place. |
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In 1939 the Air Ministry purchased land in
Caerau Lane to service barrage balloons for the defence of Cardiff
in the second world war. They were sent to various parts of the city
to be deployed as a deterrent against low-flying aircraft.
Ely Racecourse became a site not only for balloons but also for
anti-aircraft guns and a rocket battery. Not until 1939 were plans
put forward to build a major housing estate in Caerau and when the
war ended, prefabricated houses were erected as an emergency measure
to combat the post-war housing shortage.
Many homes and schools were built on the old racecourse, although
enough of it was preserved to become Trelai Park.
In 1999, Safeway was forced to close after increasing competition
from Tesco in Culverhouse Cross, and now a Lidl store occupies most
of the original complex. |
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