The history of the suburb of Grangetown

The suburb of Grangetown is named after the stretch of land between the Taff and Ely rivers. As with many districts in Cardiff, a solitary farm, the Grange, worked the lands right up until the early 20th century. The Grange farmhouse is one of the few farms in the City that has escaped the fate of demolition. Located in Clive Street, the building is estimated to be over 800 years old. Since the 13th Century, the Grange has been leased to various tenants until it passed to the Plymouth Estate in 1730.

Farming in the district continued as normal, but once Penarth Road and the bridges across the Taff and Ely were constructed in the mid 1850's, the area slowly began to lose its centuries old rural characteristics. When Grangetown became a suburb of Cardiff in 1875, the entire area had rapidly become urbanised. A link with Butetown were established when the Clarence Road swing bridge was completed in 1890. Named after the Duke of Clarence, the bridge was reconstructed in 1976 and is still in use today.

It crosses the River Taff parallel to the Wood Street bridge less than a mile away. The opening of the new Clarence Road Bridge attracted national coverage on television as James Callaghan, (MP for Cardiff South at the time), cut the tape while making his first public appearance as Prime Minister.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, Grangetown attracted large businesses such as an ironworks and the Cardiff Gas and Coke Company. The old gas storage chambers could still be seen until the mid 1990's, when the Cardiff Bay retail park came along. In 1885, Ephraim Turner established his builders business in Havelock Place, and went on to to build the City Hall and Law Courts, to name but a few magnificent buildings; and the business still thrives today! Hancock’s Brewery and S.A. Brain, once great rivals, until S.A. Brain bought out Hancock's.

Grange Gardens is an attractive park, and there is also a playing field at Sevenoaks Park in Sloper Road. The famous recreational area - The Marl - which contains sporting facilities, is also home to Grange Albion Baseball Club, which celebrated it's centenary in 2007.

Penarth Road has gradually been filled with Car Showrooms, Warehouses and Fast Food outlets. The Royal Mail sorting office is based here, as is a large antiques dealer. Ferry Road and Windsor Quay have been redeveloped with attractive homes and a prosperous retail park. The new Cardiff International Swimming Pool opened in 2008 and the remainder of the Sports Village is nearing completion.

For a very detailed history of the suburb, plus many rare images, please visit the excellent site www.grangetowncardiff.co.uk

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