The history of the suburb of Llanrumney

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The name Llanrumney comes from the Welsh word Llan, meaning "Church" or "Parish", and Rumney the Anglicised version of Rhymney (the local river with the same name). Making the literal translation "The Church by the Rhymney River". After the Norman Conquest of Britain in 1066, the lands of Llanrumney were given to the monks at Keynsham Abbey, which was based just across the Severn in Somerset. The monks built a small chapel where Llanrumney Hall, a Grade 1 listed building built in 1450, now stands.

The Hall and it's 700 acre estate was passed to the Kemys family of Cefn Mably in the mid 16th Century, after the dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII. William Kemys left the property to his daughter, who married Thomas Morgan. Sir Henry Morgan, a close relation of Thomas', was a notorious and successful privateer, and considered by many to be one of the most dangerous pirates that lurked in the Spanish Main in the 17th century. It is said that Sir Henry was born in Llanrumney Hall, but there is little evidence to confirm this. Henry's reputation as a fearsome pirate was used in 1944 to create a new brand of Rum. The Captain Morgan Rum Company still produces the drink to thsi day. The Morgan coat-of-arms, dated 1587, can be seen above a fireplace at the hall, where five generations of the family lived. Many of them are buried in the Llanrumney Chapel of St Mellons Church.

The Hall was rebuilt in 1852 and refurbished at around 1900 when at the time it was owned by C.C. Williams, who became the last lord of the manor at Llanrumney Hall. Known as Squire Williams, he was a typical country gentleman and a much-respected local figure. Until 1951, apart from Ball Farm and Mill Farm, the Hall was the only building of significance in the area.

In that year Llanrumney Hall and its parkland were sold by compulsory purchase to Cardiff City Council. Squire Williams could have remained at the hall but, saddened at the loss of his lands, he moved to the Vale of Glamorgan. A few years later Llanrumney Hall was sold to Hancocks Brewery and was converted into a public house. The land was used to provide new homes and, while most of them were council houses, there were private properties as well, some of which still stand at the top of the hill in Ball Road.

Two single sex secondary modern schools were built at the foot of Llanrumney Hill, and opened their doors to pupils for the first time in 1958. They expanded as numbers grew, and the buildings were enlarged and finally combined in the early seventies to form a comprehensive school of 1800 pupils. The Eastern Leisure Centre opened in 1982, and has good links with local schools and community groups.

In recent years, the local authority has been considering plans to close the Llanrumney and Rumney High Schools, as well as the Leisure Centre, and construct a brand new secondary school with new leisure facilities. The plans have been vehemently opposed by Llanrumney and Rumney's residents, arguing that ancient greenland would be lost to the development. The final decision to proceed with, or reject the proposals is expected to be made in late 2009, with the schools closing by 2014.

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