A BRIEF HISTORY OF CARDIFF

Croeso i Gaerdydd! - Welcome to Cardiff!

Cardiff has a history spanning thousands of years, from its small beginnings as a Roman settlement, to growing into a recognised city by 1905.  The docks were responsible for the city's massive growth during the early part of the 20th century, and at one time Cardiff became the biggest exporter of coal in the world.  This was a precurser to Cardiff being made capital of Wales in 1955

In 2010, Cardiff was listed as the 11th largest and most sustainable city in the United Kingdom^[REF] and is currently the 10th most popular city visited by international tourists.^[REF]

The Roman Invasion and Middle Ages

Cardiff has a long and interesting history, and people have lived here for thousands of years.  The real history begins in 43 AD/CE, when the Emperor Claudius ordered his Roman army to invade Britain.

A Roman general, Didius Gallus, was amongst the invasion force that conquered the Silures in South Wales.  After the tribes were defeated, Didius ordered the construction of the first major fortress at Usk.^[REF]

Soon afterwards, a large wooden fort was built at Cardiff, and it is possible that this is where the City gets its name from - "Fort of Didius" (Caer Didius).

However; 'Caer' means 'fort' or 'castle', and 'Dydd' means 'Day' in modern Welsh - so it is unclear how the Dydd spelling came to be used.  Generally - it is accepted that 'Dydd' or 'Diff' is a corruption of 'Taff', the river on which Cardiff castle stands.  In this case, 'Caer-dydd"' would mean the fort on the river Taff.^[REF]  The modern name, Cardiff, is an anglicisation of the ancient Welsh name.

The Roman Empire didn't relinquish its hold over Britain until their departure in 407.  Within 20 years of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, 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 Cardiff a Royal Charter, handing over the running of the town to a Corporation.^[REF]

The Industrial Revolution and Marquises of Bute

By the 18th century, the town was a sleepy backwater of 1,500 people.  In the 1790's the local gentry, the Butes, built the Glamorganshire Canal to join Cardiff with Merthyr Tydfil.

Known as the 'Forefathers of Cardiff", the Bute Family invested their fortunes in constructing the first docks in Cardiff in 1839, betting that their new canal would bring them almost total dominance over the coal export business.

The industrial revolution and railways needed coal to flourish - and Cardiff's new docks supplied it to the world!

The Butes were responsible for the renovation of Cardiff Castle and gave the City's inhabitants Bute Park, Sophia Gardens, and Cathays Park, one of the most impressive civic centres in the world.

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, and at its peak in 1913, more than 13 million tons of coal left here.

A Capital City

Wales has a history spanning many thousands of years, but in all that time did not have a capital city.

In the 1950's, Cardiff had to justify it's nomination (and subsequent victory) for becoming the capital.   Caernarfon, Machynlleth, Aberystwyth, Llandrindod Wells and Swansea were all involved in the fiercely-contested race.^[REF]

Cardiff made it's claim to be capital based on its long history associated with Coal and the fact that Cardiff had such a diverse population comprised of many different ethic groupings. The amount of work and investment in the City allowed it grow faster than other Welsh towns and cities, which brought more and more people to Cardiff.

Cardiff has many assets to reflect its status as capital.  The Millennium Centre, the Millennium Stadium, and the Cardiff Bay Barrage, which was one of the largest civil engineering projects in Europe during construction in the 1990's.

In 2005, Cardiff celebrated two significant Birthdays. It had been 100 years since it was granted City status, and 50 years since it was declared Capital of Wales by Edward VII.  A whole host of television programmes, books and websites (including this one) were commissioned to mark the momentous occasion.

21st Century

Today Cardiff is the youngest and most dynamic, non-purpose built Capital City in Europe.  It's a great place to visit and the ideal base from which to explore the coast, culture and heritage of Wales, western Britain and neighbouring Europe.

The City has successfully hosted many major events, including World Class Rugby, FA Cup and Olympic Football, Test Match Cricket, the massive Admiral sponsored annual 'Cardiff Festival', Mardi Gras, The National Eisteddfod of Wales (Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru), musical concerts both in the stadium and the Motorpoint Arena, and Presidential visits.  The Sci-Fi programs Torchwood and Doctor Who were filmed in the City, as well as the Welsh drama 'Caerdydd".

The docklands and overcrowded district famously known as Tiger Bay, has now regenerated into Cardiff Bay.  Ships and railways exporting coal, iron and tin, mined from the valleys in the north, have now been replaced by cafés, shops, hotels and apartments.  Residents and visitors can look forward to all kinds of entertainment and relaxation.  More importantly, wildlife has begun to thrive again in the cleaner waters.

PAGE UPDATE HISTORY

03 April 2024 (Coding updates)
28-30 September 2018 (Coding and content updates)
30 December 2014 (Site rebuilt and new design launched)
July 2005 (Page Created)