THE HISTORY OF CARDIFF'S SUBURBS

CAERAU

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Ancient Hill Fort and Roman Villa

MAGNIFY — Map of Caerau in 1940.
Source: OS

mapofcaerau_1940 — Map of Caerau in 1940.
Source: OS

Named after the Welsh word for 'Fort', 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 some residential properties, 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 and 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. In 1894 a Roman villa was discovered on Ely Racecourse and excavations were carried out in 1922. The results showed several outbuildings and bathing facilities used to exist there.

Ely Racecourse

The Racecourse opened in 1855, and by 1864 racing at Ely was a regular event. 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.

20th Century

Caerau House, which unfortunately no longer exists, was built in 1903 and was set near Caerau Wood, with St Mary's Church just up the hill. Its grounds included a farm used mainly for breeding horses.

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.

War Years

The opening of a depot by the Western Welsh Omnibus Company along Cowbridge Road in 1931 was welcome at a time of high unemployment, and when the Depot closed 50 years later, a Safeway superstore was opened in its place.

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.

Housing and Commerce

safeway — Safeway Superstore on Cowbridge Road in the mid 1990s.
Source: Unknown

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 the major local employer, the Safeway superstore, was forced to close after increasing competition from Tesco in Culverhouse Cross. A Lidl store and a gym occupies most of the original complex.

Some of the prefab buildings were demolished by the Council in 2001, due to dangers associated with asbestos used in their construction.

Little new housing has been built in the area, but new Aldi and Farmfoods stores add a much needed boost to local employment.

In April 2012, the popular archaeology programme Time Team was invited by Caerau and Ely Rediscovering Heritage Project (CAER), to help dig and uncover the mysteries of Caerau's ancient hillfort.

Finds included 3,000 year old homes and artefacts.