The immense task of changing the course of the Taff took place during 1849-53, to make space for a main station and railway bridge, and to remove the main cause of the town's flooding.
But it meant the former river bed was now what Prof Rees describes as "an open sore, its stagnant water a danger to public health". The South Wales Railway Company was told by the council to sort it out, but it did nothing. Eventually, the council accepted responsibility and by about 1864 had covered it and developed the land.
The immense task of changing the course of the Taff took place during 1849-53, to make space for a main station and railway bridge, and to remove the main cause of the town's flooding.
But it meant the former river bed was now what Prof Rees describes as "an open sore, its stagnant water a danger to public health". The South Wales Railway Company was told by the council to sort it out, but it did nothing. Eventually, the council accepted responsibility and by about 1864 had covered it and developed the land.
In the paving stones on the alleyway next to St John's Church you may have noticed several metal numbers.
The numbers refer to burial vaults underneath the ground.
The path that runs from the back entrance of Cardiff Market to Working Street was built right through the church graveyard so people could access the market easily, gaining the nickname 'Dead Man's Alley'.
It is uncertain whether the bodies remained in place or if they were moved to another part of the churchyard. But when the path was laid the positions of the vaults were marked by brass numbers.
In the paving stones on the alleyway next to St John's Church you may have noticed several metal numbers.
The numbers refer to burial vaults underneath the ground.
The path that runs from the back entrance of Cardiff Market to Working Street was built right through the church graveyard so people could access the market easily, gaining the nickname 'Dead Man's Alley'.
It is uncertain whether the bodies remained in place or if they were moved to another part of the churchyard. But when the path was laid the positions of the vaults were marked by brass numbers.
The last man to hold the office of ale taster was a lucky man called Edward Philpot. The ancient, coveted role was exactly as it sounds: making sure that ales and beers were of good quality. The office disappeared in the mid 19th century.
The last man to hold the office of ale taster was a lucky man called Edward Philpot. The ancient, coveted role was exactly as it sounds: making sure that ales and beers were of good quality. The office disappeared in the mid 19th century.
Not many people know Cardiff has a second castle.
Known as Morgraig Castle, it is over 600 years old but was only rediscovered at the turn of the 20th century. It is near the Travellers Rest pub on the way to Caerphilly Mountain.
Not many people know Cardiff has a second castle.
Known as Morgraig Castle, it is over 600 years old but was only rediscovered at the turn of the 20th century. It is near the Travellers Rest pub on the way to Caerphilly Mountain.
Temperance Town was a working class suburb built in the 1860s on the land that used to be the festering sore left when the river was diverted and demolished in the 1930s to make way for Cardiff Bus Station.
It was centred around Wood Street, which is named after Colonel Wood, who sold the land on which it is built. Wood was a staunch teetotaller who made it a condition that no inns or public houses were to be built there. By the 1930s it was impoverished and overcrowded. The last two people to leave Temperance Town were Mr & Mrs Henry Arthur Hannam who lived at 32 Eisteddfod Street.
Just the other side of the city centre was Newtown, once one of Cardiff's busiest suburbs and packed with large Irish Catholic families who had come over to work in the docks.
The terraced houses of Newtown, which was also known was Little Ireland, were demolished in the 1960s and have now been replaced with city high rises and new developments.
Temperance Town was a working class suburb built in the 1860s on the land that used to be the festering sore left when the river was diverted and demolished in the 1930s to make way for Cardiff Bus Station.
It was centred around Wood Street, which is named after Colonel Wood, who sold the land on which it is built. Wood was a staunch teetotaller who made it a condition that no inns or public houses were to be built there. By the 1930s it was impoverished and overcrowded. The last two people to leave Temperance Town were Mr & Mrs Henry Arthur Hannam who lived at 32 Eisteddfod Street.
Just the other side of the city centre was Newtown, once one of Cardiff's busiest suburbs and packed with large Irish Catholic families who had come over to work in the docks.
The terraced houses of Newtown, which was also known was Little Ireland, were demolished in the 1960s and have now been replaced with city high rises and new developments.
Now one of the most popular parks in the city, Victoria Park was once home to Cardiff's zoo and full of exotic animals.
Over the years the collection grew to include Wally the Kangaroo, peacocks, gazelles, parrots, raccoons, and a three-foot long alligator.
Despite the varied collection of animals the zoo politely declined offers of lions and Indian snakes. Right up until the First World War the zoo rivalled Bristol's but, after the war, money was short and the zoo declined. By 1935 all that remained was a peacock, guinea pigs, and some hares.
Now one of the most popular parks in the city, Victoria Park was once home to Cardiff's zoo and full of exotic animals.
Over the years the collection grew to include Wally the Kangaroo, peacocks, gazelles, parrots, raccoons, and a three-foot long alligator.
Despite the varied collection of animals the zoo politely declined offers of lions and Indian snakes. Right up until the First World War the zoo rivalled Bristol's but, after the war, money was short and the zoo declined. By 1935 all that remained was a peacock, guinea pigs, and some hares.
It's a showpiece of Cardiff today, but the land where the civic centre (the prestigious part of town where the museum, City Hall, university and crown court) is today wasn't even part of the town at all for centuries.
Cardiff ended at Queen Street and was open country beyond that, where ploughing matches took place, until about 1860. But this area was known in the 15th century as the Dawbyng Pittes, where the townsfolk dug the clay for daubing on their wattled houses.
It's a showpiece of Cardiff today, but the land where the civic centre (the prestigious part of town where the museum, City Hall, university and crown court) is today wasn't even part of the town at all for centuries.
Cardiff ended at Queen Street and was open country beyond that, where ploughing matches took place, until about 1860. But this area was known in the 15th century as the Dawbyng Pittes, where the townsfolk dug the clay for daubing on their wattled houses.
Although people were hanged at Gallows Field, or Death Junction, they were more commonly hanged at the gallows in the county gaol, which is where the market is today. The gallows itself, known locally as "the drop" or "the evil cross", was about 30 yards from the street. We'll let you work out if that's on the spot where you buy your lunch today. In 1315, 15 thieves were hanged there.
The original jail in the city was a horrifically grim place within the walls and dungeons of Cardiff Castle. It was so awful, prisoners who became ill were said to have "the dreaded gaol fever which lurked in these dark and noisome dens of filth and disease". Dozens of people died there, having spent their last days in thumb screws and shackled in irons.
In the 19th century, 19 men and one woman were hanged within the St Mary Street gaol, the most famous of whom was working class martyr Dic Penderyn, a labourer involved in the Merthyr Rising of June 1831, who was actually hanged outside the jail at what is now the St Mary Street entrance to the market.
Although people were hanged at Gallows Field, or Death Junction, they were more commonly hanged at the gallows in the county gaol, which is where the market is today. The gallows itself, known locally as "the drop" or "the evil cross", was about 30 yards from the street. We'll let you work out if that's on the spot where you buy your lunch today. In 1315, 15 thieves were hanged there.
The original jail in the city was a horrifically grim place within the walls and dungeons of Cardiff Castle. It was so awful, prisoners who became ill were said to have "the dreaded gaol fever which lurked in these dark and noisome dens of filth and disease". Dozens of people died there, having spent their last days in thumb screws and shackled in irons.
In the 19th century, 19 men and one woman were hanged within the St Mary Street gaol, the most famous of whom was working class martyr Dic Penderyn, a labourer involved in the Merthyr Rising of June 1831, who was actually hanged outside the jail at what is now the St Mary Street entrance to the market.
There is nothing there to mark the spot today but hundreds men died in what is now just a quiet field on the edge of the city.
The Battle of St Fagans was the last big battle of the long-running English Civil War, the fight between parliamentarians and forces loyal to the king.
On May 8, 1648 they met at this site, which is between St Fagans Museum and the A4232 link road. By the time the battle was done, between 300 and 700 people were dead.
There is nothing there to mark the spot today but hundreds men died in what is now just a quiet field on the edge of the city.
The Battle of St Fagans was the last big battle of the long-running English Civil War, the fight between parliamentarians and forces loyal to the king.
On May 8, 1648 they met at this site, which is between St Fagans Museum and the A4232 link road. By the time the battle was done, between 300 and 700 people were dead.
There are loads of them. A medieval tunnel built by monks runs underneath the city centre and Bute Park, another runs from the BT building on Park Street to Cardiff Castle, built in the late 1970s by the then British Post Office to carry cables.
A tunnel was found in the basement of the Angel Hotel on Castle Street, which was thought to lead to Cardiff Castle and may date back to the 13th century. There are also tunnels under St David's Centre, the Ely River and Culverhouse Cross.
There are loads of them. A medieval tunnel built by monks runs underneath the city centre and Bute Park, another runs from the BT building on Park Street to Cardiff Castle, built in the late 1970s by the then British Post Office to carry cables.
A tunnel was found in the basement of the Angel Hotel on Castle Street, which was thought to lead to Cardiff Castle and may date back to the 13th century. There are also tunnels under St David's Centre, the Ely River and Culverhouse Cross.
This is well-known, of course, but worth including for this picture alone, which gives you an idea of how Mill Lane could look if it still had the canal that used to run along it. This is the end of Mill Lane which joins the top of St Mary Street.
The Glamorganshire Canal carried steel, iron and coal between Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff until it progressively closed between 1898 and 1951. When it was first built it ran alongside the town's walls.
The vast majority of the canal is now buried under Cardiff's expansion or the busy A470. A canal also ran along Churchill Way — plans to bring it back were revealed earlier this year.
This is well-known, of course, but worth including for this picture alone, which gives you an idea of how Mill Lane could look if it still had the canal that used to run along it. This is the end of Mill Lane which joins the top of St Mary Street.
The Glamorganshire Canal carried steel, iron and coal between Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff until it progressively closed between 1898 and 1951. When it was first built it ran alongside the town's walls.
The vast majority of the canal is now buried under Cardiff's expansion or the busy A470. A canal also ran along Churchill Way — plans to bring it back were revealed earlier this year.