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EXHIBITION

THE ROMAN FORT AT CARDIFF

Cardiff began as a Roman fort, being invaded around 50AD. In the late first century, the fort was reduced in size as Wales was at peace. In the mid-third century, however, it was rebuilt and strengthened to defend South Wales against Irish raiders. In the fourth century Roman civilisation declined, the Romans finally leaving at the end of the century.

CARDIFF IN THE MIDDLE AGES

The town of Cardiff was founded when the Normans conquered the surrounding area of Glamorgan. A Norman, Robert Fitz Hamon, conquered the area and built a wooden castle within the walls of the old Roman fort (the castle was rebuilt in stone in the early 12th century). A small town soon grew up in the shadow of the castle, the population then being between 1,500 and 2,000. Cardiff held weekly markets and after 1340 also hosted two annual fairs, each lasting a fortnight and attracting tradespeople from a wide area. Cardiff was also a busy port in the Middle Ages; the quay was situated roughly where the Millennium Stadium now stands.

In the early 12th century a wooden palisade was erected around Cardiff to protect it, replaced in the late 13th century by a stone wall. The 13th century saw the arrival of the Friars, who settled in two orders: the Dominicans (known as black friars because of their dark attire) and the Franciscans (known as the grey friars). Although they have long since disappeared, the grey friars live on in the street name of Greyfriars Road.

In 1404 the Welsh revolutionary Owain Glendower burned Cardiff to the ground (relatively easy as most of the buildings were made of wood with thatched roofs) but Cardiff was soon rebuilt and flourished again.

CARDIFF IN THE 16th AND 17th CENTURIES

In 1538 Henry VIII closed the two friaries in Cardiff and the buildings were cannibalised for building materials. Around this time a writer described the town: The River Taff runs near the town walls in the west part of the town and washes the walls but somewhat too hard for part of it is thereby overturned (undermined) and the sea flows to the walls where, at the west angle, is a fair quay to which both ships and boats resort. Another wrote, The River Taff runs under the walls of His Honours castle and from the north part of the town to the south part where there is a fair quay and a safe harbour for shipping.

In the 16th century, for the purpose of collecting customs, the port of Cardiff officially extended from Chepstow to Worms Head. Pirates were common, many operating from Cardiff with the connivance of local officials. The navy finally took decisive action to suppress piracy in the early 17th century.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, most foreign trade was with France and the Channel Islands. Coal and iron were exported; salt and wine imported. Goods traded locally included farm produce such as cheese, salted butter, wool, grain and skins. Some coal and iron was also transported from Cardiff to other British ports. Tanned leather was brought to Cardiff along with malt for brewing. In the late 16th century, 16 ships operated from Cardiff.

In 1607 Cardiff suffered a severe flood; in 1642 came civil war. Most Cardiffians followed the King but their support evaporated as his power wained. In 1645 Cardiff was captured by parliamentary troops. The civil war ended in 1646; a Welsh rebellion in 1648 was snuffed out and Cardiff returned to peace.

CARDIFF IN THE 18th CENTURY

In 1774 an Act of Parliament created the Improvement Commissioners, responsible for paving and cleaning the streets of Cardiff and providing oil lamp lighting. In the 1780s East, West, North and Blounts Gates were demolished because they impeded traffic.

From the late 18th century Wales was transformed by the industrial revolution. Increasing amounts of iron were being exported and in 1794 a canal was built to join the docks to the industrial areas to the north of the city. In 1796 a writer said: The inhabitants of this town and neighbourhood carry on a considerable trade to Bristol and send thither great quantities of oats, barley, salt butter and poultry of all kinds and from this town there are not less than 8,780 tons of cast and wrought iron shipped annually to London and other places.

CARDIFF IN THE 19th CENTURY

Throughout the 19^th Century Cardiff grew at a phenomenal pace. In 1801 the population was less than 1,900; by the beginning of the 20^th Century it stood at over 160,000. Exports of coal, grain and iron boomed. Shipbuilding and ropemaking flourished. In 1839 Lord Bute built Bute West Dock, East Dock following in 1855. Roath Basin was dug in 1874, followed by Roath Dock in 1887. The railway arrived in 1841.

In 1835 a covered market was built and in 1853 a new Town Hall was erected. The Coal Exchange opened in 1886 (a building which hosted the first ever one million pound exchange deal in Britain). It was followed by the Pier Head Building in 1896. Two famous arcades, Royal Arcade and Castle Arcade, were constructed in 1856 and 1887 respectively.

Although these changes signalled a great improvement for many, Cardiff was still overcrowded and riddled with disease. Following an outbreak of cholera in 1849 that killed 383 people, a sewer system was designed and constructed, along with clean piped water. In 1823 a dispensary opened where the poor could obtain free medicine. In 1883, the Cardiff Royal Infirmary was built. The first public library in Cardiff opened in 1861.

The University of South Wales was founded in 1893. Roath Park opened in 1894, followed by Victoria Park in 1897 and Cathays Park in 1898.

CARDIFF IN THE 20th CENTURY

Amenities in Cardiff continued to improve during the 20th century: From 1902, electric trams ran in Cardiff (they stopped running in 1950). In 1901 Splott Park opened and Duke Street Arcade opened in 1902. In 1905 Cardiff was made a city and the City Hall opened the following year. Queen Alexandra Dock was built in 1907. The National Museum of Wales opened in 1927 and the War Memorial was built in 1928. The Temple of Peace was built in 1938.

355 people died during World War II and large parts of the City Centre and Butetown were destroyed. Rebuilding culminated in the opening of the Central Bus Station in1954. In 1955, after fending off competition from bitter rival Swansea (some 50 miles down the coast), Cardiff was made the capital city of Wales.

In the 20th century the port of Cardiff declined drastically. The old manufacturing industries (particularly coal) also declined but were largely replaced by new service industries including tourism. The docks have since undergone radical revitalisation.

The St Davids Shopping Centre opened its doors in 1981, followed by Queens West in 1987 and the Capitol Centre (built on the site of the bulldozed Capitol Theatre) in 1990. The National Ice Rink opened in 1986 and a new Central Library in 1988. Finally, the Millennium Stadium opened in 1999 to great acclaim and hosted the Rugby World Cup the same year.

CARDIFF IN THE 21st CENTURY

At the beginning of the 21st century Cardiff is a flourishing city. Attractions in Cardiff include the new Mermaid Quay, the Oval Basin and the Atlantic Wharf Leisure Village. The population now stands at 321,000.

Cardiff University is now one of the most popular establishments of further education in the UK, the city and country of Wales as a whole continues to produce high achievers in the areas of sport and entertainment and there are plans to involve Cardiff in the 2012 Olympic Games.

The city stands at the beginning of the new millennium with a solid history and plans for a bright future.