Cardiff’s rich culture and history has a diverse range of influences, from the Romans and Normans of antiquity to the industrial revolution and the coal industry – which played their parts in transforming Cardiff from a small town into a thriving, international city.
4000 BC Since prehistory, people have lived in the tiny settlement that grew up to become the city we know today
The first Neolithic migrants crossed southern Britain into South Wales
1500 BC In all of northern Europe Welsh was the dominant language
43 AD Aulus Didius, the Roman general, was amongst the Roman invasion force that finally managed to overcome the Welsh tribes in South Wales. The name Cardiff is an Anglicisation of Welsh name “Caerdydd”. It has never been clearlt established where the name “Caerdydd” originates from
“Caer” mean fort or castle, but although “Dydd” mean day in modern Welsh, it is unclear what was meant in this context. It is believed that “Dydd” or “Diff” was a corruption of “Taff” the river on which Cardidd castle stands.
It was arranged for the building of a small wooden fort, by Aulus Diduis, where the Castle now stands and some people believe that this is where the City gets its name from. The Roman Empire, once in control of Britain, brought an era of peace and expansion to Wales.
Many of the roads which are still in use today, closely mirror the original Roman trade routes from years ago. The main one is the A48 which runs from Gloucester to Carmarthen via Newport, Cardiff, Bridgend and Neath.
43-300 AD The fort was reduced in size, following the period of peace, however, during the 3rd Century , frequent hits were beginning to be made on South Wales by Irish raiders. The result of this was that the fort was rebuilt and strengthened to help repel the attacks.
445 AD Apart from in the Annates Cambriae ( The Welsh Annals), where the first written reference of Cardiff is found, there is not much mention of Cardiff between now and the 1st millennium. It is known, however, that the Romans started losing their grip on Britain when they were overrun by Barbarians.
850 AD The first recorded not of a Viking attack is made on the Welsh coast
1081-1090 20 years after William, Duke of Normandy, also known as William the Conqueror, wins the Battle of Hastings in 1066, he marches on into Cardiff for his first and only visit after conquering Glamorgan. During his stay he commissioned the building of a wooden fortification very close to the River Taff and then went on to use the original Roman defences as the base of his building.
Robert FitzHamon, William's Kinsman and Earl of Gloucester, took charge of the area, and was responsible for the construction at this time. He built the motte (mound) with a wooden stockade within the site. In the 12th century his son-in-law, Robert the Consul, built the stone keep which is visible today.
1100 Around this time a small town had begun to establish itself outside the castle and was primarily made up of settlers from England
1107 The first bishop of a Welsh diocese to profess obedience to the Archbishop of Canterbury was Bishop Urban of Llandaff, appointed by the Normans
1111 The first town hall was built this year and consisted of a wooden palisade
1126 Robert the Consul and Bishop Urban signed an agreement on settling disputes between them and the first record of a mayor being present in Cardiff, Ralph, dates from this year.
The Duke of Normandy was imprisoned in Cardiff Castle
1136 The Polygonal stone keep, found in Cardiff Castle was probably begun this year on the order of Robert the Consul. At 35 feet it was the highest built ever, anywhere in Wales
1147 The author of “History of the Kings of Britain”, Geoffrey on Monmouth, and who first popularised the stories of King Arthur and his knights, became Archdeacon of Llandaff. He remained in this position until his death in 1154. He dedicated his book to Robert the Consul who died this year
1175 St Mary’s Church was rebuilt and enlarged
1180 St John’s Church is believed to have been built around this time and was done so with the intention of being an independent chapel within the town walls. It allowed parishioners a wider choice of places to worship.
1185 The borough of Cardiff was burnt and the castle was damaged during a widespread uprising of the Welsh under the formidable Lord Rhys
1188 The Archbishop Baldwin of Canterbury, accompanied by Gerald of Wales, on a tour of Wales called the volunteers for the third crusade at Llandaff. Gerald described Cardiff Castle as having high walls and 120 men-at-arms with a larger number of archers
1189 Prince Joh was made Lord of Glamorgan in this year
1206 Now King, John confirmed that Cardiff’s charters included the right to hold two weekly markets and two annual fairs
1217 Cardiff came into the hands of the powerful Clare family.
1218 The establishment of Llandaff Cathedral chapter has been completed by now.
1211 The monks who had resided at St Mary’s Church up until now, were withdrawn and sent to Tewksbury Abbey
1233 Cardiff Castle was captured by Richard de Burgh, the earl marshal, during the course of a power struggle with Henry III.
1242 The Dominican Priory of the Black Friars was founded on the western side of the castle next to the present Cooper's Fields and outside the town walls.
1270 The Construciton of Castell Coch by Gilbert de Clare is believed to have begun this year following an attack that took place on his Caerphilly Castle by Prince Llewellyn ap Gruffydd of Gwynedd. It is believed that the Black Tower at the South Gate of Cardiff Castle was built around this time by Gilber as well as his order to rebuilt the town wall in stone.
1284 Approximately around this time the Franciscan Friary of the Grey Friars, with the largest church in Cardiff at 154 feet long, was founded on the eastern side of the castle outside the town walls on the side of the current Capital Tower.
1316 Cardiff was badly damaged following attacks made by Llawelyn Bren, the son of Gruffydd ap Rhys
1318 Following being captured by Hugh Despenser, in the Brecon Beacons, Llewellyn Bren was executed in Cardiff Castle. It is believed that his body was buried in Grey Friars.
1324 The earliest craft guilde in Cardiff, workers in leather, had its privileges confirmed by Edward II
1326 Cardiff was made a stable port for the export of wool and hides but, as it was not a royal borough, Carmarthen took over this role eight years later.
1331 The Town Hall was built in the High Street for the administration of the borough and it was also used as Cardiff's first market hall. It continued to be used for some 400 years and included a court room with a gaol beneath it.
The leper hospital of St Mary Magdalen was founded outside the town's East Gate.
1340 The oldest existing charter for Cardiff dates from this year when the town had a population of 2,000 - 3,000 making it the largest borough in Wales.
1349 The Black Death first hit Cardiff.
1402 Owain Glyndwr attacked Cardiff during his Welsh rebellion.
1404 Owain Glyndwr's troops attacked Cardiff for the second time, capturing the castle and inflicting great damage on the town. The bishops palace or castle at Llandaff was destroyed at the same time became abandoned following this.
1425 Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, built the Octagonal Tower in Cardiff Castle.
1451 Richard Nevill, Earl of Warwick, issued a charter in which he praised the burgesses for their efforts to fortify and defend Cardiff.
1473 The rebuilding of St John's Church with its 130-feet high tower was completed after 20 years' work as Cardiff recovered from the Glyndwr attack. The tower was paid for by Anne Nevill who was later to marry Richard III.
1480 Around now came the death of the poet Deio ab leuan Du who wrote the words which appear on Cardiff's coat of arms: 'Y ddraig goch ddyry cychwyn' ('The red dragon will show the way').
1536 Wales was united with England from this year, the marcher lordship of Glamorgan was abolished and Cardiff became part of the new shire of Glamorgan and its county town. The Herbert family quickly became a powerful force in the town and, with the ending of the medieval restrictions on them, Welsh people now began making their homes and established businesses in Cardiff.
1537 Money left by Thomas Howell was meant to be used to found a girls’ school in Llandaff. Following a dispute concerning the will however, the school was not actually built until 3 centuries later
1538 Cardiff's two friaries, with a total of 15 friars, were dissolved by Henry VIII. The Franciscan Grey Friars was converted to a mansion by the Herbert's but the Dominican Black Friars was left to deteriorate into ruins.
1542 Thomas Capper was burnt at the stake in Cardiff for heresy. A radical Protestant, he was the first religious martyr in Wales since Roman times.
1543 The English Militia system was introduced for the first time with regular
musters of all males aged 16 to 60.
1552 On a visit to Cardiff, the antiquary John Leland described it as well- walled with five gates and a mile in circumference.
1564 At Tongwynlais an iron foundry was established by the Sussex ironmaster Sir Henry Sidney.
1573 Cardiff became head port for the collection of customs duties, one of four such ports in Wales.
1574 Extensive repair and restoration work was carried out on Cardiff Castle by Henry Herbert
1577 A successful campaign to stamp out piracy in the Bristol Channel based on Cardiff was started.
1581 The first royal charter granted by Elizabeth I was given to Cardiff
1582 The old timber bridge across the River Taff in Cardiff was replaced by one made of stone.
1595 William Morgan, translator of the Bible into Welsh in 1588 became Bishop of Llandaff, a position he held until 1601.
1596 St Fagans Castle was completed about now and there was fighting between the followers of two prominent local families, the Lewises and the Matthews.
1597 Nearly 40 people died following a fever in the town's County Gaol this year.
1607 'The Great Flood' occurred in January causing devastation along the coast of South Wales. The foundations of the old St Mary's Church were fatally weakened and St Johns become the parish church as a result. St Mary Street is named after the ancient church.
1608 James I confirmed Cardiff's royal charter and a new annual fair was introduced on November 30th in addition to those starting on June 24th and September 8th of this year.
1610 John Speed, the famous cartographer created the first known maps of Cardiff and Llandaff
1631 The Puritan vicar of St Mary's, William Erbery, was forced to resign and his curate, Walter Cradock, had his licence revoked because of their extreme evangelical views.
1642 At the start of the Civil War, Cardiff Castle was occupied for Charles I by William Seymour, the Marquis of Hereford. At the Battle of Edgehill, the Royalist MP for Cardiff, William Herbert was killed.
1643 Books and documentary records from Llandaff Cathedral were burnt by Parliamentary soldiers on Cardiff Castle green.
1645 Charles I spent a week at Cardiff Castle trying unsuccessfully to raise financial support for his course. Later this summer the castle and town surrendered to a Parliamentary army.
1646 According to the parliamentary sources, 'the Battle of the Heath' took place to the North of the town for control of Cardiff and its castle. Some 250 Royalists were claimed to have been killed.
1648 In May at St Fagans, in the last major battle ever to occur in Wales, some 8,000 Royalists were defeated in a two hour fight by 3,000 Parliamentary troops of the New Model Army with about 200 soldiers, mainly Royalists, killed. Of the 3,000 Royalist prisoners taken, four officers were executed and 240 men were transported to Barbados
1650 The first state school in Cardiff was established by Cromwell's Commonwealth government . It was closed again in 1660 with the restoration of Charles II.
1661 A Quaker meeting in the town was stopped and around 40 Quakers, suspected of disloyalty to the newly restored monarch, Charles II, were imprisoned.
1666 Cardiff's first Angel Hotel was opened a short distance from the present hotel next to the Cardiff Castle.
1678 Francis Place drew the first known depiction of Cardiff, a pen and wash drawing from the west bank of the River Taff.
1685 An English Quaker, Thomas Briggs, is recorded as having walked naked through Cardiff to emphasise and display the virtues of simplicity.
1696 Part of the wall of Llandaff Cathedral collapsed and its bell fell to the ground, an indication of the ruinous condition it was in at this time, but a Presbyterian chapel was built in Womanby Street.
1698 The last recorded burial in the old St Mary's churchyard
1703 The battlements of the north-west tower of Llandaff cathedral collapsed following a gale which hit Cardiff
1708 The oldest of the bells of St John's Church was cast this year and the cattle market was moved from inside the town walls to a site near the East Gate.
1713 The Old Brewery in St Mary Street, originally known as Williams Malthouse, was opened.
1723 Part of the south-west tower of Llandaff Cathedral collapsed, adding to its dilapidated state.
1729 Eight men and three women died in the towns County Gaol following a second bout of fever to hit the towns gaol
1731 A pub first opened on the site now occupied by the Owain Glyndwr and was initially called the 'Mably Arms' (or possibly the Buccaneer), and over the centuries has been called the 'Kemys Tynte Arms', 'The Tennis Court' and 'The Buccanneer' before its current name.
1739 The tower of St John's Church was used as the towns first fire station
1746 Llandaff Court, now part of the Cathedral School, was built for Admiral Thomas Matthew.
1747 A new Guildhall completed in St Mary Street, continued to be used for over a century.
1750 Melingriffith tinplate works in Whitchurch was opened on the site of an old iron forge.
1755 In November, the Bristol Channel including Cardiff was affected by the 'tsunami' tidal wave from the great Lisbon earthquake.
1760 Town Quay or Old Quay, the bigger of the two quays where Westgate Street is now, was rebuilt and extended to about 50 yards, the latest in a series of reconstructions dating back to the Middle Ages.
1767 A road was built between Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil, reputedly financed by the ironmaster Anthony Bacon.
1770 The bridge over the River Taff at Llandaff was rebuilt.
1774 An Act was passed for 'the better paving, cleansing and lighting of the streets of Cardiff
1777 The landscape architect, Lancelot “Capability” Brown laid the grounds of Cardiff Castle and for Cardiff Workhouse which was opened and able to accommodate approximately 200 people
1781 In an attempt to ease the flowing of traffice through the town, the East and West Gates of Cardiff were demolished.
1782 Crockherbtown Street - now Queen Street - was paved for the first time.
1786 Cardiff's medieval past disappeared when both the North Gate and Blount's Gate were demolished.
1792 Following a major which hit Cardiff, part of the town walls and the bridge over the Taff were swept away.
The first bank was opened in Cardiff and was situated on the site were Lloyds bank on the High street now stands.
The Cardiff Arms Hotel opened its doors for the first time this year. The hotel went on to give its name to the famous sports stadium in Cardiff, Arms Park.
1794 In February the 25-mile-long Glamorganshire Canal was opened between Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil to bring iron products to the coast and for nearly 50 years was the main transport link between the two towns.
1796 A new stone bridge was built over the Taff
1798 Cardiff gained its first harbour when the Glamorganshire Canal was extended by a mile with a sea-lock
Custom House was built near East Canal Wharf.
1799 The end of the century saw the end of lines of pack-houses bringing coal down from the mines north of Cardiff to the town.
1801 The first official census was held and showed that Cardiff had a population of 1,870 - much smaller than other Welsh towns like Merthyr Tydfil (7,700) and Swansea (6,000).
1802 The last of Cardiff's five medieval gates, South Gate, also known as Moor Gate, was demolished.
1806 After 500 years of work, The Cordwainers, the oldest craft guild in Cardiff, ceased to exist following the sale of their hall in Duke Street.
1807 Still found in its original position, the Melingriffith water pump, based at Whitchurch, first came into operation in this year and was used to lift water into the Glamorganshire Canal
1808 With just 62 pupils, a works school for the children of Melingriffith tinplate workers was opened in Whitchurch
1809 The Rhondda Valleys were linked to Cardiff by a tramway connecting with the Glamorganshire Canal at Pontypridd.
1811 The population of Cardiff is reported to be around 2.457 following a second census of the area
1812 The two ancient parishes of St John and St Mary were combined and Aberdare became linked to Cardiff by a branch of the Glamorganshire Canal.
1814 The sea lock of the Glamorganshire Canal was extended
1816 The first coal was shipped from Cardiff through the seal lock of the Glamorganshire Canal, previously used mainly for handling iron products.
1818 Following 80 years of being used as the town’s fire station, St John’s Church tower ceased being used
1819 Cardiff Savings Bank was established.
1820 A daily four-horse coach service to Merthyr Tydfil was started.
1821 Cardiffs population was 3,251.
Gas lighting became available in the town with a gasometer in the Hayes.
1822 The first newspaper, The Cardiff reporter, was founded
1823 The Glamorgan and Monmouthshire Dispensary was opened near St Johns Church.
1826 The Theatre Royal, which was Cardiff’s first purpose built theatre, was built and was found were the current Park Hotel stands
Ebeneser Welsh Chapel was founded.
Cardiff's Mechanics' Institute was established in the Town Hall.
1827 Cardiff Bridge was swept away by floods.
1829 Richard Tredwin opened the first dry dock in Cardiff
1830 There were now 15 pilots based at Cardiff compared with just 4 in 1800.
1831 Cardiff now had 6,187 inhabitants.
Following the Merthyr riots that took place this year, Richard Lewis, was hanged outside the Gaol for his alleged involvement. Cardiff Gaol was then located where the current Central Market now stands
1832 Cymreigyddion Caerdydd Welsh Society was founded
1833 Cardiff's first Eisteddfod was held in a Queen Street pub.
The Cardiff and Merthyr Gazette was first published.
A new County Prison was opened in Adamsdown and the old gaol in St Mary Street became the Town Gaol.
1835 Cardiff became a corporation with an elected council, the first elected mayor and two wards under local government reform.
The first covered market in Cardiff was opened.
One of Cardiff's most famous public houses, the Old Arcade, was also opened in this year.
Bull-baiting - held between St John's Church and Kingsway - was made illegal.
The first branch of a National Bank to be established in Cardiff was that of the National Provincial (now known as Westminster) Bank.
1836 A small Police force was formed in the town and Jones Court off Womanby Street was built
Later known as St David’s Hospital, a Cardiff Board of Guardians was established to administer the Poor Law, and a new workhouse found on Cowbridge Road was built
Thomas Revel, who was the first Mayor of Cardiff was elected
1837 A new Glamorgan and Monmouthshire Dispensary with 20 beds was opened in Queen Street on the site of the medieval leper hospital.
Horse racing ended at the Great Heath after about 80 years.
1840 The Taff Vale Railway was opened between Cardiff and Abercynon and soon overtook the Glamorganshire Canal in economic importance.
Cardiff now became an independent port able to register its own vessels.
1841 Cardiff's population had grown to 10,079.
The Taff Vale Railway was extended to Merthyr Tydfil.
A Jewish burial ground was opened at Highfield this year.
1842 As a result of the settlement of Irish people in Cardiff, the Roman Catholic church of St. David was founded in Bute Terrace.
Many people were killed as the first wave of the Cholera epidemic hit Cardiff
1844 Cardiff Turnpike Trust became redundant as responsibility for highways was taken over by a county road board for Glamorgan.
1845 Cardiff Cricket Club was formed.
1846 Aberdare became linked to Cardiff by an extension of the Taff Vale Railway into the Cynon Valley.
1847 A year on from its first recognition, an epidemic of Typhus had claimed the lives of nearly 200 people in Cardiff
The ground which was to become known as the 'Cardiff Arms Park' held it's first sporting event - a Cricket game.
1849 Following an outbreak of Cholera in Cardiff around 350 people were killed. The result of this was that Adamsdown cemetery became full to capacity very quickly.
The Rhondda Valleys became linked to Cardiff by an extension of the Taff Vale Railway.
850 The South Wales Railway from Chepstow to Swansea through Cardiff was opened.
The last mail coach left Cardiff on its way to London.
A Board of Health was established for the town.
A sign that Cardiff was growing in international importance was that by now there were around 20 foreign consulates in Cardiff
Cardiff General Railway Station was built
1851 The population of Cardiff had reached 18,351.
This year coal shipments from Cardiff exceeded one million tons for the first time.
1852 The first direct trains ran between Cardiff and London.
1853 The risk of flood threats in Central Cardiff were reduced by the completion of the diversion of the River Taff
Cardiff's oldest statue, that of the second Marquis of Bute, was erected at the bottom of High Street, near the Central Hotel.
1854 The new Town Hall was opened in the High Street.
200 more lives were claimed following a second epidemic of Cholera
1855 In December the first historical trainload of Rhondda steam coal arrived at Cardiff where the Bute East Dock was opened.
The first horse races were held at Ely, 16 years after they had ended at the Great Heath.
1856 A tidal harbour was constructed at the mouth of the Taff.
1857 The last public execution in Cardiff took place outside the prison.
In and around Caroline Street, 150 people lost their lives following an outbreak of a smallpox infection
The Cardiff Times weekly newspaper was founded
A steamboat ferry service began operating between Cardiff and Penarth.
1858 The Rhymney Railway was completed connecting Cardiff with the mines of the Rhymney Valley.
The royal arcade, the oldest in Cardiff was opened
Sophia Gardens, owned by the Bute family were opened for the first time to the public. The result of this was that Cardiff’s first park was created.
The first Jewish synagogue was opened and located near Charles Street.
1859 To cope with the increasing coal trade, the Bute East Dock was extended further to cover a total of 45 acres.
The first hansom cabs ran in Cardiff.
Howells School for Girls in Llandaff was founded.
Cardiff Bridge was rebuilt.
A permanent seamen’s hospital was created in a converted old sailing ship called the Hamadryad. Following suit another vessel, the Havannah, became a school for poor children
A reservoir was built at Cogan to supply water to Cardiff.
It is believed that around 420 prostitutes were working in and around Butetown in this year
The first library, which was voluntary was opened in the Royal Arcade
1862 Cardiff set up its own Pilotage Authority
On Wood Street in Temperance Town an amphitheatre music hall was opened. It later went on to become the Wood Street Congregational Church. It was one of the biggest churches in Wales with the capacity to seat approximately 3000 people. The church was replaced in the 1960’s by the City Planning offices and these remained on the site up until as recently as 2005 when it was demolished. It is believed that a new 31 story tower, the tallest in Cardiff, will be built on the site in the near future.
Opened originally as a church, the Masonic Hall in Guildford Crescent was opened.
1865 After a long dispute between the South Wales Railway and the town council over cost, the reclaimed bed of the River Taff was completely filled in, and is where the Millennium Stadium, and Cardiff Arms Park now stand.
An electric telegraph service reached Cardiff.
The paper mill at Ely was founded.
1866 The last Cholera outbreak of the century claimed many lives.
The first pleasure boat trips from Cardiff to Weston-super Mare began in a converted tug, the Joseph Hazell.
The Cardiff Chamber of Commerce was founded.
1867 The Cardiff Naturalist Society was founded.
The octangal spire of Llandaff Catherdral was completed
1868 The third Marquis of Bute (21 at the time) and his architect William Burges began their transformation of Cardiff Castle.
The Norwegian Church was built near Bute West Dock entrance.
The Castle Mews, now part of the Welsh College of Music and Drama, were built as stables in the Butes' Home park.
1870 Cardiff Technical Institute was founded.
The Cardiff Medical Society, one of the oldest in Britain, was established.
The first school was built for the children of Llanedeyrn
1871 Cardiff now had a population of 57,363.
1872 The South Wales Daily News was launched.
Building of the Cardiff Castle's Clock Tower was completed
1873 The Wood Street Bridge in the City Centre was opened.
Public wash houses became available in Guildford Crescent.
1874 The first mission of The Salvation Army in Wales was opened in Canton
Cardiff Arms Park hosted its first Rugby game.
Cardiff Rowing Club was formed.
1875 Cardiff's boundaries were extended to include Canton, Cathays and Roath.
Elementary education was brought to the town foe the first time by the newly founded Cardiff School Board
A Victorian Railway warehouse was built in the docks
Much later, the warehouse was skilfully redesigned and converted into the 'Cardiff Bay Hotel'.
1876 Cardiff Arms Park hosted the first game between the newly formed Cardiff Rugby Club and Swansea.
Following the enlargement of the gaol in April the first privately conducted execution in Cardiff took place.
1877 The original Theatre Royal burnt down, but fortunately two new Theatres, the Empire Theatre and the Grand Theatre, were opened this year.
The first public telephone service was launched
1878 A new Theatre Royal opened and is now known as the Princes Royal
The old Cardiff Arms Hotel, the park's namesake, was demolished.
Cardiff Police Fire Brigade was formed.
Cardiff's first purpose-built board school was opened .
Cardiff RFC became one of the founding members of the Welsh Rugby Union.
1879 The oldest statue in Cardiff, that of the Marquis of Bute, was moved from its position on the High Street to the southern end of St Mary’s Street
The responsibility of the water supply to the town was taken over by the council
1881 The first grandstand - with seats for 300 - was built at Cardiff Arms Park.
The first gas storage unit was built on Ferry Road in Grangetown.
The newly opened Maindy Barracks became the base of the Welsh Regiment
St David’s Hospital, previously known as Cardiff Workhouse was extended
1882 Brains Brewery was founded.
The first Central Library was opened. .
1883 Cardiff University College was founded.
Construction began on the new Glamorgan and Monmouthshire Infirmary, on Glossop Road, Roath, which was to be later renamed to the Cardiff Royal Infirmary. In 1911 it was renamed to King Edward XVII Hospital, and later still in 1923, back to Cardiff Royal Infirmary.
The Angel Hotel, still present today, was opened
1884 The first editions of the South Wales Echo were produced this year.
Wales defeated Ireland in the first international game played at Cardiff Arms Park.
Cremation was made legal in Britain after the Welsh Druid Dr Williams Price was put on trial in Cardiff, for the burning his deceased infant son's body. Dr. Price argued that the burial of human bodies was damaging to the environment and as a result, was cleared of all charges.
The Indoor Market was badly damaged by fire
1886 Following an embezzlement of nearly £30,000 from its funds the Cardiff Savings Bank collapsed
1888 Glamorganshire County Cricket Club was founded.
The Cardiff Coal Trimmers' Union was founded and within a year grew to a 1,000 members.
1889 A former and future Prime Minister, William Gladstone was made a freeman of Cardiff
Upon being recognised as a county borough, Cardiff became independent of the new Glamorgan County Council
Cardiff Castle's Roman walls were discovered during excavations
1890 The Clarence Road Bridge in Grangetown was opened by the Duke of Clarence replacing a wooden toll swing bridge.
The Animal Wall was erected in front of the castle.
1891 Cardiff had a population of 128,915.
The Central Market was opened.
The domestic science college was established.
1892 Following a fire the Merchants’ Exchange building, located in the docks, was completely destroyed
The first reservoir to supply water in Cardiff from the Brecon Beacons was completed.
1893 University College in Cardiff became part of the new University of Wales.
The South Wales Institute of Engineers building in Park Place, now Brannigans, was completed. The institute is now situated in West Bute Street, in Cardiff Bay.
1894 Roath Park, which was the first municipally-owned park in Cardiff was opened
The Salvation Army took over Stuart Hall in The Hayes which had used previously as a theatre.
1895 The first Welsh Grand National steeplechase was run at Ely Racecourse.
Lansdowne Road Hospital was opened.
Cardiff High School for Girls was founded.
1896 The first public exhibition of films in the town took place in the Empire Theatre and in the same year the first news film ever shot in Britain showed the Prince and the Princess of Wales in Cardiff, where the Prince opened an extension to the Central Library.
A new cholera hospital was opened on Flat Holm island.
1897 The world’s first radio signals were transmitted successfully by Guglielmo Marconi across water between Lavernock and Flat Holm
1898 Cardiff High School for Boys was opened.
1899 The Empire Theatre was burnt down.
Riverside Football Club - later to be renamed Cardiff City - was formed.
1900 A milestone in trade union history, resulting in new legal rights for unions, took place following the Taff Vale Railway strike which was based on Cardiff
A pedestrian tunnel was constructed under the River Ely from Ferry Road to Penarth Dock.
The heaviest snowfall for 14 years occurred in February of this year
A small zoo was opened in the town and could be found in Victoria Park
1901 Cardiff's population had ballooned to 164,333.
1902 The last horse-drawn trams ceased operation in the town, and the first electric trams came into service with power provided by a new power station in Colchester Avenue, close to where Sainsbury's Superstore is now.
1903 The first building in the new Cathays Park civic centre was completed.
The University of Wales Registry, was opened.
1904 The Town Hall was opened in Cathays Park. The Gothic Park House in Park Place (which is now the home to Bar Burges) was used as a local government office.
The County Court building in Westgate Street was opened.
Cardiff School Board was abolished and the town council took over its responsibilities.
1905 Cardiff was granted its City Status by King Edward VII at a cost of £104 in old money
In December, the Welsh Rugby Team were declared 'unofficial champions of the world' when the Welsh Triple Crowns defeated the previously all conquering All Blacks, in the Wales v New Zealand game in the Arms Park.
1906 The Hamadryad Hospital was opened in the docks to replace the badly ageing hospital ship of the same name.
The Law Courts and Museum Avenue in Cathays Park were opened.
1907 The Queen Alexandra dock, the largest in Cardiff, was opened.
The last woman to be hanged in Cardiff was Rhoda Willis, who was found guilty of murder
The first aircraft to be designed and built in Wales, a monoplane called the 'Robin Goch', was constructed in Cardiff this year by Charles Horace Watkins. He built the aircraft entirely at his own home.
1908 Paulo Radmilovich won gold medals at the Olympics.
The Roller Rink was opened in Westgate Street.
Whitchurch Hospital was opened.
Cardiff's first Boy Scout troop was formed.
Riverside Football Club changed its name to Cardiff City.
1909 The Electra Cinema was opened in the City Centre.
The War Memorial and the statue of Lord Tredegar were unveiled in Cathays Park.
1910 Captain Robert Scott's expedition left Cardiff in the Terra Nova, on a voyage to the Antarctic. Tragically, Scott never made it back to Cardiff
Cardiff City became a professional club and the first match was played at Ninian Park.
The Globe Cinema in Albany Road opened its doors
1911 Cardiff had a population of 182,259.
The Cardiff Railway was opened with a 108-yard tunnel at Tongwynlais.
1912 Olympic gold medals were won by Paulo Radmilovich and Irene Steer for swimming and David Jacobs in the track relay.
Glamorgan County Hall in the civic centre, now Glamorgan House, was completed.
King George V laid the foundation stone in the National Museum of Wales
The Welsh Cup was won for the first time by Cardiff City
1913 The creation of Rhiwbina Garden Village began
Mrs Emily Pankhurst spoke to a suffragette rally in the city and was afterwards charged with incitement to cause damage and imprisoned.
1914 Thousands of men volunteered for the forces, including 'The Cardiff Pals' 11th Battalion of the Welch Regiment, when the first World War started
The tolling of the curfew bell at St John's Church at 8 p.m. ended.
1915 Women were employed on the Cardiff trams as drivers and conductors for the first time ever
1916 Cardiff gained a new cathedral, St David’s, following becoming a Roman Catholic archdiocese
The Cardiff Technical College was open in Cathays.
Roald Dahl - author of many famous children's books including 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', 'The Witches'and 'Danny the champion of the World' - was born on September 13th, in Llandaff this year.
1917 A new fire station was opened on Westgate Street.
Women were employed as taxi drivers, Cardiff was one of the first places in Britain to do this
1918 American troops paraded for the first time ever in the city in July.
The memorial lighthouse to Captain Scott was unveiled in Roath Park Lake.
1919 Riots concerning Race resulted in the deaths of three people.
Following the Spanish flu pandemic that had hit the town the previous year, hundreds of Cardiffians died
Twelve men lost their lives in an oil tanker explosion in Cardiff Docks.
1920 The first motor buses began running in Cardiff.
Paulo Radmilovich won another Olympic swimming gold medal.
Cardiff City joined the Football League.
1921 Cardiff's population was 222,827, an increase of over 40,000 people in just 10 years.
The Capitol Cinema in Queen Street opened and was the largest purpose-built cinema in Britain at the time.
The Trades Union Congress held its annual conference in Cardiff for the first time.
The chapel at Cardiff Infirmary was built.
The first women jurors in Cardiff were sworn in
1922 The Bute Docks, the Taff Vale Railway and the Cardiff Railway were sold to the Great Western Railway, and for a short time this made it the busiest and most important rail system in the world at the time.
1923 In February of this year the BBC began broadcasting in Cardiff from the studios in Castle Street
Cardiff Infirmary changed its name and became known as the Cardiff Royal Infirmary
Reconstruction work on Cardiff Castle this year included the North Gate built in Roman style.
1924 The widening of Duke Street, and knocking down of old buildings near the Castle, provided much more space for the increasing traffic through the City Centre.
BBC studios were opened in Park Place.
1925 The Welsh School of Architecture was founded
1926 Cardiff was one of the many Cities in the UK that became a casualty of the nation-wide General Strike in May.
The Animal Wall was moved from in front of the castle to its present position opposite Westgate Street.
1928 The Welsh National War Memorial was unveiled by the Prince of Wales in Cathays Park.
Publication ceased of the South Wales Daily News of Cardiff
Greyhound racing started at the Arms Park and Ninian Stadium, as did Speedway racing at Sloper Road.
Many peoples homes were damaged or destroyed as a result of the twister that hit the city in November of this year
1929 The Jazz Singer, which was the first movie with sound, was shown at the Queen’s Cinema
1930 Two of the towns newspapers merged, these being The Cardiff Evening Post and the South Wales Echo
Roman Catholic schools for both Boys and girls were openend this year. St Illtyd’s College for Boys and Heathfield House School for girls
The phasing out of the use of tramcars began
1931 Cardiff had a population of 226,937.
The Welsh National School of Medicine was founded.
Cardiff Airport was opened on Pengam Moors.
1932 In Westgate Street the Grand Theatre was closed but Cardiff’s Little Theatre was founded
1934 Following construction Cardiff Central Station was re-opened
The first traffic roundabout in Cardiff come into operation at the junction of Cardiff Road and Western Avenue.
1935 The first RAC Welsh Rally started from Cardiff.
The Olympia Cinema (later the ABC) was opened in Queen Street.
The isolation hospital on Flat Holm was closed.
Cardiff market was badly damaged following a fire
1936 On Queen Street and St Mary Street the first pedestrian crossings in the City were out to use
1937 In two separate incidents both the Grandstand at Ninian Park and the Grandstand at Ely Racecourse were destroyed by fires
Unemployment in the city reached over 20 percent due to the huge drop in shipping in the docks, and the tonnage of coal exported was on a downward spiral.
Depsite opposition being voiced by the Police, the first family planning clinic in Cardiff was opened.
With the impending Second World War on its way Gas masks were distributed throughout the City
1940 Food rationings were introduced during the second year of the war and following a number of raids in the city, 20 people lost their lives
1941 156 people were killed following the heaviest German raid on the city. Property was also affected with Llandaff Cathedral being severely damaged, Dewi Sant Church in Howard Gardens was destroyed and Cardiff Arms Park was also hit. In a later March raid, some 50 people were killed and St David's Roman Catholic Cathedral was also badly damaged.
1942 Six people died in a March air raid.
Services were resumed at Llandaff Cathedral in April.
1944 Nine people died in Llanishen in March during a German air raid. The last raid on the city took place in May. About 75 per cent of the supplies for the American forces in Europe were shipped out through Cardiff docks following the D-Day landings in June.
This year, Parc Cefn Onn was given to the city by George Williams.
1945 VE Day and VJ were celebrated as World War Two ended. 200 survivors of the 77th Heavy Artillery Regiment returned to the city after four years as prisoners-of-war of the Japanese.
1946 The Prince of Wales Theatre held its first staged performance of the Welsh National Opera
The records of many leading coal mining and shipping companies were lost in a fire in the docks which destroyed Merthyr House.
1947 The last recorded case and consequent death as a result from diphtheria occurred in the City
1948 The Welsh Folk Museum (now the Museum of Welsh Life) was opened at St Fagans on land given by the Earl of Plymouth.
1949 The Cardiff (later Welsh) College of Music and Drama was founded.
A Bishop of Llandaff became Archbishop of Wales for the first time.
The first Welsh-language primary school in Cardiff was opened.
1950 The last electric tram in Cardiff made its final journey from St Mary Street to Whitchurch Road.
The world's first regular helicopter service began between Cardiff, Wrexham and Liverpool.
A Ministry of Labour office, later a Jobcentre, was opened in Westgate Street.
1951 Cardiff had a population of 243,632.
Maindy Stadium was opened.
The Glamorganshire Canal was finally closed.
Cardiff's boundaries were extended to include Rumney and St Mellons.
1952 Mahmoud Mattan was the last person ever to be executed in Cardiff prison where he was hanged. His conviction, however, was later quashed in 1998 following the revelation of new evidence.
The Wenvoe transmitter was opened bringing BBC television to the Cardiff area.
Cinemas were allowed to open on Sundays for the first time.
1953 Cardiff Institute for the Blind was built.
The open air market was moved from Hayes Island to Mill Lane.
1954 Cardiff Airport was moved from Pengam Moors to its current home in Rhoose.
1955 Following a 10 year long campaign Cardiff was officially recognised as the capital city of Wales
1956 After a period of 70 years Cardiff ceased being a fishing port.
1957 Now part of the University of Wales, the former Cardiff Technical College became the Welsh College of Advanced Technology
After 100 years, the Cardiff Times ceased publication.
1958 The Commonwealth Games came to Cardiff for eight days in July and the 50-metre Wales Empire Pool was built for the event.
The Labour Party gained control of the City Council for the first time this year.
A major redevelopment scheme got under way in Butetown.
1959 This year Cardiff had its first woman Lord Mayor, Helena Evans.
Manor Way, which runs through Whitchurch, was opened.
Tiger Bay, the movie partly shot in Cardiff was in cinemas this year.
St David's Roman Catholic Cathedral was reopened after repairs to damage caused by the War.
1960 There was serious flooding at the end of the year when the River Taff burst its banks.
The statue of David Lloyd George outside the National Museum was unveiled.
1961 Cardiff had a population of 283,998.
Pubs in Cardiff were allowed to open again on Sundays for the first time since the 1880's.
There was a record crowd of 61,506 at Ninian Park for a Wales- England international.
After being based in St Mary Street for over 80 years, the South Wales Echo and the Western Mail moved to Thomson House in Havelock Street.
The city's first multi-storey car park was opened in Greyfriars Road.
Cardiff's first bingo club was opened in on Cowbridge Road in Canton.
1962 A mass vaccination programme was carried out in the city following an outbreak of smallpox
1963 The new Arts Building of the University College in Cathays Park was opened.
The Rover car factory was opened in Tremorfa.
1964 The restoration of Llandaff Cathedral after wartime damage was completed.
The Welsh Office was established in the former Welsh Board of Health building in Cathays Park.
The first traffic wardens went on duty.
1965 A branch of the Samaritans was opened in Cardiff.
Bessemer Road wholesale fruit and vegetable market began trading after being moved from Mill Lane.
1966 The Central Hospital at the Heath was opened.
1967 The BBC moved from Park Place to new studios in Llandaff. Colour television was broadcast for the first time in the City.
Cardiff's boundaries were extended to include Llanedeyrn, Whitchurch, Radyr and Rhiwbina.
The Temple of Peace in Cathays Park was severly damaged following an extremist bomb
1969 The Royal Pageant of Wales was held in the city to mark the investiture of the Prince of Wales.
The city police force was merged with Glamorgan to form the South Wales Police.
Peacocks were reintroduced to Cardiff Castle grounds for the first time since the War.
1971 Cardiff had a population of 293,220.
The University Hospital of Wales at the Heath was opened. In order to deal with the massive increase in traffic to the area and the Hospital, the Gabalfa flyover, Eastern & Northern Avenues were opened.
The Commercial Bank of Wales was founded by Sir Julian Hodge.
1973 The Cardiff-born scientist Brian Josephson was joint winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics.
The Inland Revenue tower block in Llanishen was completed.
Cardiff General Station was officially renamed to became Cardiff Central.
The Westgate Street Fire Station was demolished to make way for a multi-storey car park.
1974 The city's main fire station was moved from Westgate Street to Adamsdown, opposite the Prison.
Cardiff's boundaries were extended to include Lisvane, St Fagans and Tongwynlais.
1975 The Panasonic factory in Pentwyn started manufacturing electrical components, and still does under the name of Matsushita Electric (UK) Ltd.
The Welsh College of Music and Drama was moved from the castle after 26 years there to new premises on North Road.
1976 Water cuts were enforced in the Summer due to a prolonged drought.
Cardiff celebrated its 1,900th birthday this year.
Cardiff Rugby Club celebrated its centenary.
1977 The first Royal Variety Show in Wales was held at the New Theatre.
1978 East Moors steelworks closed with the loss of over 3,000 jobs, a signal of the end of Cardiff industrial connections.
The first Welsh language comprehensive school, Ysgol Glantaf, was opened
1979 Concorde landed at Cardiff-Wales Airport for the first time.
A fire in the City Hall dome caused major damage.
Serious flooding occurred at the end of the year as the River Taff overflowed again.
1980 Commercial radio was broadcast for the first time in the City
The M4 around the city was completed.
1981 Cardiff had a population of 285,740.
The open air market was moved to Bridge Street from Mill Lane.
Princess Diana became a city Freeman.
1982 Heavy snow caused the roof of Sophia Gardens Pavilion to collapse.
Pope John Paul II made the first-ever Papal visit to Wales in June, celebrated Mass in Llandaff Fields and was made a Freeman of Cardiff.
The Welsh-language television channel S4C was established in the city.
In Pentwyn, the private BUPA Hospital was opened.
1984 Guildford Crescent Baths, now the site of the Ibis Hotel, were closed.
This was the last year in which corporal punishment was allowed in schools in Cardiff.
1986 Wales National Ice Rink was opened and Cardiff Devils ice hockey team formed.
1987 Cardiff Bay Development Corporation was established to transform largely derelict land in the south of the city, which was to become Cardiff Bay.
David Bowie fronted the first music concert held in the Arms Park.
1988 The University College merged with the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology to form the University of Wales, Cardiff.
Wales's first ten-pin bowling centre was opened on Newport Road.
1989 The Wales on Sunday newspaper was launched.
1990 'The Tube' - a tourist attraction and visitor centre in Cardiff Bay, was opened this year.
A Rolling Stones concert was held at Cardiff Arms Park.
1991 Cardiff's population had risen to 296,900.
1992 Cardiff's first multi-screen cinema, the five screen Odeon in Queen Street, was opened this year.
1993 The Dalai Lama of Tibet visited Cardiff in May.
The Queen opened the Courtyard Galleries in the National Museum and the Cardiff International Arena.
Cardiff City won the Welsh Cup for the 22nd time.
1994 One million passengers were handled in a year for the first time at Cardiff Airport.
The weekday South Wales Echo changed from broadsheet size to tabloid.
Construction began on the Cardiff Bay barrage.
1995 Plans for a Cardiff Bay Opera House were rejected.
1996 Local government reorganisation saw Cardiff revert to the unitary status it had enjoyed from 1889 to 1974, which meant it was now a County of its own, and a Capital City.
Cardiff's boundaries were extended to take in Creigiau, Pentyrch and Gwaelod-y-Garth.
1997 A 26-lane ten-pin bowling Hollywood Bowl and the 3,000 seat 12- screen UCI Cinema opened in the Atlantic Wharf Leisure Village in Cardiff Bay.
A new retail park was also opened in the Bay, and is home to Asda, Argos, and Ikea amongst others.
In September, Cardiff again voted against the establishment of a National Assembly for Wales.
In Adam Street the new Territorial Army centre was opened after the old TA building near the Millennium Stadium was demolished.
1998 The most important diplomatic event in Cardiff's history occurred in June when the city was host to the European Union summit meeting.
President Nelson Mandela of South Africa visited the city during the meeting and was made a Freeman of Cardiff.
Bank One International of Chicago decided on Cardiff as the site of its European headquarters.
The Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum in the Bay was closed after 21 years to make way for the Mermaid Quay complex. The museum was transferred to Swansea.
The city's second Welsh-language comprehensive school was opened at Plasmawr.
1999 Cardiff City celebrated its centenary.
The final stages of the Rugby Union World Cup were held in the Millennium Stadium. In the opening game at the stadium in June, Wales defeated the world champions, South Africa for the first time.
The election of the first National Assembly for Wales too place in May which was officially opened by the Queen in temporary accommodation in Crickhowell House in the Bay.
Ely Paper Mill closed after over 130 years with the loss of almost 500 jobs.
There were now almost 20,000 university students studying in the city.
In March, regardless of the public outrage, Cardiff Royal Infirmary closed, and the emergency services transferred to a brand new state of the art emergency unit on the University Hospital of Wales campus.
2000 In December, Businesses and deprived communities in Cardiff, were approved to receive a share of about £70,000,000 of the Objective 2 European Funding programme for South East Wales.
2001 Cardiff had a population of 305,353.
Welsh singing sensation Tom Jones, performed to a huge crowd from inside Cardiff Castle.
7.5 million pounds worth of Televisions and Microwaves were destroyed in a fire at Panasonics' Warehouse in Pentwyn.
2002 Cardiff celebrated the Queen's Golden Jubilee in June. Cardiff was one of six UK cities short listed to be the 2008 European Capital of Culture. Liverpool won the title in 2003.
2003 Cardiff University and the University of Wales College of Medicine merged this year. The merger created nearly 3,000 jobs, and became the home to more than 20,000 students.
2005 This year Cardiff celebrated its 100th year as a City, and 50th Year as Capital of Wales.
2006 The first works began in the Hayes for the new development of the St. David's 2 project.
The 120 year-old Central Hotel at the end of St. Mary Street was demolished after the building was damaged beyond repair, as a result of a serious fire in 2005. A new apartment block has been constructed on the site
Sophia Gardens joined an exclusive list of just 8 venues able to hold Test Matches. The home of the Glamorgan County Cricket Club is also the only venue in Wales, the other 7 being in England. In 2009, Sophia Gardens will host the Ashes Test match between England and Australia.
On 1st March 2006 (St. David's Day) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II arrived in a snow covered Cardiff to open the new debating chamber for the Welsh Assembly.
In December, South West England and South Wales bore the brunt of a number of successive Winter Storms, which damaged homes, brought down power lines, delayed transport networks and uprooted many trees in Cardiff.
2007 Seeing in the New Year across the UK were more 80mph gales and after a brief respite of a few weeks, Cardiff had one of it's heaviest snowfalls in decades in mid February which lasted for two days and got up to 8 inches in many places.
On April 2nd, the National Assembly for Wales introduced a nationwide smoking ban
With the best of intention all of the above information is true, correct and given in good faith, however, we cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions contained within the above.
Equally we recommend that should you need or want to find out more you should conduct more detailed independant research.
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