Pontcanna - History

History

The name Pontcanna stems from Pont Canna Farm, which in turn was named after a bridge across the Whitehouse Brook, a one-time tributary of the River Taff which ran between Llandaff Fields and Riverside. The bridge is believed to have stood near the junction of what, today, are Teilo Street and Cathedral Road. It was removed (and the brook covered up) in 1896. Saint Canna was a 6th century saint.

What is nowadays Pontcanna was almost completely open farmland until the late nineteenth century. The main route, Cathedral Road, was previously known as Pontcanna Lane, running between Plasturton Farm in the south and Pontcanna Farm to the north. In 1854 Sophia, widow of the 2nd Marquess of Bute began to finance the creation of a 41 acre garden on the site of Plasturton Farm, next to the River Taff and Cardiff Bridge. This is now a public amenity known as Sophia Gardens and was a catalyst for the development of Pontcanna.

Between 1885 and 1900 the large villas along Cathedral Road were constructed. They were occupied by the very wealthiest families of Cardiff. Plasturton Avenue and Plasturton Gardens were then added at the turn of the twentieth century.

A large synagogue, designed by Delissa Joseph of London, was constructed and opened at the south end of Cathedral Road in 1896-7. After Cardiff's Jewish community had largely moved to the suburbs, it was closed in 1989. It has been converted into luxury offices.

A Presbyterian Church of Wales, designed by Edgar G.C. Down of Cardiff, was built at the north end of Cathedral Road in 1903. It has since ceased to be a church and has been subdivided into office accommodation.

In 1951 the Sophia Gardens Pavilion was opened. This was a major entertainment venue for the city, hosting top stars such as Danny Kaye and Tommy Steele. In 1982 the roof collapsed after a heavy show storm and the Pavilion was closed.

Some of the large villas along Cathedral Road have been replaced by modern office buildings. For example No.8 Cathedral Road was rebuilt in the 1970s to create offices for Alex Gordon & Partners, architects of Transport House (see below).

Transport House, prominently located at the south end of Cathedral Road, was designed by Alex Gordon Partnership and opened in 1978. It is 5-storeys in height, constructed using pre-cast concrete panels. It is headquarters for the Wales TUC and other trade union organisations.