In transcribing the following paragraphs from the Internet Archive online version, I have expanded the abbreviations for easier reading and added paragraphing, subtitles, and links to material on this site, chiefly images of the university’s colleges. The illustrations are in the original. The Gazetteer has 1856 on the title-page for this volume, but the statements in this essay date it to 1851. — George P. Landow]
CARDIFF [Welsh, Caerdydd], a parish borough and seaport, South Wales, capital Glamorganshire, 1. bank, Taff, over which there is a handsome bridge of three arches, leading to Swansea, 3 miles southeast of Llandaff; lattitude (custom house) 51° 28' 36" N.; Ion. 3° 10' W. (r.)
The principal streets are well built, paved, and lighted with gas, and contain some good houses and shops: but those parts of the town inhabited by the poorer class have a mean appearance. On the north side is an ancient castle, in a tower of which Robert, Duke of Normandy, was confined for 28 years, and had his eyes put out by his brother Henry I. This castle has been modernized by its proprietor, the Marquis of Bute, who converted a part of it into a dwelling-house.
The church of St. John has a lofty and elegant spire, forming a fine feature in the general aspect of the Besides two established churches, there are places of worship belonging to Wesleyans, Baptists, Independents, Calvinistic Methodists, and Roman Catholics, with an infirmary, free school, and a number of other schools and charities. The other public buildings are a county jail, guildhall, and theatre.
The town is governed by a mayor, six aldermen, and 18 councillors; and, conjointly with Cowbridge and Llantrissent, the borough returns a member to the House of Commons. There are no manufactures in Cardiff, the inhabitants depending almost exclusively on the shipping, and on the coal and iron-works in the neighbourhood. The accommodation for shipping being formerly deficient, the Marquis of Bute greatly extended it by constructing a canal and twro spacious docks. The commerce is steadily on the increase, and is already very considerable. In 1848, there wrere shipped for exportation:—iron, 225,819 tons; coals, 659,800 tons; and 121,224 tons of iron ore were imported. Besides iron and coals, considerable quantities of tin are exported from Cardiff, also oats, barley, butter, and poultry. The Taff Vale and A her-dare Railway has a station here. Population (1840) 10,077. [Local Correspondent.)
Links to Related Material
Bibliography
Blackie, Walker Graham. The Imperial Gazetteer: A General Dictionary of Geography, Physical, Political, Statistical and Descriptive. 4 vol South London: Blackie & Son, 1856. Internet Archive online version of a copy in the University of California Library. Web. 15 November 2018.
Last modified 15 November 2018