Contact the Convenor – Stuart Swinburne
This group meets on the third Friday of the month in the morning at Eglwys Dewi Sant in St Andrew’s Crescent, Cardiff. Sometimes we will go on short “walk and talk” tours or meet at a place of interest. But you will always get good notice of activities on the web-site and from regular e-mail updates.
Local history is such a potentially diverse subject there are many new areas that can be explored together, from the archaeological history of the area to very recent times. The people, the politics, architecture, industry, culture, fashions, sport etc. all have their history. Through taking information from external sources and sharing the knowledge our group members have we will investigate our local history through a series of themes:
Cardiff Districts
Iconic Cardiff
Influential families in Cardiff
Origin & lives of ethnic groups in Cardiff
Cardiff characters
Cardiff transport
My view is that history is not ours to re-write (as many try to do) but to learn from. The group will tease out the lessons that local history teaches us so that we might share those with our own individual circles and thus contribute in a more informed way to wider debates.
December 2024
Tuesday 10th December
- 14:00 – 15:30
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Local History
A (virtual) walk through time and Cardiff town
Cardiff has a rich history ranging from the Silurians to modern day. Cardiff’s Castle, High Street and St Mary’s Street has seen it all. We’ll wander down these streets (while sitting comfortably in the warm) and have a peek into that history. It’s rich, often mucky and fascinating
January 2025
Friday 17th January
- 10:30 – 12:00
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Local History
Influential Characters: Edward Evans – An 18th century poet of far reaching influence
James Stewart will give us an insight into one of South Wales lesser known but nonetheless highly influential characters, Edward Evans. Evans was a radical cleric and poet whose views strongly influenced many of the social developments associated with the Industrial Revolution which had far reaching effects into the power bases in Cardiff and elsewhere.
February 2025
Friday 21st February
- 10:30 – 12:00
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Local History
Influential Families: The Marquesses of Bute & the politics of Cardiff (TBC)
Dr Elizabeth Jones will give us a fascinating insight into how Cardiff was really run during the height of power of the Marquesses
March 2025
Friday 21st March
- 10:30 – 12:00
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Local History
Cardiff Transport Part 3: Glamorganshire Canal in Cardiff
We’ll jump back on that canal boat we left in Gabalfa last time and cruise through Cardiff city and Bay taking in the history of the canal and dock feeder in those parts. Don’t worry about getting your feet wet in a leaky old barge, we’ll be sitting comfortable with a cuppa in Eglwys Dewi Sant as we do it 🙂
April 2025
Friday 11th April
- 10:30 – 12:00
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Local History
A (real) walk and talk around Cathays Cemetery
We’ll have a walk through the glorious spring blossom in the cemetery while learning some of the stories about the past lives of the residents in Cardiff and beyond
May 2025
Friday 16th May
- 10:30 – 12:00
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Local History
Cardiff Transport Part 4: More Trams & Trolleybus Services
By popular demand, Brian will follow up his first talk with more fascinating facts and photos of the early developments in Cardiff’s transport systems
June 2025
Friday 20th June
- 10:30 – 12:00
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Local History
Influential Families: The Corys
If you thought the Butes were the only players in the history of industrial Cardiff, may I introduce you to the Cory family. We will have a talk and tour around their beautiful family base – Dyffryn Gardens – while learning about how they impacted the fortunes of the Butes and Cardiff