Lost architecture of Wales - and old photos

[Welsh American]

Originally Posted by cardiff

The canal disapears under the Thistle, an old manager of the thistle told me that they have to go into it to unblock it now and again (through a scary hatch). Looking at those pics i think we lost some nice buildings and streetscapes to the south of mill lane (and the canal there), if it survived im sure it would be reminisant of canal street in Manchester - what do we have now, a brick monstrosity called the marriot!

Before the Marriott was built, there was the Mill Lane market. Behind that area on Bute Terrace was a hideous old car park with two huge billboard structures.

[Karldiff]

Cardiff - The pictures of Mill Lane would have been before the Second World War. I'd suggest that the warehouse type buildings in the picture were long gone before the Marriott was built (originally the Holiday Inn). I can't remember what was there before but I do vaguely recall much excitement that Holiday Inn were showing an interest in Cardiff at that time which just goes to show how far the city has come on.

Amscwl - thanks for the pictures of the Plaza. It was a huge old cinema specialising in Disney features and kids films at the time I remember it. As for the Hope pub it's long gone. The Blackweir Tavern now stands there and the terraced houses next to it have I believe been replaced by housing assoc flats.

[cardiff]

sorry i wasnt saying that the marriot replaced them, just is what is there now. Im sure it could be made better looking, especially in such a prime site between the city center and (dont laugh) the business area of Callaghan square.

[Karldiff]

I think you have to look at the time it was built - early 80's. This was the time that it was deemed acceptable to build three multi storey car parks in a row in Bridge Street and place a retail barn in the city centre (Toys r us)! Although it's by no means attractive the Marriott will be inconsequential on a street level once the new library and restaurant units open. I take your point that the buildings in the picture if still there would be preferrable but it's likely the filling in of the Glam Canal in the 1930's and Mr Hitler may have had something to do with it!

[cardiff]

Would be interesting to see some of the devestation caused on Cardiff, im not sure we were hit that bad. I think this may have been the reason we wernt so heavilly redeveloped during the 50' / 60's due to no need / excuse to redevelop partly damaged buildings in the center.

[Amscwl]

Originally Posted by Karldiff

Cardiff - The pictures of Mill Lane would have been before the Second World War. I'd suggest that the warehouse type buildings in the picture were long gone before the Marriott was built (originally the Holiday Inn). I can't remember what was there before but I do vaguely recall much excitement that Holiday Inn were showing an interest in Cardiff at that time which just goes to show how far the city has come on.

I can't remember what was there before but I do vaguely recall much excitement that Holiday Inn were showing an interest in Cardiff at that time which just goes to show how far the city has come on.

The Holiday Inn also received a 2.5Million GBP grant from the Welsh Office which I'm sure must have had a small influence.

Sorry to see this one didn't live past the 1950's. Behind the hoardings is the Glamorganshire Canal.
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The below photos taken in 1981 show that the interesting buildings seen on some earlier photos of Mill Lane were no longer around.

Dairy Ripple anyone?
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Open 1855 - closed 1981. Doesn't exactly look very welcoming with the little slitty windows.
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Area certainly seems busy.
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At least this one still stands.
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[BruceMark]

Good to see the Hayes Market as it was on Mill Lane in the 1970s....bought my first bike from Chris Harris Cycles there. The Marriott came in the early 80s on a site that had been an open air car park for at least 10 years. The only building that was used on Custom House St and opposite this huge open air car park was home to a rather interesting heavy rock club called "Smileys" that I attended on occasion. Another earlier club in the old building behind the market was called "The Moon".

You may recall that to house the "Holiday Inn" the Hayes market was moved to a semi-perm location on the site of what now is the CIA! It did not survive that further move, those traders that remained ended up behind St David's Cathedral at the back of the St David's Centre service ramp. Now that has gone…..only Keith the Fish survives!

As regards the canal - In the lat 1950's I believe a boat collided with the sea wall and caused permanent damage which resulted in the canal emptying into the bay. It was never repaired and become a dumping ground before eventually being filled in in the 1960's. A real shame

[Amscwl]

Here's the open air market in it's subsequent location.

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Here's a few more of town for people who have long memories.
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[cardiff]

I wonder how many of the market people went to the splot market, or was it running at the same time?

[Welsh American]

I used to get taken into the Fishguard by my uncle when I was a kid. It was a really grim little place.

The Salutation was across the road. It may have had the best pint of Brains Dark in Cardiff.

Where was that Ukay store? I can't picture it.

[cardiff]

not so much lost but changed here is the Angel in its brick form, i preffer it now in total white.

[Amscwl]

Originally Posted by Welsh American

Where was that Ukay store? I can't picture it.

The UKAY store was in Union Street. I think it was demolished to make way for St. Davids Centre. There was also a pub called The Moulder's Arms located on this street.

The other pictures are of Working Street and are now Mothercare and St. Davids Hall.

[Amscwl]

Originally Posted by cardiff

not so much lost but changed here is the Angel in its brick form, i preffer it now in total white.

I've always been more of a brick fan myself, although it doesn't look bad in white.

Are the cranes in the background building Brunel House and the AA building?

[Welsh American]

The cranes in the background are for that building which was the British Rail building (not sure what it is called now). People thought it was multiple building going up because of the three tower cranes but it was in fact one building.

[cardiff]

Thought this was an interesting pic

[wizard]

That has to be related to the great airship pioneer Mr Ernest Willows.

Somewhat underwhelmingly , he has two 'features' in Cardiff (that I know of) to celebrate his acheivements. The first is the eponymous Wetherspoons Pub on City Road, whilst the second is the airship on the 'clock tower' of Mermaid Quay , which I once heard a couple of passers- by ask between themselves 'why do they have a baguette on the clock hand!!!)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3326689.stm

[Karldiff]

Originally Posted by wizard

That has to be related to the great airship pioneer Mr Ernest Willows.

Somewhat underwhelmingly , he has two 'features' in Cardiff (that I know of) to celebrate his acheivements. The first is the eponymous Wetherspoons Pub on City Road, whilst the second is the airship on the 'clock tower' of Mermaid Quay , which I once heard a couple of passers- by ask between themselves 'why do they have a baguette on the clock hand!!!)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3326689.stm

Plus the secondary school in Tremorfa...

[cardiff]

Interesting to see how much cardiff bay has changed. Personally apart from the barrage i think it was better then (excluding the coal docks at the top of the pic).

[Cambo_Dai]

The complete demolition of the old Butetown was a travesty: I understand the social context of the time and don't want to romanticise about what was effectively turning into a late 20th century slum, but the area had a density and urbanity that its replacement just never had. Renewal of the housing stock, together with replacement of really decrepid buildings with bespoke new buildings, and replacement of the old industrial sites with new housing on traditional street patterns that fitted in with what was there already.

If the terraced housing stock and tenements had been tidied up, Butetown today could be a mixed-demographic area a little like Grangetown. Don't get me wrong, Grangetown has its poverty, but it also has a thriving population of what I guess we could call "skilled working class / lower middle class" that is absent from the 60s rebuilt areas of Butetown. I still have my little 'idea' about what Butetown could be like in 20 - 30 years... but it'll take a long time to get there.

[wizard]

Was this Butetown, Cardiff or Butetown, Arizona?

It's utterly unrecognisable to me.