A TIMELINE OF CARDIFF
By Tim Lambert
c. 55 The Romans build a fort on the site of Cardiff
c. 380 The Romans abandon the fort
c, End of 11th century The Normans conquer Glamorgan. Robert Fitz Hamon builds a new fort inside the walls of the old Roman fort.
c. 1150 A town grows up by the fort
1340 Cardiff is allowed 2 annual fairs
1404 Owain Glendower burns Cardiff
c. 1600 Cardiff is a busy little port trading with France and the Channel Islands
1607 Cardiff suffers a severe flood
1645 During the Civil War parliamentary soldiers capture Cardiff
1774 The streets of Cardiff are paved, cleaned and lit with oil lamps
1794 A canal is built
1801 The population of Cardiff is still less than 1,900
1821 Cardiff is lit by gas
1835 A covered market is built
1841 The railway reaches Cardiff
1849 Cholera kills 383 people
1853 A new Town Hall is built
1855 East Dock is built
1856 Royal Arcade is built
1861 The first public library opens
1871 The population of Cardiff is almost 60,000
1883 An infirmary is built
1886 A coal and shipping exchange is built
1887 Roath Dock is built. Castle Arcade is built.
1894 Roath Park opens
1896 Pier Head Building is erected
1897 Victoria Park opens
1898 Cathays Park opens
1900 The population of Cardiff is over 160,000
1901 Splott Park opens
1902 Electric trams begin running. Duke St Arcades opens.
1905 Cardiff is made a city
1907 Queen Alexandra Dock opens
1927 The National Museum of Wales opens
World War II Bombs kill 355 people
1954 Central Bus Station opens
1955 Cardiff is made the capital of Wales
1973 Sherman Theatre opens
1981 St Davids Shopping Centre opens
1986 The National Ice Rink opens
1987 Queens West Shopping Centre opens
1990 Capitol Shopping Centre opens
1999 Millenium Stadium opens