AREAFEATURE Llandaff A City within a City
The History Most of the history of Llandaff cen- tres on its role as a religious site. Before the creation of Llandaff Cathedral it became established as a Christian place of worship in the 6th century AD, probably because of its location as the first firm ground north of the point where the river Taff met the Bristol Channel, and because of its pre- Christian location as a river cross- ing on a north south trade route. Evidence of Roman-British ritual burials have been found under the present cathedral. The date of the moving of the cathedral to Llandaff is disputed, but elements of the fabric date from the 12th century, such as the impressive Roman- esque Urban Arch, named after the 12th century Bishop, Urban. It has had a history of continual destruction and restoration, as a result of warfare, neglect, and natural disaster. Llandaff has been a focal point of devastating attacks by Owain Glyndŵr and Oliver Cromwell. It was the second most damaged Cathedral in the UK (after Coventry Cathedral) following Luftwaffe bombing during World War II, and subsequently restored by the architect George Pace. One of its main modern points of interest is the alu- minium figure of Christ in Majesty (1954–5), by Jacob Epstein, which is suspended above the nave. In 2007 a lightning strike to its spire sent a surge through the build- ing which destroyed its organ. Its replacement, the largest to be built in the UK for over 40 years, was inaugurated in 2010. A Bishop’s Palace, now in ruins, lies to the south of the Cathedral. It is believed it was constructed at a similar date to Caerphilly Castle,
in the late 13th century. It is also believed it was abandoned after being attacked and damaged by Owain Glyndwr in the
1400s.The gatehouse of the Palace survives and the courtyard is now a public garden. Llandaff never developed into a chartered borough, and by the nineteenth century was described as reduced to a mere village... It consists of little more than two short streets of cottages, not lighted or paved, terminating in a square, into which the great gateway of the old palace formerly opened, and where are still sev- eral genteel houses. Historically Llandaff was infor- mally known as a “city” because of its status as the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff. This status was never officially recognised, largely because the community did not possess a charter of incorpora- tion. The ancient parish of Llandaff included a wide area. Apart from Llandaff itself, it included the town- ships of Canton, Ely, Fairwater, and Gabalfa.
During the development of the South Wales coalfield and Cardiff Docks, the parish was gradu- ally absorbed into the Borough of Cardiff during the 19th and 20th centuries. Seen as a clean and green up-market countrified village location close to the fast develop- ing city, many of the better-off coal merchants and business people chose to live in Llandaff, includ- ing the Insole family. The house now known as Insole Court dates originally from 1856. Llandaff itself became a civil parish and from 1894 to 1922 was part of the Llandaff and Dinas Powys Rural District. On 9 November 1922 the county borough of Cardiff was
DID YOU KNOW...
Llandaff has been a focal point of devastating attacks by Owain Glyndŵr and Oliver Cromwell. It was the second most damaged Cathedral in the UK.
30 / PROPERTYMAIL “ HOUSE PRICES Current
É The majority of sales in Llandaff during the last year were terraced properties, selling for an average price of £202,555. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £295,560, with detached properties fetching £370,152. Llandaff, with an overall average price of £260,775, was similar in terms of sold prices to nearby Danescourt (£262,540), but was more expensive than Llandaff North (£199,826) and Fairwater (£144,318). Overall sold prices in Llandaff over the last year were 13% up on the previous year and 4% up on the 2010 level of £249,641.
extended to include the area. Llandaff is home to a co-edu- cational independent school for children between the ages of 3–16. (The Cathedral School). The independent GDST school, How- ell’s School Llandaff, is also based in the area and recently expanded from an all-girls school to include the co-educational Howell’s Sixth Form College. There are two state Church Schools; Llandaff City Church in Wales Primary School and Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales High School. There is the Welsh Primary School Ysgol Pencae and State Primary School Danescourt Primary. Llandaff is also home of the Cardiff Metropoli- tan University Llandaff campus.
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