CARDIFF TWO
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF OLD CARDIFF
(Photo 1) . The old print is titled : Cardiff, by Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827), showing High street and the old town hall, but in reality it is showing Cowbridge town hall dated 1797, but the image does show a typical market day in a small Welsh town during this time period.
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Monmouthshire Merlin
19th September 1879
CARDIFF. A LIONESS AT LARGE.
Considerable excitement was occasioned on Monday night at Wombwell’s menagerie, Cardiff, by the sudden appearance of a lioness in the space where the public assemble to see the wild beasts.
The show is stationed at Spotlands; opposite the Rink, and a large number of persons were inspecting the different cages, when the cry arose that a lioness was loose.
The spectators ran in terrified confusion for the doors, where the way was blocked for some time.
This was, however, presently remedied by those who had charge of the establishment, and the people got outside as soon as possible.
The keepers four or five in number, armed with big sticks, speedily- surrounded the lioness, and got her back into her den.
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Weekly Mail
16th January 1904
OLD WELL AT CARDIFF. MOTOR VAN SINKS INTO THE PAVEMENT.
A strange mishap occurred at the Bridge-street end of Frederick-street, Cardiff, on Tuesday.
Through the presence of a stone in the gutter one of the hind “wheels of a motor-car, owned by the Cardiff Cold Storage Company, which was being backed up to the kerb ran upon the pavement.
Immediately the flags gave way, and the wheel sank in nearly to the axle. When the van had been got clear it was found that the cavity into which the wheel had sunk was the top of an old well, about 3ft. in diameter, and of considerable depth,
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Monmouthshire Merlin
19th June 1874
CARDIFF. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
Shortly before twelve o’clock on Saturday night a fire broke out, in a hay and straw factory over a stable in Womanby-street.
The origin of the conflagration is not known, but in a quarter of an hour it had spread to such an extent that two or three old buildings in the immediate vicinity were in flames.
In the stable were about twenty valuable cart-horses, but they were all rescued immediately the fire was discovered. The fire brigade, with their steam and manual engines, were quickly on the spot, and as soon as a plentiful supply of water could be obtained the men set vigorously to work to extinguish the flames.
This was not accomplished, however, until about three o’clock, when the whole of the stables and hay stores had been burnt down, as well as an adjoining wool-store.
The Corporation slaughter houses, close by, were in imminent danger of being ignited, but by the skilful labours of the firemen they were saved.
The stables belonged to Mr. Morgan Morgan, and the wool stores to Messrs. Hall, Reynolds and Co. It is not definitely known whether the loss is covered by insurance.
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South Wales Daily News
16th July 1897
REMINISCENCES OF OLD CARDIFF.
TO THE EDITOR.
Sir, I see in your paper this morning the death of an old Cardiifian.
I think I may interest you to hear that was have living with us an old nurse who is a native of Cardiff, and who is in her 94th year.
Her father’s name was Davis, and her mother was Molly Lyshon (?) She often tells us that my father and mother had two good houses opposite the Mason’s Arms. Crockherbtown, Cardiff.” Her father was a blacksmith, and his shop was near the Three Cranes.
My mother baked bread for the inhabitants, and used balm, and heated her oven with wood, and sent hot cakes every morning to old Squire Richards and if she failed to send them, he would come in his sedan chair with John Gardener and the serving man to know the reason why.” Our old nurse was under and then head nurse at a Mr Moggridge’s, at a house called Gabalva, and then she was recommended to my mother by Lady Lynch-Blosse when my father was collector of Customs at Cardiff, and she has been in the family ever since, about 60 years.
Her memory for recent things is quite gone, but Cardiff and the old days she constantly speaks of.
She was a most faithful and devoted servant, and is respected and loved by all who know her.
I date this from my home address, I am at present staying in Tenby.
I am, &c DORA WILCOX. High Croft, Whitburn, Sunderland, July .14 .1897
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Monmouthshire Merlin
6th August 1870
CARDIFF. STRANGE DEATH OF A PRISONER.
An inquest has been held at the Cardiff Gaol, touching the death of a person named Edward Howells, who had on Monday been sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, for neglecting to support his wife.
On the third day after being admitted into the prison, he was put to work for the space of nine hours on the treadmill, in the evening he became delirious, and in spite of medical treatment, died in a few hours.
Howells, before his conviction, had given way to drink, and at the inquest Dr. Paine gave it as his opinion that death was the result of delirium tremens, which he thought had been induced by the treadmill exercise, abstinence from drink, and the low diet of the gaol.
A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence.
Delirium tremens (DTs) is a rapid onset of confusion usually caused by withdrawal from alcohol.
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