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Wales Online
Wales Online
Lifestyle
Will Hayward

The huge changes in Cardiff in the last 100 years and the pictures that show it happening

In just the last decade parts of the Welsh capital have become unrecognisable.

The relentless expansion of Cardiff can leave even people who walk through the city everyday disorientated. But what if we go back even further?

A century ago Cardiff wasn't even the capital of Wales (only becoming so in 1955). These pictures from WalesOnline's archive show how the city used to look, while our photographer Rob Browne has taken pictures of how the city looks now. We hope you enjoy this delve into our nation's capitals past.

Read more: 37 fascinating things in Cardiff you may not have noticed

Cardiff Castle and Castle Street in 1910

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

The grass in front of Cardiff Castle is now much more accessible with the small outer wall having been removed. And look at that walled entrance in 112 years ago!

Green fields surround City Hall in 1910

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

The Civic Centre/Cathays Park used to be part of the Castle grounds. City Hall looked a bit lonely back in 1910. The Museum was built 17 years later as part of an effort to make Wales a definably separate part of the then British Empire.

The Roath Park lake bandstand in 1910

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Still a favourite for Cardiffians on a sunny day but not quite as many hats!

The Park Hotel on Queen Street around 1920

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Roll forward a century and the Park Hotel looks as a grand as ever. Queen Street itself is much changed, not least in that it is now pedestrianised (except for a few naughty cyclists).

The former canal on Mill Lane in 1910

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Now a favourite of Cardiff nighttime revellers Mill Lane - which got its name from the steam mills which used to stand near the end of St Mary Street was once little more than a lane containing a row of two-bedroomed cottages. It used to have the Glamorganshire Canal running next to it. This picture by Rahim Mastafa shows the old scene edited onto the modern façade:

Cardiff "Then and Now" by photographer, Rahim Mastafa Mill Lane (Rahim Mastafa)

The laundry at 56 Clare Road in 1915

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Do you think the current residents know about the history of their home?

The Evans chemist at 54 Clare Road in the same year

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Some things don't change!

High Street in Llandaff in 1910

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Llandaff High Street now. Fewer carts, more bikes!

Homes and business on Tudor Street in Riverside in 1915

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

One of the main arteries into the city centre. Though the modern street has no trams there is still plenty of character if you know where to look. Just behind this street is the incredible Tudor Lane. You can read more about this hidden gem here.

The Flower family outside their fruit business at the corner of Cornwall Street and Sussex Street in Grangetown in 1916

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

RB Flower would likely not recognise his old shop if he saw it now!

St Mary Street in 1916

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Back in the day there were more trams, more snow, fewer McDonalds.

The corner of Pontcanna Hill in 1910 looking down Llandaff Road

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

The small white house is gone but if that is the same tree it is doing great! You probably had to queue at this junction for far less time in those days.

Queen Street in 1912

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Nothing sums up how different the world is between then and now is the fact we now have a statue commemorating the Welshman who brought us the National Health Service. The people in the first picture would have likely marvelled at the idea..

The Cow and Snuffers in Llandaff North in 1910

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

In 2010 one of Cardiff's oldest pubs closed its doors. Sadly, The Cow and Snuffers pub in Llandaff North was turned into flats. Built in the 19th century, the Tudor-style pub was one of the oldest drinking venues in the city and there is a local legend that two-time UK Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli stayed there once. Even now there is a bust of him above the door which has primroses put on it every April 19 – the anniversary of his death. Unfortunately there is no evidence that he did actually stay there and he always denied it.

The old Ely Bridge in 1915

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Though so different, even this picture from well over 100 years ago is so recognisable as the Ely bridge.

City Road in 1912

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

The Gaiety Cinema attracted queues to watch the silent films of the day.

Boats on the lake in Roath Park in 1915

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

We have no idea if the lake was full of blue green algae then or not!

Fitzhamon Embankment in 1911

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Amazing how those trees have grown. They look fairly newly planted 111 years ago.

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