REPORT: The Fascinating History of Whitchurch, Rhiwbina and Heath – Rhiwbina Society hosted by Alan Knight
This month’s meeting (Tuesday 16 July) was hosted by Alan Knight, who treated us to a film of Whitchurch, Rhiwbina and Heath, showing us the history of these parts of Cardiff.
Did you know the Roman’s were here? 'What have they ever done for us?' you may ask. Settled on the Wenallt it seems and also used Merthyr Road in Whitchurch to bring iron from Merthyr and Brecon to Rhiwbina and Taffs Well. When the Romans left Wales, there were 100 – 200 people living in Whitchurch, a number that has grown somewhat recently.

We were shown around the Twmpath, an historic mound on the Wenallt. It is said to be the burial place of the Welsh Lord of Glamorgan, Iestyn ap Gwrgant. In 1093 Iestyn and his army fought a battle against the Norman army.
They met near the Butcher’s Arms, in a field called Butchers Fields. The battle was so fierce that the nearby brook ran red with blood, and is known as Nant y Weadwlyd, the Bloody Brook. Iestyn lost the battle and is said to be buried upright on his horse within the Twmpath.
We then moved to the Heath and the racecourse. Heath park is a small part of the Great Heath which also covered parts of Llanishen and Rhiwbina. The Little Heath covered parts of Roath and Cathays. The racecourse became part of the Great Heath in the 1760s, and racing there came to an end in 1848.
The park was also the site of an American military camp, part of the park serving as an airfield for the U.S. army. We also saw people enjoying rides on the miniature railway, set up by the Cardiff Model Engineering Society.
Did you know a famous hypnotist lived in Pantmawr? Arnall Bloxham hypnotised over 400 people and recorded their previous lives. Did he prove the case for reincarnation?
Also, Oliver Cromwell was reputed to have stayed in Ty Mawr Manor House the night before the battle of St Fagan’s.
Rhiwbina Garden Village was planned to relieve the poor-quality housing in the city. Fourteen acres of land was purchased by the Cardiff Worker’s Cooperative Village Society. In 1913 the opening ceremony of ‘Rhubina Fields Garden Village’ was attended by the Earl and Countess of Plymouth.
The DVD showed us so much about the area, including farmhouses, tin mills, wool mills, the Glamorgan Canal, war bunkers, cinemas and trees planted on Whitchurch Common with money donated by American forces.
There are many of these DVDs available, showing parts of Cardiff and their history. It was such a joy to see old parts of the city come back to life for a short while. Cardiff has a fascinating history which needs more exploration.
The next meeting of the Rhiwbina Society will be on 17 September 2024 and will be hosted by Claire Norman from the Hedgehog Helpline Cymru. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm in Canolfan Beulah. Check our calendar for future events.
Membership is £10 per individual and £15 per household. Payments on the night are £2 per member and £4 for non-members, and there’s free tea and coffee after the meeting.
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