This instalment of “Postcards from Tongwynlais” features a wonderful photo of the village looking north towards the Taff Valley.
It shows the Walnut Tree Viaduct and the old school building on Ironbridge Road.
The postcard was produced by “Hardings’ (Bristol & Cardiff)” and part of their “Progress Series”. I’ve got a few other cards by this company from a similar time but I don’t know much about their history.
The sender of the postcard apologises for not visiting but promises to call the next week. The final sentence looks like, “I will send the ducks up tomorrow afternoon.” 🦆
Spot the Building
This close-up shows a selection of interesting buildings in the photo.
- This looks like a house that would now sit in the centre of the A470.
- This is probably Hermon Chapel. It was renovated in 1906, a year before this postcard was sent.
- Walnut Tree Viaduct is just visible crossing the valley.
- I think this is Salem Chapel.
- This must be the original Bethesda Chapel.
- The current Primary School was built in 1908. This is the former building on that site.
Related History
As always, if you have any information or corrections about this article, I’d love to hear from you.
Hi, I grew up in Tongwynlais and was living at Greenmeadow Drive with my parents until I moved to Cardiff in the early 70s, but I remember visiting our relatives at the Dannybank cottages which were between the canal and the river Taff and the cottages are still there but are now on the site of the Cardiff Ready-Mixed Concrete company.
Trevor Wing.