Tongwynlais Adventures – Trail Running

View up the Taff Valley looking towards Cardiff.

I started trail running in 2014 and I’ve written a few posts about my adventures in and around Tongwynlais. My new website, Cardiff Trails, launched in March 2023. I wanted my own space to log runs, share photos and write about running gear. If you’ve ever considered trail running, hopefully I can help you find … more…

New Postcards from Tongwynlais – Part 1

I love old postcards but I often wonder what a modern postcard of Tongwynlais would look like. I’ve been using some vintage Cardiff postcards for inspiration. Here are a few examples where I’ve updated the content with new photos. In the next instalment I’m going to create some more contemporary designs. Postcards from Tongwynlais I’ve … more…

Categories Art

50 Years in Cardiff

2024 is the 50th anniversary of Tongwynlais becoming part of the City of Cardiff. The Parish of Tongwynlais was part of Llandaff and Dinas Powis District from its formation in 1894. The District’s name was changed to Cardiff Rural District in 1922. Cardiff Rural District was part of the county of Glamorgan. It stretched from … more…

Serious Fire at Tongwynlais

Extract from an old newspaper article

One of the best ways to get an idea of what life was like in Tongwynlais is to explore Welsh Newspapers Online. This article from the South Wales Daily News was published 141 years ago, on 24th March 1883. These stories can tell us what businesses existed and who owned them. They’re an invaluable insight … more…

Villa Cardiff – Part 2

Collage of images featuring the Cardiff Arms

This series was inspired by an article from John&Jane that explored the design of a modern flag for Cardiff. In the first part I looked into the history of Cardiff and found some examples of the “Cardiff Arms”. Since then, I’ve been collecting even more examples and looking into the history of the design. The … more…

Turn of the Century Ton

Front cover of a book called, "Turn of the Century Ton"

I’ve acquired a collection of books over the years but I haven’t written about any of them. I’m going to start with one of my favourite items by Roger L Brown. Roger Brown was the vicar of St Michael’s Church from 1979 to 1993 and a keen historian. He retired and moved away from the … more…