Cardiff City

Curran Road, Cardiff

The West side of Curran Road, along the banks of the River Taff, is ripe for re-development. Luckily it's still a jumble of old warehouses and industrial units with a lot of embedded track that led off the Riverside branch. The locations in the captions refer to the 1954 OS maps.

Curran Road North, Cardiff, 1954	Curran Road South, Cardiff, 1954	Curran Road 'Index Engineering'	Curran Road 'Index Engineering'
Curran Road 'Index Engineering'	Curran Road 'Training Centre'	Curran Road 'Training Centre'	Curran Road 'Training Centre'
Curran Road 'Training Centre'	Curran Road 'Training Centre'	Curran Road 'Training Centre'	Curran Road 'Foundry', Cardiff
Curran Road 'Foundry', Cardiff	Curran Road 'Foundry', Cardiff	Curran Road 'Foundry', Cardiff	Curran Road 'Foundry', Cardiff
Curran Road 'Engineering Works'	Curran Road 'Engineering Works'	Curran Road 'Engineering Works'	Curran Road 'Engineering Works'
Curran Road 'Engineering Works'	Curran Road 'Engineering Works'	Curran Road 'Engineering Works'	Curran Road 'Engineering Works'

From the City centre to the docks

Other interesting odd spots around the City centre

West Junction Canal bridge	West Junction Canal bridge	Sophia Street railway bridge	Roath Basin lock-keepers office
Bute Dry Dock, Cardiff Bay	Channel Dry Dock, Cardiff Bay	Channel Dry Dock, Cardiff Bay	Mountstuart Shipbuilding Yard
Cardiff Dock entrance lock	Old coal drams at Cardiff Bay	Canal tunnel under Kingsway	TVR docks branch bridge

Above Caerphilly Tunnel and Cefn Onn caves

From ukCaving.com :-
The gated entrance did have a padlock on it, but not only was this padlock not attached to anything, the hole underneath the gate was more than large enough to get through. The shaft was straight and about 75-80 metres long, with a number of drill holes, so obviously man made, ending when you arrive at a curved brick wall, obviously another ventilation shaft for the railway. We could hear a significant (small waterfall size!) amount of water through a hole in the shaft wall, but couldn't see down to where it came from.

The little hole that I had crawled into as a lad was less interesting. We moved a boulder and dropped into it (tight and steep, much much harder to get out than to get in!) and there was probably about 7-8 metres of standing room passage that abruptly ended. We wondered if the railway workers had started to dig here before stopping for some reason.

Cefn Onn, Tranch-yr-hebog Quarry	Cefn Onn, Tranch-yr-hebog Quarry	Cefn-Onn large adit, Cardiff	Cefn-Onn small adit, Cardiff
Ventilation shaft No4	Ventilation shaft no3	Ventilation shaft no3
Shaft No3 tramway bridge	Shaft No3 tramway bridge	Shaft No3 waste tips	Shaft No3 waste tips

Cardiff's outskirts

Cefn Mably valvehouse

Peterstone sewer outfall

St Brides sewer outfall

St Brides sewer outfall

Old photos around Cardiff

Some 1960s photos at Cardiff General and Cardiff Canton Open Day in August 1985

Cardiff trolleybus 201, 1964	Cardiff trolleybus 242, 1964	Cardiff bus 46 EBO 900	Flying Scotsman at Cardiff
Flying Scotsman at Cardiff	Cardiff General and 9426	Cardiff General and 6947, 1964	Cardiff Railway poster
An empty Heath Junction, Cardiff	Cardiff Canton open day, 150 001	Cardiff Canton open day, 150 001	Cardiff Canton open day, 25322
Cardiff Canton open day, 4930	Cardiff Canton open day, 4930	Cardiff Canton open day, 4930	Cardiff Canton open day, 7029
Cardiff Canton open day, 7029	Cardiff Canton open day, 97201	Cardiff Canton open day, D200	Cardiff Canton open day, 92220
Cardiff Canton open day, 92220	Cardiff Canton open day	Cardiff Cathays Park, C306	Cardiff Central, Class 43

Tickets and Totems around Cardiff

Ray Weavin has shared these photos of his souvenir tickets and station totems,also the Barry Railway signal box nameplate spelt 'Dynas Powis'.

Souvenir platform ticket	Souvenir last tram ticket	Souvenir trolleybus tour ticket	Cardiff Station totems
'Dynas Powis' signalbox nameplate

East Moors Steelworks in the 1950s

Ray Weavin 's uncle, Ivor Evans, worked as a crane driver at East Moors Steelworks, after serving in the Merchant Navy during the war, including Russian convoys. He took these photos of his workmates in the mid-1950s.

East Moors Steelworks, c1955	East Moors Steelworks, c1955	East Moors Steelworks, c1955	East Moors Steelworks, c1955
East Moors Steelworks, c1955	East Moors Steelworks, c1955

Penarth, Lavernock and Dinas Powis

Penarth

The Islwyn Ramblers walk from Penarth to Sully and I find some Industrial Archaeology as usual.

Penarth to Sully, TVR bridge	Penarth to Sully, TVR bridge	S. Wales Cement Works wagon	S. Wales Cement Works wagon
Lower Cosmeston Farm, Penarth	Bamford's patent grinding mill	Lavernock electrical sub-station	Rock Cottage, Lavernock

Lavernock Point gun battery - ST 1804 6791

St Mary's Well Bay WW2 anti-aircraft gun battery was built on the site of a Victorian gun emplacement. It was armed with four 3.7" guns and a 40mm Bofors gun and consisted of gunpits, command post, magazine and workshops. It was unusual because gunpits 1 and 2 had steel doors so they could engage shipping if needed but pits 3 and 4 only had earth banks and no magazine. A searchlight position at ST 1782 6775 assisted a coastal battery that is now under the caravan site. A similar searchlight was on Lavernock Point itself (ST 1870 6814) but is very overgrown.

Lavernock Point battery, 2013	Lavernock Point battery gunpit 1	Lavernock Point battery gunpit 2	Lavernock Point battery gunpit 3
Gunpits 1, 2 and command post	Lavernock Point battery magazine	Command post and workshops	Information board
Searchlight building	Searchlight building	Searchlight building

Dinas Powis limekiln - ST 1396 7328.

A very decrepid limekiln from the mid 1800s.

Limekiln near Dinas Powis

Limekiln near Dinas Powis

Limekiln near Dinas Powis

From Barry to Rhoose

Woodhams Yard in the 1960s and 1975

Woodhams Yard, Barry, 30499	Woodhams Yard, Barry, 30830	Woodhams Yard, Barry, 34070	Woodhams Yard, Barry, 35022
Woodhams Yard, Barry, 4247	Woodhams Yard, Barry, 45293	Woodhams Yard, Barry, 47324	Woodhams Yard, Barry, 48305
Woodhams Yard, Barry, 6023	Woodhams Yard, Barry, 61264	Woodhams Yard, Barry, 92219	Woodhams Yard, Barry
Woodhams Yard, Barry, 30841	Woodhams Yard, Barry, 31874	Woodhams Yard, 45690 31618	Woodhams Yard, 53808 31618
Woodhams Yard, Barry, 44777	Woodhams Yardy, 31625	Woodhams Yard, 31806 31638

Barry, Old harbour - ST 1067 6681

A couple of old hulks and the limekilns

Barry old harbour

Barry old harbour

Barry old harbour limekilns

Barry West pier - ST 1220 6665

Some rails are still surviving on the breakwater at Jackson's Bay.

Barry West pier

Barry West pier

Barry West pier

Porthkerry Quarries - ST 0753 6595

Between c1912 and c1931 a 3'0" gauge railway ran around these quarries. The bridge abutments and stonework may be connected with this line.

Porthkerry lower quarry	Porthkerry lower quarry	Porthkerry lower quarry	Porthkerry lower quarry
Quarry bridge abutments			East Quarry, Rhoose
West Quarry blast shelter	West Quarry tank, Rhoose	West Quarry, Rhoose	West Quarry, Rhoose

Aberthaw

Aberthaw Pebble Limestone Company

Lime-making at Aberthaw had been in production since the 1750s on a fairly small scale producing a good quality hydraulic lime that could set underwater. So in 1888 the Aberthaw Pebble Limestone Company was formed to take full advantage of the limestone pebbles on Aberthaw beach. There were originally two kilns and a further two were added c1895 after the opening of the TVR branch from Cowbridge. The works closed down in 1926.

The limeworks in 1912

The limeworks in 1900

The limeworks in 1919

The limeworks in 1919

General views of the limeworks

Aberthaw Pebble Limeworks	Aberthaw Pebble Limeworks	Aberthaw Pebble Limeworks
Aberthaw Pebble Limeworks	Aberthaw Pebble Limeworks	Aberthaw Pebble Limeworks	Aberthaw Pebble Limeworks

The three-storey mill building

Limeworks mill building

Mill drive shaft access

Mill drive shaft support

Limeworks mill steam pipe

The boiler house

Limeworks boiler house wall	Limeworks boiler house wall	Limeworks boiler house chimney
Limeworks boiler house flue	Limeworks boiler house wall	Limeworks boiler house flue	Limeworks boiler house access

The original 1888 kilns

Old kilns draw-hole doors	Old kilns draw-hole doors	Old kilns draw-hole doors	Old kilns lime run-off channels
Old kilns upper draw-hole	Old kilns passageway	Old kilns upper draw-hole	Old kilns floor plates
Old kilns upper draw-hole	Old kilns lime run-off channel	Old kilns draw-hole	Old kilns lime run-off channel
Old kilns upper draw-hole	Old kilns draw-hole	Old kilns passageway
Interior of the old kilns	Interior of the old kilns

The new kilns built after the TVR branch from Cowbridge was opened, c1895

Limeworks new kilns

Limeworks new kilns

Limeworks new kilns

Limeworks new kilns

Around the outside

Upturned Barlow rail

New kilns ramp foundation

'Pleasant Harbour' wharf

The Taff Vale Railway at Aberthaw

TVR line 1st underbridge	TVR line 2nd underbridge	TVR line 2nd underbridge	TVR line overbridge, Aberthaw
TVR line overbridge, Aberthaw			'Waverley' steams past Aberthaw

Llantrisant

Llanharan

Meiros Colliery tramway - ST 0033 8321
South Rhondda Colliery - SS 9914 8487

Meiros Colliery tramway, 1897	South Rhondda Colliery, 1897
Meiros Colliery branch, Llanharan	Meiros Colliery branch, Llanharan	Meiros Colliery branch, Llanharan	Meiros Colliery branch, Llanharan
South Rhondda Colliery, Llanharan	South Rhondda Colliery, Llanharan	South Rhondda Colliery, Llanharan	South Rhondda Colliery, Llanharan

Gelynog Colliery, Beddau - ST 0554 8528

Also known as North Llantwit Colliery, Gelynog Colliery was open by 1854. It closed and re-opened under a number of owners until finally closing in 1901. It was connected to a short spur off the Treferig Railway. Recently the site has been used as a bus garage and is now going to be another housing development. The filled shaft is fenced off at the rear.

Gelynog Colliery, Beddau, 1876	Gelynog Colliery, Beddau, 1899	Gelynog Colliery, Beddau, 1919
Gelynog Colliery, Beddau	Gelynog Colliery, Beddau	Gelynog Colliery, Beddau	Gelynog Colliery, Beddau
Gelynog Colliery shaft, Beddau	Gelynog Colliery, Beddau	Gelynog Colliery loading bank

West Llantwit Colliery, Llantrisant Common - ST 0508 8499

West Llantwit Colliery appears to have been working c1865 and abandoned in 1895. it was connected by tramways to the Treferig Railway South of the colliery, Eastwards to a small building and Northwards to the lane. Aerial photos seem to suggest it might have carried on across the lane to an old shaft at Tal-y-fedw. The capped air shaft is easily found in the workings.

West Llantwit Colliery, 1876	West Llantwit Colliery, 1960	West Llantwit Colliery, Beddau	West Llantwit Colliery, Beddau
West Llantwit Colliery air shaft	West Llantwit Colliery, Beddau	West Llantwit Colliery, Beddau	West Llantwit Colliery, Beddau

Pontyclun Station - ST 0357 8142

and along the Coed Ely branch to Talbot Green

Goods Yard entrance bridge	Goods Yard entrance bridge	Goods Yard entrance bridge	A473 Level Crossing, Talbot Green
A473 Level Crossing, Talbot Green	A473 Level Crossing, Talbot Green	A473 Level Crossing, Talbot Green	Ely River bridge, Pontyclun
Ely River bridge, Pontyclun	Ely River bridge, Pontyclun	Ely River bridge, Pontyclun	Sidings and shed area, Pontyclun
Sidings and shed area, Pontyclun	Tramway rail in sidings, Pontyclun	Subway under sidings, Pontyclun	Subway under sidings, Pontyclun
Subway under sidings, Pontyclun	Subway under sidings, Pontyclun	Ely Tinplate Works road bridge

The rest of South and Mid Glamorgan

Around Bridgend and the Ogwr Valley

Llangeinor level crossing - SS 9131 8771

The Garw Valley line level crossing and a Saab Draken parked beside it.

Llangeinor level crossing

Llangeinor level crossing

Llangeinor level crossing

Llangeinor Saab Draken

Candleston Farm and Quarry - ST 8640 7800

A small quarry and limekiln next to Candleston Farm and the ruined outbuildings at the farm, all dating back to at least 1880.

Candleston Quarry

Candleston Quarry

Candleston Farm outbuildings

St Brides Major, limekiln - ST 9129 7520
'Ffynnon-y-Pant' - ST 8809 7570

Another very ruinous limekiln near Castle-upon-Alun, St Brides Major.
A rather elaborate old well in the dried-up valley of Pant Mari Flanders, in existence by 1877

Limekiln near St Brides Major

'Ffynnon-y-Pant', St Brides Major

Tresilian, Llantwit Major - ST 9473 6777

There are three World War 2 pillboxes surrounding Tresilian, a large seaside house, near Llantwit Major.

The Eastern Tresilian pillbox

The Eastern Tresilian pillbox

The Central Tresilian pillbox

The Western Tresilian pillbox

St Donats Castle - ST 9345 6800
Dunraven Castle - ST 8893 7345

St Donats Castle once boasted an outdoor swimming pool and this chimney and flue appear to have been part of the heating system, unusual with the chimney some way away from the pool like the old lead-smelting flues.
There's not much left of Dunraven Castle itself but the gardens are very pleasent. There's an old barn not far away with cast-iron pillars supporting the roof.

St Donats swimming pool chimney

St Donats swimming pool flue

Dunraven Castle barn pillar

Monknash and Marcross

Monknash Corn Mill appears to a c19th century mill at SS 9088 7028 with one wall and the wheelpit left. The windmill or dovecot is more prominent at SS 9086 7060. Old maps show it as a windmill but latterly it's been used as a dovecote. The base of Marcross windmill is at SS 9269 6898.

Monknash Corn Mill	Monknash Corn Mill	Monknash Corn Mill	Monknash Corn Mill
Monknash Corn Millrace	Monknash Corn Millrace	Monknash Windmill or Dovecot	Marcross Windmill

Other Locations in Mid-Glamorgan

Coed Ely coke ovens

'NRDC Tondu Eng. Works'

St Fagans Folk Museum

St Fagans Museum, Limekiln

St Fagans Museum, Limekiln

St Fagans Museum, Pottery kiln

The Llantrisant No.1 Railway at ST 1196 7907

The Llantrisant No.1 Railway ran from Waterhall Junction to Llantrisant. A footpath crosses under the line near Rhydlafr and planning notices show that no less than 5970 houses are to be built here very soon!

Bridge abutments near Rhydlafr

Trackbed to the South

Trackbed to the North

Acknowledgments, sources and further reading

Thanks for the use of their photographs to :- Ray Weavin