The Plans

In 1841 Cardiff was a significant but relatively small town with a population of 10 000. By 1956 it was the capital of Wales and home to over a quarter of a million people.

As is the case today, much of the impetus for change came from the waterfront. By the end of the 19th century Cardiff was the largest coal exporting port in the world with a diverse international community to match. Its growth was so rapid that at one time it was dubbed the Chicago of Wales.

The rich built heritage which resulted from this era of transformation is vividly illustrated in an important collection of plans which cover an enormous variety of structures. These include cinemas, dog tracks, hotels, schools, offices, churches, mosques, synagogues, factories, houses, shops, coffee bars, air raid shelters and many more.