Cardiff remembered: Button holes and rosettes on show at grand park opening

The opening of Roath Park, Cardiff, June 20, 1894. Image: Media Wales.

Written by Brian Lee

During the Covid outbreak Roath Park has been a godsend to the thousands of Cardiffians who can be seen every day of the week walking or jogging around the park.

It was on June 20, 1894, that the park was opened to the public.

The day’s festivities were to begin with a luncheon at the Town Hall to which around 300 people had been invited.

At the appointed time, the various trade organisations, friendly societies and local bodies equipped with bands and banners and in a lot of cases wearing the regulation of their order, or bearing artistic models of their craft, assembled at Cardiff Arms Park where thousands of spectators had already gathered to witness the proceedings.

The Boilermakers and Ship Builders Union of South Wales decorated their lorries with gigantic specimens of their skill and workmanship.

Most of the men, the Cardiff Times informed its readers, “wore buttonholes or rosettes and seemed to enjoy themselves to the utmost”.

The Cardiff Hibernians who followed in the wake of the engineers presented a highly creditable turn-out; their silk hats white trousers and regalia evoking no end of favourable comment from the thousands of spectators who lined the route.

Special trains had been laid on from Swansea, Bristol, and the Valleys and for a couple of hours prior to the opening ceremony the main thoroughfares leading to the park entrance were crowded with heavily laden buses, tram cars and private conveyances and pedestrians all making their way to the park.

The procession through town extending from St Mary Street to Roath Park was one unbroken line. Albany Road and Wellfield Road in particular presented a very animated appearance.

Streamers and flags were suspended across the streets at intervals and the tremendous crush of people in holiday attire helped to make the scene one of lively anticipation.

The music of the various bands announced the arrival of the procession as members of the Corporation alighted from their carriages.

Contractor Mr James Allan handed the chairman of the parks committee a gold key, which he in turn handed to the Mayor who, with a few well chosen words, presented it to the young Earl of Dumfries who that day was celebrating his 13th birthday.

The party then proceeded to the platform and was greeted by a round of applause from the spectators.

The town clerk proceeded to read the address to the Earl of Dumfries which the Mayor, Alderman Trounce, subsequently presented to him.

In a brief reply the Earl of Dumfries, addressing the crowd in both English and Welsh, declared Roath Park open for the use of the public.

I wonder what happened to that gold key?

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