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Cardiff remembered: Facts you might not know about our capital’s history part-3

Author Brian Lee writes a weekly history and nostalgia column for the South Wales Echo

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InYourArea Community, Saffron Jenkins

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Cardiff remembered: Facts you might not know about our capital’s history part-3

WORLD CHAMPION: Welsh showjumper David Broome tries out the course at Cardiff Castle in 1974 (Image: Media Wales)

Written by Brian Lee

The third of my “Did You Know?” little known facts about Cardiff, our beloved capital city.

  • The last town crier of Cardiff was Thomas Kenefick, who held office in 1937.
  • When the walking boom hit Cardiff in 1903, thousands of spectators lined the streets to see the wooden-legged fraternity take part in their own race from Kingsway to Whitchurch.
  • Charles Street is named after Charles Vachell who played a big part in the implementation of the Public Health Act (1848) in Cardiff.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACT: Charles Street, Cardiff (Image: Rob Browne/ Media Wales)
  • Music Hall greats such as Dan Leno, Marie Lloyd, Sir Harry Lauder, Vesta Tilley, Harry Tate, Harry Houdini and George Robey all trod the boards at the Empire Music Hall in Queen Street.
  • Cholera killed 374 Cardiffians in 1859.

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  • The first rugby international at the Cardiff Arms Park was played between Wales and Ireland in 1884.
  • C&A Mode opened on the site of the old Empire Musical Hall (later Gaumont Cinema) in 1963.
Mr G Murray, Chief of staff at the Gaumont Cinema, stands on the steps for the last time, before it closed on Saturday, 1961 and The C & A store, Queen Street, Cardiff pictured in July 1995 (Images: Media Wales)
  • The Welsh Water Skiing Championships were staged at Roath Park Lake in the 1960s.
  • World-famous showjumping champion David Broome was born in Fairwater, Cardiff, in 1940.
WORLD CHAMPION: Welsh Showjumper David Broome tries out the course at Cardiff Castle in 1974 (Image: Media Wales)
  • Please send your pictures and stories to Brian Lee, Cardiff Remember, South Wales Echo, Six Park Street, Cardiff, CF10 1XR
  • or email brianlee4@virginmedia.com
  • If sending a letter, please include your phone number.

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