Cathays Park
Encyclopedia
In addition to the large lawn in front of the City Hall, Cathays Park includes three formal gardens. All of the spaces are within conservation areas and many of the surrounding buildings are listed. The open spaces are very important to the image of the city. Several important buildings overlook these well kept spaces. Each of the three gardens has its own very different character and each retains its original layout. Given their location, large numbers of people visit and pass through and they are popular venues for lunchtime breaks.
Alexandra Gardens
Named after Alexandra of Denmark
, the Queen consort of Edward VII
, Alexandra Gardens is located at the heart of the civic centre. It consists of 2.5 hectares of beautifully-maintained flower beds and grass, with the Welsh National War Memorial
standing at its centre. In addition, there are memorials to Raoul Wallenberg
, to those who fought in the International Brigade during the Spanish Civil War
, and to the servicemen of Cardiff who served in the Falklands War
.
Gorsedd Gardens
Situated in front of the National Museum, this garden has as its centrepiece a stone circle
constructed in 1899, when the National Eisteddfod of Wales
was held in Cardiff. The garden's name refers to the Gorsedd of Welsh Bards
, the ceremonial order that governs the Eisteddfod. The landscaped garden has statues of subjects including David Lloyd George
and Lord Ninian Crichton-Stuart. Overlooking Gorsedd Gardens, though not strictly part of the Cathays Park complex, is Park House
(or McConnochie House), an influential work by the Neo-Gothic
architect William Burges
.
Friary Gardens
Constructed in honour of the 3rd Marquess of Bute
, it contains topiary
, a statue standing upon a stone pedestal blazoned with a coat of arms
, and clipped hedges around the perimeter.
Alexandra Gardens
Named after Alexandra of Denmark
Alexandra of Denmark
Alexandra of Denmark was the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom...
, the Queen consort of Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
, Alexandra Gardens is located at the heart of the civic centre. It consists of 2.5 hectares of beautifully-maintained flower beds and grass, with the Welsh National War Memorial
Welsh National War Memorial
The Welsh National War Memorial is situated in Alexandra Gardens, Cathays Park, Cardiff. The memorial was designed by Sir Ninian Comper and unveiled in June 1928 by the Prince of Wales...
standing at its centre. In addition, there are memorials to Raoul Wallenberg
Raoul Wallenberg
Raoul Wallenberg was a Swedish businessman, diplomat and humanitarian. He is widely celebrated for his successful efforts to rescue thousands of Jews in Nazi-occupied Hungary from the Holocaust, during the later stages of World War II...
, to those who fought in the International Brigade during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, and to the servicemen of Cardiff who served in the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
.
Gorsedd Gardens
Situated in front of the National Museum, this garden has as its centrepiece a stone circle
Stone circle
A stone circle is a monument of standing stones arranged in a circle. Such monuments have been constructed across the world throughout history for many different reasons....
constructed in 1899, when the National Eisteddfod of Wales
National Eisteddfod of Wales
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
was held in Cardiff. The garden's name refers to the Gorsedd of Welsh Bards
Gorsedd
A gorsedd plural gorseddau, is a community or coming together of modern-day bards. The word is of Welsh origin, meaning "throne". It is occasionally spelled gorsedh , or goursez in Brittany....
, the ceremonial order that governs the Eisteddfod. The landscaped garden has statues of subjects including David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
and Lord Ninian Crichton-Stuart. Overlooking Gorsedd Gardens, though not strictly part of the Cathays Park complex, is Park House
Park House, Cardiff
Park House, formerly known as McConnochie House, is a town house in Cardiff. It was built for James McConnochie, Chief Engineer to the Bute Docks, by the Gothic revivalist architect William Burges. It is a Grade I listed building...
(or McConnochie House), an influential work by the Neo-Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
architect William Burges
William Burges (architect)
William Burges was an English architect and designer. Amongst the greatest of the Victorian art-architects, Burges sought in his work an escape from 19th century industrialisation and a return to the values, architectural and social, of an imagined mediaeval England...
.
Friary Gardens
Constructed in honour of the 3rd Marquess of Bute
John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute
John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute KT, KSG, KGCHS was a landed aristocrat, industrial magnate, antiquarian, scholar, philanthropist and architectural patron.-Early life:...
, it contains topiary
Topiary
Topiary is the horticultural practice of training live perennial plants, by clipping the foliage and twigs of trees, shrubs and subshrubs to develop and maintain clearly defined shapes, perhaps geometric or fanciful; and the term also refers to plants which have been shaped in this way. It can be...
, a statue standing upon a stone pedestal blazoned with a coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
, and clipped hedges around the perimeter.
Statues
| Statue | Listed structure status |
|---|---|
| John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute KT, KSG, KGCHS was a landed aristocrat, industrial magnate, antiquarian, scholar, philanthropist and architectural patron.-Early life:... |
Grade 2 |
| John Cory | Grade 2 |
| Lord Aberdare Henry Bruce, 1st Baron Aberdare Henry Austin Bruce, 1st Baron Aberdare GCB, PC, FRS was a British Liberal Party politician, who served in government most notably as Home Secretary and as Lord President of the Council.... |
Grade 2 |
| Lord Ninian Crichton-Stuart | Grade 2 |
| David Lloyd George David Lloyd George David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman... |
Grade 2 |
| Godfrey Charles Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar | Grade 2 |
| Judge Gwilym Willams of Miskin | Grade 2 |
| South African War Memorial (also known as the Boer War Second Boer War The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State... Memorial) |
Grade 2* |