When I was a young lad I worked for the Cardiff Corporation Parks Department and I heard all about the famous Billy the Seal. Years later I researched Billy and this is what I found out.
Accidently caught off the Irish coast in the net of a fishing boat in 1912, Billy was presented to Victoria Park little zoo, where he soon became the star attraction.
When the Canton area was flooded in 1927, Billy escaped and was found boarding a tram in Cowbridge Road.
One Cardiffian recalled, 'there would be rows of children lining the railings around Billy's pond and they would call 'Billy,Billy' until he came snorting out of the depths'.
In 1939, Billy was found dead at the bottom of the pool and it took eight men to lift him out. Little wonder the amount of titbits he had been fed over the years by countless children.
Billy's body was taken to the National Museum where a surprising discovery was made. Billy wasn't a him, but a her!
Today, a life-like monument to Billy can be seen in Victoria Park and there are still many Cardiffians with happy memories of Cardiff's most famous animal, or is it mammal!
your comments
Ian S - Cardiff
I was told by my parents that Billy was finally caught in the church opposite Victoria Park and returned to his pool in the park.
Jackie Richards, Newport
My father often sung 'Billy the Seal' to us. Can't remember the lyric now. Does anyone know them?
Marcus, Penarth
My family many years ago used to run the fish and meat market on the Hayes. My grandma always used to tell me stories about Billy. I still believe my great granddad had something to do with the accidental capture of Billy. I took my son to Victoria Park today. He ran straight towards the statue and sat on top of it. He's 20 months old. It would be nice to think that there is some meaning behind that.
Chris Walker from Budapest formerly Cardiff
When I was growing up, I was taught countless tales made about our Billy. I am too young to ever actually have seen him/her alive but I did get taught the song made about Billy (can be a girl's name as well). Anyway it shocked me to find that where I used to work in Splott basically the whole workforce had no idea about our local treasure ... I think it is important that people from Cardiff like myself should know a great part of Cardiffian history!
Emily Morris from Cardiff
I remember when Cardiff had the floods. Billy the Seal escaped, he was found in Mays Fish shop in Victoria Park. He didn't roam very far!! Hi Bill and Gwlad, Austlalia, and Gail and Steve, Britton Ferry.
Pam Clatworthy Holmrook
My parents used to take the family to visit Billy the Seal. I didn't realise that other kids thought he belonged to them as well. I thought Billy was my special pet.
William Bratcher Ex Cardiff
I remember Billy I was born in 1933 in Canton we now live Australia but can still remember him or her. PS Hi Terry & Kaye
David Lee, Canton
Being a child in the 30's, I recall waking up in the middle of the night and worrying Billy would be cold. So grabbing an old potato sack from the coal bunker I walked the short distance to Victoria Park. Happy memories!!
Daphne Salter, Cardiff
I was born in 1943 - I remember Billy very well. We loved going to Victoria Park - my mother would take a picnic for us 9 children and our bathers and towels and we would stay all day in the pool. We had wonderful times and the only money spent was an ice cream each and our bus fare.
Terry Gunning from Cardiff
I was born in 1935 and as a small child I can still remember Billy The Seal. We lived in Canton and our street was next to Victoria Park - my mother and gran used to take me there to see Billy and the other animals that were there. With no TV as I grew up I spent many happy hours at the park.
David Hanson
I was one of the children in the early 1930s who used to sit at the edge of the pool talking to him. I wonder if anyone remembers the cast iron lion's head on the outside of Victoria Park, Cowbridge Road side. It was a water drinking fountain. The water came out of the lion's mouth, and there was a cast iron cup on a long chain that we all drank out of. It may still be there. I don't know, but I do know that no-one would join a long queue today to drink out of that lovely cup with the welcome drink of water. There were no McDonalds in those days. If there was, we didn't have the money. Mind you, what some kids would do to get a drink. They'd go in a sweet shop, pay one penny for a bottle of lemonade, tell the man they would drink it outside, but would walk away and take the bottle back to a different shop and get their penny deposit on the bottle back.
