Listen to Ray (Need help?)I was born in Yule Street, the street immediately behind Clive Street, and I've attended Grangetown Baptist Church for as long as I can remember.
Clive Street is a name that originates from the family of the Earl of Plymouth, whose name is Windsor Clive.
Most of the houses in the surrounding area were built on land belonging to the Earl of Plymouth. Hence we have names like the Plymouth Arms, which is now the Desi Inn.
We also have names like Windsor Quay, St Fagans Street, Bromsgrove, Worcester - all associated with the family and the history of the Earl of Plymouth.
In Clive Street, I would say that many of the houses were built from around 1865. Grangetown Baptist Church and many of the surrounding houses were built by the local family firm of E Turner and sons.
The brothers James and William Turner both lived in Grangetown whilst building Cardiff City Hall and the law courts. James Turner, the principal of the firm, lived in Clive Street.
One of the stories in the early church magazines that I have refers to James Turner. When the new town hall (or the present city hall) was completed, he took 110 young people from the church on a tour. I can remember an elderly lady, Mrs Lilly Lawrence, who was one of those young people at the time. She told me what an experience it was to be shown around the city hall when it was brand new, especially climbing up in to the clock tower.
I'm now 67 years old. Grangetown for me has been a wonderful community to be part of over the years. It has changed, but the community spirit still exists. We hope that the newer people now moving in to many of the bed sits, and the asylum seekers who hopefully may settle here in the days to come, will also find this sense of community that the early people of Grangetown knew.
your comments
john jones from oakley st grangetown
For Dom McKenzie the white city was on sloper rd more or less opposite ninian park school and severn oaks park. It use to have a large sports clubhouse with a clock tower on top, became gkn (guest keen & knettlefolds/steel makers ) sports ground. It is now a small housing estate
john cardiff
worked for ET&S for approx 21 yrs,as a lorry driver, offices and yard long gone. civic centre building still standing white and proud
Mrs Annette Hoskins
On researching family history I came across Saltmead Road, Grangetown. Can anyone enlighten me on where it was please?
Christine Abbas, Blaina
Dear Ray,I found your site searching for information on Clive Hall in Grangetown,to see if it is still there (and where exactly it is). In 1949 a meeting was organised there by the Bahá'ís of Cardiff, as well as at Maindy Community Centre, Canton Community centre, Rumney Memorial Hall and Roath Park Huts. Not sure how many of these are still standing. Many thanks for any assistance you can give. Greetings, Chris
Roy Jones Bromsgrove
The names, of the roads Hewell ,Bromsgrove and Clive are all to do with Hewell Grange the Earl of Plymouths' estate in Bromsgrove Worcs. The Mansion house is now an open prison, the connection with Clive is Clive of India, who was Grandfather to the Earls' wife.
Carol Donnelly [nee Yates] from Australia
Does anyone remember the old fish and chip shop around from Clive St? It was on a corner and run by an old lady named Self. What about the White family in Hewell St; or the Morris's in Clive St? I was born in Clive St, and my parents brought me over to Australia as a teenager, but I have wonderful memories of the area.
Dom McKenzie, Sale, Cheshire.
I'm a sports historian and I'm trying to locate the exact position of the Welsh White City on Sloper Road. Speedway was held there on and off from 1928 until 1937. It once had a 70,000 crowd for a Rugby League match! After that it was sold to a private company and became their sports ground. It doesn't appear on any OS maps for that period and I haven't found any other maps or photos yet. Any help would be appreciated.
Martyn Evans
My family owned a pub on Hewell Street called The Prince of Wales in the 1890's. No idea when it stopped being there. Anyone got any ideas? When did Hewell Street disappear?
Paul Keenor from Cardiff
My father in law worked in his father's 'canteen' at the bottom of South Clive Street - Windsor Slip? 1943 /1946.
Does anybody have memories or better still pics of this area.
Send your photos to wales.southeast@bbc.co.uk
William Alvin Preece
My family are from Hewell Street, ext to Harris shop. I spent all my young life in Grangetown - I moved to Whitchurch when I was 35 years old. I love Grangetown and will till the day I die. I went to the Baptist - they were the best days of my life. I miss old Grangetown more than words can say. The people were the finest I have ever known. I look at Grangetown now and it makes me want to cry. They say all good things must come to an end. I would give everything I own to have it back.
Christine Rickerby, Western Australia
I would like any information about the Turner brothers, as they are my grandfather James's father and brother. I have come across some old books of my grandmother's about E Turner and Sons Ltd, Buildings & Contractors, and would to know if any of the buildings are still standing and any current photos.
Terry Lee Bristol
Jackie asks when the Plymouth in Clive Street was bombed. Night of January 2nd
1941 as I remember. Same night as Llandaff
Cathedral got it. My uncle was killed in the Plymouth bombing. It was a bad time for Grangetown.
Jackie Cardiff
hello ray,do you have any information on the bombing of the Plymouth Arms during the wars? I belive my husbands Grandmother was killed there and i am just trying to gather information many thanks
AILEEN THYER FROM CARDIFF
the street in question was called 'hewell street' not yule(slip of the pen i'm sure) ...my family are all from that end of clive street, the mcleans /pages...wonderful memories of growing up in clive st with a huge family all around...wonderful.
Andy Denham, Wellington, Somerset
My great great grandfather, Fred Denham was very involved with the Clive Street Baptist Church and when he left Cardiff in September 1899 to return to Wellington he was presented with a marble and slate mantle clock complete with engraved copper plaque marking the event. Not only did he recieve a gift, but his wife Caroline Anne was given a silver and glass bowl and his father in law, Alfred Gough was presented with a barometer. Do you have any records of my ancestors? I would be very pleased to recieve any information as at present I am compiling my family history.
Sue from Surrey
My mother, aged 92, used to live in Clive Street, Grangetown and went to Grangetown Baptist Church. She always told us about 'signing the pledge' not to drink alchohol - I think at the age of 7! Her name is Mary Alice Gwyneth Lazenby nee Mannings. The Mannings were a large family and their father worked in the dockyard and the children used to play on the mudflats on their way to take their father his lunch at work.
