Canton, Cardiff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Canton
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 Cowbridge Road East |
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 Canton
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| Population | 14,304 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | ST164767 |
| Community |
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| Principal area | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CARDIFF |
| Postcode district | CF5 and CF11 |
| Dialling code | 029 |
| Police | South Wales |
| Fire | South Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament |
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| Welsh Assembly |
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Canton (called Treganna in Welsh) is a lively area in the west of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. It's located about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) west of Cardiff's city center. Canton is next to Pontcanna and is known for being a very diverse place, with many people from different backgrounds, including a large Pakistani and Indian population. In 2011, about 14,304 people lived here. It's also a district where many people speak Welsh, with almost one in five residents using the language.
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What is Canton Like?
The main street in Canton is Cowbridge Road East. It's a busy road filled with many shops, cafes, pubs, and restaurants. Locals often call this stretch "The Strip." Canton is also home to several lovely green spaces like Thompson's Park, Victoria Park, and Sanatorium Park. You can also find Llanover Hall, an education center, and the Chapter Arts Centre, which used to be Canton High School.
Even though Canton has a history of being a working-class area, many artists and young professionals enjoy living here. They like how close it is to the city center and the number of arts venues and pubs available.
Where Did Canton Get Its Name?
The name Canton comes from "St. Canna's Town." It refers to a female saint from the 6th century named Canna. Pontcanna is also named after her. Canton, or Treganna (which means 'Canna's town' in Welsh), was a large estate in Llandaff back in the 1200s. It officially became part of Cardiff in 1875.
Canton's History
Early Days: The Middle Ages
Canton, or Treganna, started as a large estate in Cardiff around the 13th century. It took over land from the nearby Llandaff area. It's believed that Canton is named after Saint Canna, a holy woman from the Celtic Age of Saints. Some even say Canna was related to the legendary King Arthur.
Records from the 1200s mention people like Lucia de Kanetune and Walter de Canetune, showing that Canton was already an important place.
A Busy Medieval Market
For several hundred years, starting around 1250, Canton Cross was home to the biggest and most important market in South Wales. This market was open every day except Sundays. It was located on the wide common lands of Canton, where Llandaff Road and Leckwith Road now meet Cowbridge Road East.
People brought all sorts of goods to trade at the market. This included fresh food, live animals, and household items from all over Cardiff and the South Wales Valleys. Goods meant for export were then taken to the docks in Cardiff, Penarth, and Swanbridge. Imports of food and other items also came to the market from these ports.
Canton in the 1800s and 1900s
In 1853, St. John's Church was finished and opened in Canton. It was a local chapel connected to Llandaff Cathedral. Around 1840, many Irish families moved to Halket Street in Canton. They were escaping the potato famines in Ireland and looking for work and homes in port cities like Liverpool and Cardiff. By 1870, the large Atlas Engineering works opened in Canton, creating many new skilled jobs.
The independent village of Canton officially became part of the City of Cardiff in 1875. This also included the area of Pwll-coch, which used to be part of Ely.
By 1899, the old Manor House of Canton was still standing but was in poor condition. The large common lands at Ely Common were being turned into a public park called Victoria Park and new homes. The market near Canton Cross, which had become a weekly cattle market, moved to land where Cantonian High School now stands in Fairwater. This market sold sheep, pigs, and cattle. It also had a slaughterhouse so animals could be prepared on site.
From 1902, electric trams ran from a depot near Victoria Park to the city center and other parts of Cardiff. These trams were replaced by electric trolleybuses in 1950. Today, the traditional Canton Cross common land is home to Cardiff City FC's Cardiff City Stadium and the Cardiff International Sports Stadium. The only reminder of the medieval market is the Bessemer Road fruit market. In recent years, many car dealerships have also moved into the area.
Canton in the 21st Century
In 2016, work began to build new homes on the old Arjo Wiggins Teape Paper Mill site, next to Sanatorium Park. This new "urban village," called The Mill, was planned to have 800 houses.
Getting Around Canton (Transport)
The main road through Canton is Cowbridge Road East, which is served by many bus routes.
Buses provided by New Adventure Travel:
- C1: From Culverhouse Cross (Tesco) to Pontprennau (Asda), passing through Canton, Cardiff city centre, Albany Road, and Pentwyn.
Buses provided by Cardiff Bus:
- 1: City Circle route, going via Cardiff Bay, Canton, Heath Hospital, Roath, and Splott.
- 2: City Circle route, going via Splott, Roath, Heath Hospital, Canton, and Cardiff Bay.
- 12: From Leckwith Retail Park to Drope, via Canton and Cowbridge Road West.
- 13: From City Centre to Drope, via Canton and Ely.
- 15: From City Centre to Heath Hospital, via Caerau/Ely.
- 17: From City Centre to Caerau/Ely, via Canton.
- 18: From City Centre to Ely/Caerau, via Canton.
- 32: From City Centre to St Fagans, via Canton and Fairwater.
- 64 & 65: From City Centre to St Mellons, via Canton and other areas.
- 66: From City Centre to Danescourt, via Canton and Llandaff.
Cowbridge Road East connects Canton to Culverhouse Cross, Ely, Caerau, Cardiff, and Fairwater to the west, and to the city center to the east.
Canton also has two train stations: Waun-Gron Park railway station in the west and Ninian Park railway station in the south. Both are on the Cardiff City Line, which runs between Cardiff Central and Radyr railway stations.
Cardiff Canton TMD is the main depot for Transport for Wales Rail.
Welsh Language in Canton
In the 2011 census, it was found that 2,625 people, or 19.1% of Canton residents (over 3 years old), could speak Welsh. This was an increase from the 2001 census figures. Canton has two primary schools where lessons are taught in Welsh: Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch and Ysgol Gymraeg Treganna. There is also a Welsh-language church, Salem (Presbyterian Church of Wales), on Market Road, which was founded in 1856.
Schools in Canton
Canton has several schools, including Lansdowne Primary School, Radnor Primary School, St Mary's Primary, Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch, Ysgol Gymraeg Treganna, and Fitzalan High School. The area also has a large public library, Canton Library.
Sports in Canton
Canton Rugby Football Club
Canton Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team that started in 1877. They play their home games at Lawrenny Avenue. The club is part of the Welsh Rugby Union and helps develop players for the Cardiff Blues team. Canton RFC was one of the three clubs that founded the Cardiff & District Union. Many players from Canton RFC have gone on to play for Cardiff RFC and even for the Welsh national team.
Canton Rangers Football Club
Canton Rangers Football Club, also known as Canton & Riverside, was formed by cousins Mauro Caresimo and Vito Valluzzi. The club has been around for 25 years and is connected to the South Wales Football Association since 1999. They have teams for all ages, from Under 5s to adults, who play in the Cardiff and District Football League. The club has won many league and cup competitions. In 2015, they won the Welsh Community Football Award for Club of the Year for South Wales, and in 2016, they won the FAW Community Club of the Year for all of Wales.
Canton Liberal F.C.
Canton Liberal is another football club from Canton. Formed in 2006, they have moved up through the Welsh football system. Their Senior 1st Team is just one promotion away from the newly formed Welsh Football League. They play their home games at the Cardiff International Sports Campus.
Famous People from Canton
- Charlotte Church, a well-known singer, lives in Canton.
- Frederick Charles Davies, a world champion runner known as ‘Tenby Davies’, lived on Preswylfa Street.
- Ryan Giggs, a famous former footballer for Manchester United F.C. and the Welsh national team.
- James Childs Gould, an industrialist and Member of Parliament for Cardiff Central from 1918 to 1924.
