Ely, Cardiff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ely
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 Ely
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| Population | 14,603 (2011) |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CARDIFF |
| Postcode district | CF5 |
| 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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Ely (Welsh: Trelái from tref, town + Welsh: Afon Elái, River Ely) is a district and community in Cardiff, Wales. It is to the north of Cowbridge Road West. Caerau defines the boundary to the south as does River Ely to the east and in part to the north.
Contents
Roman era
In Roman times, Ely was the site of a Roman villa, near the old racecourse, and of iron smelting possibly using manganese to harden steel. There is also thought to have been a Roman road near the site linking to Cardiff Roman Fort and eastwards to Newport.
19th century
In 1855, the first horse race took place at Ely Racecourse, which took over from the Great Heath racecourse.
The Ordnance Survey map from the early 1880s shows just how isolated the ancient Ely village was from the rest of Cardiff. Reports about travelling along the main road over Ely Common to Cardiff talk of potholes and no shelter and a terrible journey on foot. Most of Ely was still farmland feeding Cardiff's population. A railway station had only recently been constructed, and this gave the surrounding area further potential for mass housing development.
The 'Ely Industrial School' on Cowbridge Road East was home to orphaned children originally from Cardiff. It had been set up to accommodate "pauper children" from 1863. It was very much a product of the Victorian age, and workhouse mentality, increased social awareness and responsibility saw it closing in 1903 and converted to additional workhouse accommodation for adults (though never used for that purpose), known as Ely Lodge. The children lived in what became known as Ely Homes. The school was demolished some years later and an infectious diseases isolation unit was built on the same site.
20th and 21st centuries
Ely's rapid expansion of housing began in the 1920s to provide 'homes fit for heroes' after World War I. This came with the construction of council houses to rehouse people from Cardiff's inner-city slums.
Ely Racecourse had its grandstand destroyed in a fire in 1937 and was then closed in 1939.
Ely Hospital was a large psychiatric hospital which was the subject of abuse allegations in the 1960s. The subsequent enquiry led to reforms to mental health provision throughout the National Health Service. The hospital closed in 1996.
The area is widely considered to be one of Cardiff's less desirable areas in terms of crime and standard of living. But the residents of Ely are keen to dispel this reputation, citing the fact it is a very large, close-knit community.
Transport
Cowbridge Road West (the A48) is the predominant road running through Ely as it runs on to Canton and Cardiff city centre to the east, and to Culverhouse Cross interchange to the west near the Western Cemetery. The parallel Grand Avenue links Cowbridge Road West to the northern estates of Ely.
Ely is served by Cardiff Bus services 17 and 18 which operate every 10 minutes from Wood Street in Cardiff city centre via Canton and Caerau. North Ely is also served by service 13 which terminates at the Cardiff Bus Interchange Cardiff Bus services 96 to Barry, and Adventure_Travel_(bus_company)'s C1 service also serves Ely between Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff City Centre and Pontprennau to the north
The nearest station is Waun-gron Park in Fairwater. Ely railway station, which closed in 1962, was on the South Wales Main Line.
Electoral ward
Ely is both an electoral ward, and a community of the City of Cardiff. There is no community council for the area. The electoral ward of Ely falls within the parliamentary constituency of Cardiff West. It is bounded by Fairwater to the northwest; Caerau to the south (although some of Lower Ely is technically in the electoral ward of Caerau, as is Trelai (Ely) Park); Culverhouse Cross to the west; and the Vale of Glamorgan to the southwest.
All three council seats are safely held by the Labour Party, with one of the long-term representatives being former Council leader, Russell Goodway, though in 2004 when Labour lost the Council to the Liberal Democrats, Goodway retained his seat by only 62 votes.
The Ely electoral ward consists of the area north of Cowbridge Road West, while the Caerau electoral ward consists of the area south of Cowbridge Road West. However, a misconception is Caerau being a subsection of the Ely area.
Notable people
- Steve Andrews, the "Bard of Ely"; singer-songwriter, writer and journalist
- Rakie Ayola, actress, raised in Ely
- Ryan Giggs, Manchester United and Wales footballer
- Rosemary Joshua, opera soprano known for her performances in George Frideric Handel's operas
- Danielle Lineker, actress and model
- Mackenzie Martin, Cardiff and Wales rugby union player
- Jason Mohammad, radio and television presenter for the BBC
- Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely, Welsh Labour politician, member of the Senedd, and First Minister of Wales.
- Nicky Piper, super-middleweight and light-heavyweight boxer
- Steve Robinson, WBO featherweight boxer
- Shakin' Stevens, pop singer of the 1980s
- Noel Sullivan, Hear'say member, singer, musical performer, actor.
- Glen Webbe, former Bridgend and Wales rugby union player, described as "Wales first black icon"
Amenities
Ely features several shopping parades. Two large supermarkets are located just off Cowbridge Road West on nearby Treseder Way. Many small shops and local businesses are notably on Wilson Road and Grand Avenue; and other chain stores are in the Caerau ward.
Education
Primary Schools in Ely:
- Windsor Clive Junior School on Grand Avenue
- Herbert Thompson Primary School on Plymouthwood Road
- Hywel Dda Primary School on Cambria Road
- Saint Fagans Church in Wales Primary School on Drope Road
- Saint Francis RC Primary School on Wilson Road
High Schools in Ely:
- Cardiff West Community High School on Penally Road
Youth Centres in Ely:
- North Ely YC on Pethybridge Road
- Dusty Forge Project on Cowbridge Road West
