Cardiff street photos – 25 views of the capital of Wales, June 2014

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Rarely has a city transformed as quickly as Cardiff has in recent years, and whenever I return I’m always interested to see the changes.

Here’s twenty-five photos taken as I scampered around town during my short visit last week.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Mosaic by Cardiff Central railway station (formerly Cardiff General).

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Signpost by the River Taff, opposite the Millennium Stadium.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Graffiti and poster, Cowbridge Road.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Old St David’s hospital building. Built in 1881, this imposing structure features a central clock tower which rises to a height of 72 feet.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Crumbling paintwork on the façade of Peter Mulcahy estate agents.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Old pub ‘smoke room entrance’ sign.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Corporation public house, built in 1889 and popular with pre-match Cardiff City drinkers.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Entrance to Chapter Arts, an important arts centre which opened up in the former premises of Canton High School in 1971.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Lovecraft licensed sex shop.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Cardiff Castle.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Relaxing on the castle green.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

The busker known as Redlocks was busy with a whole suite of pedals and effects on Queen Street.

He recently survived an attempt by Cardiff Council to ban him from the streets, but he can now only play in the same spot for 30 minutes before moving on. Read his story here.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Fake house containing an Abercrombie retail outlet in the St David’s Centre.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Busker.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

The striking Alliance sculpture, featuring a large stainless steel and enamelled metal arrow column and a hoop.

Created by French artist Jean-Bernard Métais, the structure glows in the dark and the hoop is supposed to fall and rise with the tide. []

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Statue for John Batchelor (1820–1883), a prominent Welsh Victorian businessman and politician, who earned the epithet “Friend of Freedom”.

Created by the sculptor James Milo Griffith and unveiled on 16 October 1886, the statue commemorates the work of the Newport-born, Cardiff based Liberal politician who campaigned against slavery.

Batchelor’s political activities meant that he was constantly rubbing up the all-powerful Bute family, so much so that a petition of 1,200 names was raised in opposition to the statue after his death in 1883.

The statue has become a magnet for wags to add traffic cones or bins to his head, and there’s often a bottle of beer to be found in his outstretched  hand. []

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Morgan Arcade.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Former premises of Crouch, the jewellers. The company have relocated to 30 Grand Arcade in the St Davids/Dewi Sant shopping centre.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Hayes Island Snack Bar, a local landmark in Cardiff. Read more here. 

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Cardiff, old and new.

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

Former Works Dept of the David Morgan department store which ceased operating in January 2005 after 125 years of trading.

The store was founded by Brecon-born David Morgan who opened his first shop in The Hayes in 1879.

Family run throughout its entire history, it was the largest independent department store in Wales when it closed in 2005. []

Cardiff street photos - 25 views of the capital, Wales, June 2014

It’s been empty and derelict for years, but the 1890 York Hotel has been bought by the Bailey Group and is earmarked ‘for future development.’

More Wales photos here.

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