View source for Pontcanna

{{Short description|District and community in Cardiff, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| type = [[Community (Wales)|Community]]
| country = Wales
| static_image_name = Pontcanna2.jpg
| static_image_caption = Row of cafés on Pontcanna&nbsp;Street.
| coordinates = {{coord|51|29|26|N|3|12|08|W|type:city(2000)_region:GB|display=title}}
| unitary_wales = [[Cardiff]]
| module= [[File:Cardiff Wales communities - Pontcanna post-2016 locator.png|240px]]<br />Map of the community
}}

{{Language with name/for|cy|'''Pontcanna'''|''pont'' bridge + [[Saint Canna|Canna]]|italic=no}} is an inner-city district and [[Community (Wales)|community]] in the west of [[Cardiff]], Wales. It is located adjacent to [[Canton, Cardiff]]. It is also located a short distance to the city centre, and its borders are approximately indicated by [[A48 road|Western Avenue]], the [[River Taff]], [[Cowbridge Road East]] and Llandaff Road.<ref>The exact boundaries are noted on [[Cardiff Council]]'s [http://ishare.cardiff.gov.uk/ My Map] website.</ref>

==Description==
Pontcanna is an area of wide tree-lined streets and large houses. It is a relatively wealthy area with numerous cafes and independent retailers centred on Pontcanna Street and [[Cathedral Road, Cardiff|Cathedral Road]]. There is both a large English-born population (roughly 25%) and a smaller Welsh-speaking population (roughly 20%).<ref>Cardiff Council, 'Ask Cardiff: Facts and Stats - [http://formerly.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2872,3257,6571,6572&parent_directory_id=2865&id=13996 Riverside (Census 2011 Lower Tier Super Output Areas 04, 05, 06 and 07)]'; accessed 17 May 2015.</ref> The area was formerly home to the television studios of [[Television Wales and the West#Studios|TWW]], [[Teledu Cymru]], [[ITV Wales & West|HTV]] and [[S4C]]'s headquarters; the [[BBC Cymru Wales|BBC Wales]]'s [[Broadcasting House, Cardiff|Broadcasting House]] was nearby in [[Llandaff]].

Many of the larger villas (particularly on Cathedral Road) have been converted into flats, guest houses or business premises. Located on the edge of [[Cardiff city centre]], Pontcanna gives easy access to the centre for professionals, as well as access via the [[Gabalfa]] Interchange to the [[A48(M) motorway]].

==History==
The name Pontcanna stems from Pont Canna Farm, which in turn was named after a bridge across the Whitehouse Brook,<ref name="cardiffians">[http://www.cardiffians.co.uk/suburbs/riverside_and_pontcanna.shtml ''The suburbs of Riverside and Pontcanna'' www.cardiffians.co.uk]</ref> a one-time tributary of the River Taff which ran between [[Llandaff Fields]] and [[Riverside, Cardiff|Riverside]]. The bridge is believed to have stood near the junction of what, today, are Teilo Street and Cathedral Road. The bridge was removed (and the brook covered up) in 1896.<ref name="cardiffians"/> [[Saint Canna]] is said to have been a 6th-century saint, although there is little early evidence of her existence.

What is nowadays Pontcanna was almost completely open farmland until the late nineteenth century. The main route, Cathedral Road, was previously known as Pontcanna Lane, running between Plasturton Farm in the south and Pontcanna Farm to the north. In 1854 Sophia, widow of the [[John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute|2nd Marquess of Bute]] began to finance the creation of a 41-acre garden on the site of Plasturton Farm, next to the River Taff and Cardiff Bridge.<ref name="Jones">Jones, Bryan ''"Canton"'' The Chalfont Publishing Company (1995)</ref> This is now a public amenity known as [[Sophia Gardens]] and was a catalyst for the development of Pontcanna.

Between 1885 and 1900 the large villas along Cathedral Road were constructed.<ref name="Jones"/>{{rp|55}} Plasturton Avenue and Plasturton Gardens were then added at the turn of the twentieth century.<ref name="Jones"/>{{rp|64}}

A large synagogue, designed by Delissa Joseph of London, was constructed and opened at the south end of Cathedral Road in 1896–7.<ref name="Newman">Newman, J., ''The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan'' University of Wales Press (1995)</ref>{{rp|279}} After Cardiff's Jewish community had largely moved to the suburbs, it was closed in 1989.<ref name="Jones"/>{{rp|63}} It has been converted into luxury offices.

A chapel belonging to the [[Presbyterian Church of Wales]], designed by Edgar G.C. Down of Cardiff, was built at the north end of Cathedral Road in 1903. It has since ceased to be a chapel and has been subdivided into office accommodation.<ref name="Newman"/>{{rp|278}}

In 1951 the [[Sophia Gardens Pavilion]] was opened. This was a major entertainment venue for the city, hosting top stars such as [[Danny Kaye]] and [[Tommy Steele]]. In 1982 the roof collapsed after a heavy snow storm and the Pavilion was closed.<ref name="Jones"/>{{rp|111}}

Some of the large villas along Cathedral Road have been replaced by modern office buildings. For example, No.8 Cathedral Road was rebuilt in the 1970s to create offices for [[Alex Gordon (architect)|Alex Gordon & Partners]],<ref name="Newman"/>{{rp|282}} architects of Transport House (see below).

Transport House, prominently located at the south end of Cathedral Road, was designed by the Alex Gordon Partnership and opened in 1978. It is 5 storeys in height, constructed using pre-cast concrete panels.<ref name="Newman"/>{{rp|281}} It is the headquarters for the [[Wales TUC]] and other [[trade union]] organisations.

==Parks and leisure facilities==
Sophia Gardens and Pontcanna Fields form a large strip of parkland between Pontcanna and the River Taff. Pontcanna Fields was acquired by the Cardiff Council from the [[John Crichton-Stuart, 5th Marquess of Bute|5th Marquis of Bute]] in 1947.<ref>Cardiff Council website [http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?id=507&d1=0 'Pontcanna Fields (including Sophia Gardens)'] Last revised 1 November 2010 (Retrieved 2011-09-25)</ref> The parkland includes the Cardiff City Riding School, football pitches and allotments.

Plasturton Gardens is a small public park between Plasturton Avenue and Plasturton Place.

The [[SWALEC Stadium]] (home to [[Glamorgan County Cricket Club]]) and the [[Sport Wales National Centre]] are located on Sophia Close, just north of Sophia Gardens Park.

==Government==
Pontcanna is part of the Cardiff [[electoral ward]] of [[Riverside (Cardiff electoral ward)|Riverside]], and in the [[Cardiff West (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff West UK parliamentary constituency]].

In 2016 Pontcanna became a [[Community (Wales)|local government community]] in its own right, having previously been part of the [[Riverside, Cardiff|Riverside]] community.<ref>Ruth Mosalski (23 March 2015) [http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/no-longer-housebuyers-able-mock-8904563 "No longer will housebuyers be able to mock estate agents... Pontcanna is set to be one of four city 'areas' given official status"], ''Wales Online''. Retrieved 8 April 2017.</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The City and County of Cardiff (Communities) Order – 2016 No. 1155 (W. 277)|date=2016|publisher=Welsh Statutory Instruments|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2016/1155/pdfs/wsi_20161155_mi.pdf}}</ref> However, it does not have a community council.

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Cardiff}}
{{Communities of Cardiff}}

[[Category:Communities in Cardiff]]