LLANISHEN - A CHANGING SUBURB IN NORTH CARDIFF

Page Four - The reasons for moving out of Cardiff

Perhaps the most important question to be asked in the early growth of the suburb of Llanishen is why were people moving out from Cardiff and the inner suburbs?? Indeed, there were many push factors, which prompted the affluent to leave the sprawling industrial centre, and seek a more attractive environment, with pull factors, elsewhere. The first of these was the overcrowding and lack of open space, in the central areas, as shown by the picture below.

Indeed, the second half of the 19th century had seen a dramatic increase in the number of people living in the town of Cardiff, as seen in the table below, and it seemed that every available spare plot of land had been utilised within the central and inner areas to build either a house or a new business.

The Growth of the Population of Cardiff 1841-1911

1841	  11,442
1851	  20,258
1861	  41,422
1871	  56,911
1881	  82,761
1891	 128,915
1901     164,333
1911	 182,000

In 1839 the first docks had opened near the mouth of the River Taff, and by 1900, over 8 million tons of coal were being annually exported from Cardiff. By 1900 there was an acute shortage of land within the old town walls, whilst commercial expansion meant that many of the large townhouses had been converted into shops and offices. This general lack of space is also clear in the picture below, taken from Cardiff Castle around the turn of the century Cardiff2

The second reason behind a move out was simply that many of the families moving to Llanishen were seeking a larger home, as their families, and status, rose. Many of the parents had originally moved to Cardiff, before meeting their partner, and a move out to the suburbs was a sign of their rising affluence and need for a larger house, as they were now parents of a growing family.

A third factor was the nature of the environment in the inner areas. There had been outbreaks of disease in the town as a result of the toilet and sanitary facilities being unable to cope with the rise in population. In addition, the water supply had become polluted by the overflowing cesspits and sewers, and between 1849 and 1854, there had been several outbreaks of cholera. Add to this, the smoke and noise from the docks (see below) and factories, and it was clear that Cardiff had a rather unpleasant residential environment, especially for those who could afford to choose where they lived. The next page looks at the reasons for why they chose Llanishen.

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These pages have been written by Dr.A.K.Hignell - Head of Geography at Wells Cathedral School.