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Roath
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<h2 id="description">Description</h2> <p>Roath's main shopping streets are Albany Road, <a href="/facts/City_Road,_Cardiff/fpRg3fPk">City Road</a>, and Wellfield Road. The area is characterised by its several tree-lined <a href="/facts/Avenue_(landscape)/jIlymys5">avenues</a> and <a href="/facts/Victorian_era/HQxGp7wh">Victorian era</a> terraced streets. Roath houses a very diverse population including a large number of students, being very close to the main university campuses, a large ethnic minority population and many young professionals. Subdivision of the large Victorian properties is starting to occur in the areas at the south end of the district. </p><p>Its close proximity to the city centre, its number of local amenities, churches, shops and restaurants and <a href="/facts/Public_house/1vDaSw0H">public houses</a> and <a href="/facts/Roath_Park/yhjopkEG">Roath Park</a> make it a popular area to live.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p><p>The area has five primary schools, Albany Primary School,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> Marlborough Primary School, Roath Park Primary School,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> St Peter's R.C. Primary School and Stacey Primary School.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> Community facilities include the YMCA Plas community centre<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> and the Mackintosh Sports Club.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="etymology">Etymology</h2> <p><a href="/facts/Samuel_Lewis_(publisher)/HNTbTWzu">Samuel Lewis</a> stated that the original name was <i>Rhâth</i>, adding that this was a common element in <a href="/facts/Welsh_toponymy/PKSrgLXs">Welsh toponymy</a> denoting ancient earthworks (cognate with <i>rati</i>, meaning a fortified enclosure in <a href="/facts/Gaulish_language/CAQo48pc">Gaulish</a> and <i>ráth</i>, a <a href="/facts/Ringfort/4xmBeWxd">ringfort</a> in <a href="/facts/Old_Irish/79xpaDv5">Old Irish</a>).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> Lewis further states that several of these earthworks were still visible in his time (likely referring to the earthworks and ditches which had surrounded the old manor house for centuries), suggesting that the area may have been home to an important fortified settlement of the <a href="/facts/Silures/UThkIPWh">Silures</a> tribe.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p><p>Roath has also been identified with <i>Ratostabius</i>, a disputed placename found in <a href="/facts/Ptolomey/htudGQTQ">Ptolomey</a>'s <a href="/facts/Geographia/gbCXgJR7">Geographia</a>. Both <a href="/facts/William_Camden/PQltxlCJ">William Camden</a> and <a href="/facts/Iolo_Morganwg/efw667QT">Iolo Morganwg</a> believed this place was in the vicinity of modern Cardiff, with Iolo suggesting that the Latin name was derived from "Rhath Taff".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>Roath Court is a nineteenth-century villa on the site of the medieval manor house of Roath.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> Since 1952 it has been a funeral home.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> Its <a href="/facts/Georgian_architecture/XS4mqhsc">Georgian</a> portico, designed by <a href="/facts/Robert_Adam/Qu9nqvTo">Robert Adam</a> in 1766 for <a href="/facts/Bowood_House/ev9z36YT">Bowood House</a>, Wiltshire, was moved there in 1956.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> </p> <p>Roath contains the <a href="/facts/St_Margaret%27s_Church,_Roath/VowBNB5R">Church of Saint Margaret of Antioch</a>, built in 1870 in <a href="/facts/Gothic_revival/gWJmqCH1">Gothic revival</a> style on the site of an earlier <a href="/facts/Normans/nUclGJWf">Norman</a> chapel. Designed by <a href="/facts/Llandaff/ChzTADfS">Llandaff</a> architect <a href="/facts/John_Prichard/G5GfpEFR">John Prichard</a> on a Greek Cross plan, it was financed by <a href="/facts/John_Crichton-Stuart,_3rd_Marquess_of_Bute/D6Kmlkr2">the third Marquess of Bute</a>, in spite of his conversion to Catholicism in 1868. Inside is an opulent mausoleum housing tombs of nine members of the Bute family, including the <a href="/facts/John_Stuart,_1st_Marquess_of_Bute/PLFYfgSd">first marquess</a> and his two wives. The tower of St Margaret's was finally completed in 1926. </p><p>Roath once had a <a href="/facts/Roath_railway_station/SlY4KDwW">railway station</a> on the South Wales Main Line, but this closed in 1917.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> </p><p>Prior to the 2010s the community was known as <a href="/facts/Plasnewydd/3F5aJjCp">Plasnewydd</a>, though was renamed as Roath, being a name that was more widely recognised.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="notable-buildings">Notable buildings</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Cardiff_University/HDgPQSCv">Cardiff University</a>, Queen's Buildings (School of Engineering)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Roath_Library/yXBqjmwt">Roath Library</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Mansion_House,_Cardiff/UeyGGMFB">Mansion House</a>, Richmond Road, used as the <a href="/facts/Mayors_of_Cardiff/q7wQtcFF">mayor's</a> residence for much of the 20th century</li> <li><a href="/facts/Shah_Jalal_Mosque,_Cardiff/oXJYtSuF">Shah Jalal Mosque</a>, Crwys Road (formerly Capel Crwys)</li> <li><a href="/facts/St_Margaret%27s_Church,_Roath/VowBNB5R">St Margaret's Church</a> (and the Bute Mausoleum)</li> <li><a href="/facts/St_Martin%27s_Church,_Roath/GDBPUylG">St. Martin's Church</a>, Albany Road<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/St_Edward%27s_Church,_Roath/11H9u91h">St. Edward's Church</a>, Blenheim Road<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/St._Peters_RFC/B8va5RqV">St. Peters RFC</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/The_Gate_Arts_Centre/HaGYulob">The Gate Arts Centre</a>, Keppoch Street</li> <li><a href="/facts/Trinity_Methodist_Church,_Cardiff/RXAoaqEG">Trinity Methodist Church</a></li></ul> <h2 id="festivals-and-events">Festivals and events</h2> <p>Starting in 2009, the <a href="/facts/Made_in_Roath/KDPPduEY">Made in Roath</a> arts festival took place each October. The event showcased art, music, performance and literature in a variety of venues including peoples' homes.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> The tenth festival took place in 2018.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> Made in Roath now exists as a community arts organisation that arranges exhibitions and residencies.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a> </p><p>Between 2013 and 2016, local organisers Wayne Courtney and <a href="/facts/Nathan_Wyburn/BSSwh9S9">Nathan Wyburn</a> hosted the 'Roath Bake Off'<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a> festival in <a href="/facts/St_Andrews_United_Reformed_Church,_Roath/zWCtJ8Jr">St Andrews United Reformed Church, Roath</a>. In December 2018, they announced that the event would be revived for 2019<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a> as part of the campaign to raise funds for the church it was held in. </p> <h2 id="notable-people">Notable people</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/William_Cope,_1st_Baron_Cope/2PwzHY0G">William Cope, 1st Baron Cope</a>, politician and international rugby player</li> <li><a href="/facts/Lionel_Fanthorpe/Rq7qFDsm">Lionel Fanthorpe</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Peter_Finch/NwazAolg">Peter Finch</a>, writer and poet</li> <li><a href="/facts/Boyd_Clack/TJnKpnqX">Boyd Clack</a>, writer, actor and playwright</li> <li><a href="/facts/Brian_Hibbard/C5973bSz">Brian Hibbard</a>, musician</li> <li><a href="/facts/Nathan_Wyburn/BSSwh9S9">Nathan Wyburn</a>, artist and local events organiser alongside Wayne Courtney aka Wyburn & Wayne.</li> <li><a href="/facts/William_Erbery/TCwJXa38">William Erbery (1604-1654)</a>, curate of St Woolos, Newport between 1630 and 1633 then Vicar of St Mary's Church in Cardiff before being forced to leave his post due to his Puritanism. He established the first nonconformist congregation in Cardiff</li> <li><a href="/facts/Maureen_Rees/eTPR47sm">Maureen Rees</a>, British reality TV star (b. 1942)</li> <li><a href="/facts/John_Sankey,_1st_Viscount_Sankey/dV8jB5rQ">John Sankey, 1st Viscount Sankey</a>, Labour politician and <a href="/facts/Lord_Chancellor/2rbLTEs6">Lord Chancellor</a>. Grew up in Castle Road (now City Road).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Tredegarville/p2cxt9pz">Tredegarville</a></li></ul> <h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2> <ul><li>J. Childs. Roath, Splott and Adamsdown. The History Press. 1995. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9780752401997</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Roath. <ul><li><a href="http://www.roathcardiff.net">RoathCardiff.net</a>, Community news and information about Roath in Cardiff</li> <li><a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2754947">Geograph.co.uk</a>, photos of Roath and surrounding area</li> <li><a href="http://www.roathcardiff.com">Roathcardiff.com</a>, History and photos of Roath</li> <li><a href="http://www.madeinroath.com">Madeinroath.com</a>, Arts festival and community project in Roath</li> <li><a href="https://www.roathlocalhistorysociety.org">roathlocalhistorysociety.org</a>, Local history society focussing on the Ecclesiastical Parish of Roath</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Roath · Cardiff, UK". Roath · Cardiff, UK. Retrieved 4 January 2023. <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Roath,+Cardiff/@51.4960599,-3.1693533,14.51z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x486e1cb87a2ffd2f:0x911a6c1a842592d5!8m2!3d51.4990248!4d-3.1526313?coh=164777&entry=tt&shorturl=1" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/maps/place/Roath,+Cardiff/@51.4960599,-3.1693533,14.51z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x486e1cb87a2ffd2f:0x911a6c1a842592d5!8m2!3d51.4990248!4d-3.1526313?coh=164777&entry=tt&shorturl=1</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Let's move to Roath and Cathays, Cardiff". the Guardian. 22 April 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2021. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/apr/23/lets-move-to-roath-and-cathays-cardiff" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/apr/23/lets-move-to-roath-and-cathays-cardiff</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Home | Albany Primary School". www.albanyprm.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2021. <a href="https://www.albanyprm.co.uk/" target="_blank">https://www.albanyprm.co.uk/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Home | Roath Park Primary School". www.roathparkprimaryschool.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2021. <a href="https://www.roathparkprimaryschool.co.uk/" target="_blank">https://www.roathparkprimaryschool.co.uk/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"Home | St Peter's R.C. Primary School". www.stpeters.wales. Retrieved 4 January 2023. <a href="https://www.stpeters.wales/" target="_blank">https://www.stpeters.wales/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"YMCA Plas". YMCA Cardiff Group. Retrieved 4 January 2023. <a href="https://www.ymcacardiff.wales/our-centres/ymca-cardiff-plas-youth-community-hub/" target="_blank">https://www.ymcacardiff.wales/our-centres/ymca-cardiff-plas-youth-community-hub/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Welcome to the Mackintosh Sports Club". Mackintosh Sports Club. Retrieved 4 January 2023. <a href="http://mackintoshsportsclub.org/" target="_blank">http://mackintoshsportsclub.org/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Jean-Marie Pailler (2006). "Quand l'argent était d'or. Paroles de Gaulois" (PDF). Gallia (in French). 63. CNRS: 211–241. doi:10.3406/galia.2006.3296. S2CID 194088001. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. <a href="https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01908254/file/Gallia_2006_211-241_PAILLER.pdf" target="_blank">https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01908254/file/Gallia_2006_211-241_PAILLER.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Cardiff and District". Some Place Names in South Wales. <a href="http://someplacenamesinsouthwales.4t.com/rich_text_1.html" target="_blank">http://someplacenamesinsouthwales.4t.com/rich_text_1.html</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Morganwg, Iolo (1848). The Iolo Manuscipts:A Selection of Ancient Welsh Manuscripts, in Prose and Verse, from the Collection Made by the Late Edward Williams, Iolo Morganwg, for the Purpose of Forming a Continuation of the Myfyrian Archaiology; and Subsequently Proposed as Materials for a New History of Wales. W. Rees; sold by Longman and Company, London. p. 375. <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Morganwg, Dafydd (1874). Hanes Morganwg (in Welsh). Jenkin Howell. p. 230. <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Newman, John (1995). Glamorgan. The Buildings of Wales. London: Penguin. p. 309. <a href="/wiki/Pevsner_Architectural_Guides" target="_blank">/wiki/Pevsner_Architectural_Guides</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"James Summers & Son Funeral Directors, Cardiff". Retrieved 8 February 2015. <a href="http://www.mylocalfuneraldirector.co.uk/funeralhome/jsummers-cardiff/" target="_blank">http://www.mylocalfuneraldirector.co.uk/funeralhome/jsummers-cardiff/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Newman, John (1995). Glamorgan. The Buildings of Wales. London: Penguin. p. 309. <a href="/wiki/Pevsner_Architectural_Guides" target="_blank">/wiki/Pevsner_Architectural_Guides</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>J. Childs. Roath, Splott and Adamsdown. The History Press 1995. <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Quick, M. E. (2002). Railway passenger stations in England, Scotland and Wales – a chronology. Richmond: Railway and Canal Historical Society. p. 364. OCLC 931112387. <a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>"A Roath by any other name would smell just as sweet". Wales Online. 27 February 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2018. <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/roath-any-name-would-smell-2126229" target="_blank">http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/roath-any-name-would-smell-2126229</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>stmartininroath.webplus.net <a href="http://stmartininroath.webplus.net" target="_blank">http://stmartininroath.webplus.net</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Roath.org.uk <a href="http://www.roath.org.uk/StEdward/" target="_blank">http://www.roath.org.uk/StEdward/</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Graham Henry, 'Made in Roath festival returns', South Wales Echo, 14 October 2011. Retrieved 2012-10-17. <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2011/10/14/made-in-roath-festival-returns-91466-29593165/" target="_blank">http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2011/10/14/made-in-roath-festival-returns-91466-29593165/</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>"Made in Roath festival celebrates 10 years". The Cardiffian. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2023. <a href="https://jomec.co.uk/thecardiffian/2018/10/22/made-in-roath-arts-festival-celebrates-its-10th-anniversary/" target="_blank">https://jomec.co.uk/thecardiffian/2018/10/22/made-in-roath-arts-festival-celebrates-its-10th-anniversary/</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>"madeinroath – art in the heart of roath". Retrieved 4 January 2023. <a href="https://madeinroath.com/" target="_blank">https://madeinroath.com/</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>'The Great Roath Bake Off 2013', RoathCardiff.net, 18 February 2013. Retrieved 2018-12-14. <a href="http://www.roathcardiff.net/2013/02/18/the-great-roath-bake-off-2013/" target="_blank">http://www.roathcardiff.net/2013/02/18/the-great-roath-bake-off-2013/</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:24"><p>'Roath Bake Off - 2019 announcement', Facebook - Roath Rocks, 13 December 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-14. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RoathRocks/photos/a.407150579425018/1308613239278743" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/RoathRocks/photos/a.407150579425018/1308613239278743</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:25"><p>"Viscount John Sankey, Lord Chancellor – Roath's top brief". Roath Local History Society. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2022. <a href="https://roathlocalhistorysociety.org/2020/09/23/viscount-john-sankey-lord-chancellor-roaths-top-brief/" target="_blank">https://roathlocalhistorysociety.org/2020/09/23/viscount-john-sankey-lord-chancellor-roaths-top-brief/</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>