Splott

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Splott
Welsh: Y Sblot
Splott (United Kingdom)
Splott

Splott shown within the United Kingdom
Population 1,512
OS grid reference ST200767
Principal area Cardiff
Ceremonial county South Glamorgan
Constituent country Wales
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town CARDIFF
Postcode district CF24
Dialling code 029
Police South Wales
Fire South Wales
Ambulance Welsh
European Parliament Wales
UK Parliament Cardiff South & Penarth
List of places: UK • Wales • Cardiff

Coordinates: 51°29′01″N 3°09′13″W / 51.48357, -3.15349

Splott (Welsh: Y Sblot) is a district of the city of Cardiff, Wales, east of the city centre. It was built up in the late 19th century on the land of two farms of the same name: Upper Splott and Lower Splott Farms. Fanciful suggestions for the origin of the name include a truncation of "God's Plot", as the land belonged to the Bishop of Llandaff in medieval times and a derivation of "Plat" meaning a grassy area of land. In fact, the name is based on the English noun "splot" ("a plot of land") which is also found in placenames in the Vale of Glamorgan, Gower and Pembrokeshire. Splott is characterised by its once vast steelworks and rows of tightly knit terraced houses. The suburb of Splott falls into the Splott electoral ward.

The population of Splott in the United Kingdom Census 2001[1] was 12074, in 5101 households of which only 183 are detached homes. Of the 8221 adults in the area, 5000 have the lowest category of qualifications (Level 1 or below).

Contents

[edit] History

The early history of Splott is given in the Cardiff Records.[2] Splott was anciently held by the Bawdrips of Penmark. It consisted mainly of two farms, called the Upper and Lower Splott, situated between Roath Village and the sea.

  • 1440 - the Splott is mentioned as bounding certain lands of Isabel, Countess of Warwick.
  • 1596 - William Bawdrippe of Penmark built a fair house at the Splott and made it his chief residence.
  • 1626 - William Bawdrip of Splott was Member of Parliament for Cardiff. He sold Penmark and Splott to Sir Edward Lewis of the Van.
  • 1638 - Sir Edward Lewis of the Van died.
  • 1740 - the Llandaff Survey of this year mentions a chief rent of four shillings as payable in respect of Splott Farm in Roath.

No residential or industrial development took place in the area, however, until the end of the 19th century. In 1880 the whole area between Cardiff and the Bristol Channel (known as East Moors) was marshland, apart from the farms of Pengam and Splott. Residential development started in the 1880s, constructing streets, houses, shops, taverns and Board Schools; subsequently, Churches were built by various denominations.[3] Splott park opened in 1901.[4]

Inevitably there have been many changes in the years since Splott was first developed. Portmanmoor Road is now an industrial estate and its former Victorian era housing was demolished along with adjoining Enid Street, Layard Street, and Menelaus Street which no longer exist.

Splott University Settlement was one the most successful British baseball teams, winning the Welsh League title several times.

[edit] People

Wilson Street, Splott
Wilson Street, Splott
  • Shirley Bassey originated from nearby Tiger Bay, but moved to Splott at the age of two and went to Moorland Primary School in Splott.[6]
  • Kirsten Offer (soprano) lives in Wilson Street, Splott[8]

[edit] Popular culture

Farmville Road, Splott
Farmville Road, Splott

Splott is featured in the third episode ("Ghost Machine") of the BBC science fiction drama and Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood, which is set in Cardiff. It is also mentioned somewhat humorously in other episodes, due to its English pronunciation.

The Torchwood in-universe website features a section on Splott. Splott also features in the Torchwood novel Another Life.

Splott and the neighbouring district of Tremorfa are the settings for several works by Welsh playwright Peter Gill.

[edit] Cardiff districts

Splott is part of the STAR area of Cardiff (STAR stands for Splott, Tremorfa, Adamsdown and Roath, four inner city suburbs born out of the industrial revolution).[9]

Riverside City centre Adamsdown
Grangetown Butetown Splott
Llandaff Cardiff Bay Tremorfa

[edit] References

  1. ^ Neighbourhood Statistics - Area: Splott Community (Parish). National Statistics (2001). Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
  2. ^ Matthews, John Hobson [1900]. Cardiff Records, being Materials for a History of the County Borough from the Earliest Times (Vol 2). Retrieved on 2006-06-03. 
  3. ^ Fr. Graham Venn (2006). History. St. Alban's Parish Cardiff. Retrieved on 2006-06-04.
  4. ^ Tim Lambert (2001-6). A Short History of Cardiff, Wales. Local and National Histories. Retrieved on 2006-06-04.
  5. ^ BBC Wales south east (2005/6). Hall of Fame - John Humphrys - journalist and broadcaster. BBC - South East Wales. Retrieved on 2006-03-30.
  6. ^ BBC Wales south east (2005/6). Hall of Fame - Shirley Bassey - superstar singer from Cardiff's Tiger Bay. BBC - South East Wales. Retrieved on 2006-03-30.
  7. ^ Wales Rugby League (2004). Clive Sullivan [1961-1984]. Wales Rugby League Welsh Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2006-04-15.
  8. ^ Kirsten Offer (2006). Kirsten Offer - Soprano (PDF). Vivace Singers. Retrieved on 2006-04-15.
  9. ^ Jennie Savage. STAR radio. Retrieved on 2006-04-15.

[edit] External links

Splott today

History of Splott


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