Sophia Gardens

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Sophia Gardens is a large public park in Riverside, Cardiff, Wales, on the bank of the River Taff. Named after Sophia Rawdon-Hastings, the second wife of John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute, the park was acquired by Cardiff Council (then the Cardiff Corporation) from the Marquis of Bute in 1947. Sophia Gardens is well known as the home to Glamorgan County Cricket Club and the SWALEC Stadium (Glamorgan County Cricket Ground).[1]

The park is located close to Cardiff city centre and is adjacent to Bute Park and Pontcanna Fields, forming part of the city's 'green lung'. There are six access points including the main entrance at Sophia Close, Pontcanna Fields (either side of the cricket grounds), Cardiff Bridge, Cowbridge Road East and Bute Park via the Millennium Bridge that was constructed in 1999 to span the River Taff.

As well as the Glamorgan County Cricket Ground, Sophia Gardens also contains the Sport Wales National Centre, Y Mochin Du public house, an exhibition area, a car park with coach parking facilities and also provides vehicular access, via Sophia Close, to the caravan and camping site in Pontcanna Fields.

Sophia Gardens formerly hosted the Cardiff Horse Show. Between 20 and 26 September 1891 the park was home to Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show during his 1891 tour of British Provincial towns.[2][3]

References

  1. ↑ Cardiff Council
  2. ↑ Western Mail, 14/9/1891, p.1
  3. ↑ http://www.buffalobill.org/PDFs/Buffalo_Bill_Visits.pdf

Coordinates: 51°29′07″N 3°11′25″W / 51.4851639°N 3.19013889°W / 51.4851639; -3.19013889

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