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Sunday, January 29, 2012

Cold Knap - pebble beach



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Cold Knap,  Barry is about 10 miles from Cardiff.  Its pebble beaches are formed by the wave action together with the steep slope of the the beach.

This beach had its hey day in the 1950's but now is still enjoyed as a walking area.  Another feature of Cold Knap was the outdoor Lido one of the largest in the country but now demolished and filled in.

Its still an excellent fishing area though and at one time the largest line caught cod, 44 lbs,  was landed here.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Waterfalls - Barry Sidings



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These waterfalls are at Barry Sidings Country Park located close to Trehafod on the B4753. The park runs along the southern bank of the river Rhondda for about 1.5 kilometres. The park is built on the site of an old railway siding owned by the  Barry Railway Company.  This company owned the railway and also the Trehafod colliery as well as others.  The railway provided a route for transporting the coal to Barry Docks, and from there is was exported all over the world. By 1913 Barry was the largest coal exporting port in Britain, possibly even the world.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Forty shades of green.....





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......as the Irish would say.  Because of the mild winter plants are ahead of themselves by a few weeks.  These were growing on the wall of an embankment just outside Taffs Well.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Cardiff Statues 2 - Marquis of Bute



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The Marquis of Bute who was really responsible for changing and developing Cardiff into a major city.

When coal became king in the late 18th century, the Butes built the Cardiff canal to Merthyr to aid industrialisation. But the area's potential and prosperity wasn't fully realised until John, the 2nd Marquis - son of Lord Mountstuart - commissioned the first of the great docks on the Cardiff waterfront.
The Bute Dock opened in 1839, paving the way for Cardiff to become the biggest and most prosperous coal port in the world. [BBC website]

 If you ever fancy a read of the history of Cardiff, albeit a fictional story but based on fact, try "River out of Eden" by Jack Jones

Friday, January 13, 2012

Cardiff Statues 1 -Ivor Novello



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One of Cardiffs famous sons, more here from Wikipedia.  He even has a pub named after him in Canton, the "Ivor Davies"

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Norwegian Church



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This has now been refurbished and is an arts centre and cafe, more here

Monday, January 09, 2012

Cardiff's 5 star hotel

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Cardiff's one and only....complete with gigantic bird on the roof!

Saturday, January 07, 2012

Boat face

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Its all in the title!

Thursday, January 05, 2012

Bay studios



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Cycling around the Bay area I came across this, new to me, building.  Why no photographs, so I took one, then a Security Guard came and asked if they could help.  I asked why the secrecy...its the BBC studios where they film some popular series, so I guess they dont want snoopers or local paperazzi.

Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Millenium Stadium

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Its only resting until the rugby home internationals start!