page_title: Llandaff
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Llandaff / History
caption_attribution_description: City of Llandaff sign, Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales.
context_page_description: Llandaff is a district, community and coterminous electoral ward in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It was incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, whose diocese within the Church in Wales covers the most populous area of Wales.
context_section_description: Most of the history of Llandaff centres on its role as a religious site.  Before the creation of Llandaff Cathedral, it became established as a Christian place of worship in the 6th century AD, probably because of its location as the first firm ground north of the point where the river Taff met the Bristol Channel, and because of its pre-Christian location as a river crossing on a north–south trade route.  Evidence of Romano-British ritual burials have been found under the present cathedral.  The date of the moving of the cathedral to Llandaff is disputed, but elements of the fabric date from the 12th century, such as the impressive Romanesque Urban Arch, named after the 12th century Bishop, Urban.  It has had a history of continual destruction and restoration, as a result of warfare, neglect, and natural disaster.  Llandaff has been a focal point of devastating attacks by Owain Glyndŵr and Oliver Cromwell.  It was the second most damaged cathedral in the UK (after Coventry Cathedral), following Luftwaffe bombing during World War II, and subsequently restored by the architect George Pace.  One of its main modern points of interest is the aluminium figure of Christ in Majesty (1954–5), by Jacob Epstein, which is suspended above the nave.  In 2007, a lightning strike to its spire sent a surge through the building; which destroyed its organ.  Its replacement, the largest to be built in the UK for over 40 years, was inaugurated in 2010.
  A bishop's palace, now in ruins, lies to the south of the cathedral.  It is believed it was constructed at a similar date to Caerphilly Castle, in the late 13th century.  It is also believed it was abandoned after being attacked and damaged by Glyndŵr in the 15th century.  The gatehouse of the Palace survives, and the courtyard is now a public garden.
  Llandaff never developed into a chartered borough, and by the 19th century, was described as "reduced to a mere village... It consists of little more than two short streets of cottages, not lighted or paved, terminating in a square, into which the great gateway of the old palace formerly opened, and where are still several genteel houses." 
  Historically, Llandaff was informally known as a 'city', because of its status as the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff.  This city status was never officially recognised, largely because the community did not possess a charter of incorporation.  The ancient parish of Llandaff included a wide area.  Apart from Llandaff itself, it included the townships of Canton, Ely, Fairwater, and Gabalfa.
  During the development of the South Wales coalfield and Cardiff Docks, the parish was gradually absorbed into the Borough of Cardiff during the 19th and 20th centuries.  Seen as a clean and green up-market countrified village location close to the fast developing city, many of the better-off coal merchants and business people chose to live in Llandaff, including the Insole family.  The house now known as Insole Court dates originally from 1856.  Llandaff itself became a civil parish, and from 1894 to 1922, was part of the Llandaff and Dinas Powis Rural District.  On 9 November 1922, the county borough of Cardiff was extended to include the area.
caption: Sign entering Llandaff.
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