An astonishing aerial view of central Cardiff from 1923

[IanD]

What you see here is the canal on the left and, on the right, the straight run of Bute Street with the railway beside. To the left of it is Butetown, with Loudon Square, Frederica and Christina Streets plainly visible - part of these still stand. Canal Parade is there - an echo of the past.

I'm researching Sophia and Frances Street for a client - they are to the left of Loudon Square. These may have been terraced houses, but they had seven rooms including three bedrooms and several were multi-tenancy occupations. They were owned by the Marquess of Bute and the rent was 11/6d in around 1900 - which was relatively expensive.

It's worth copying and pasting these photos for the detail they give.

Loudon square.jpg

Thanks for posting the pic. My mother was born in Loudon Square in 1925. Family moved upmarket to Splott, then Adamsdown (but they called it Roath), a few years in Nottingham then 50 plus years in Rhiwbina. How Cardiff has changed in a relatively short space of time.