Llanishen 1

Geographical coordinates: 51°31′44″N 3°11′20″W Llanishen (Welsh Llanisien llan church + Isien Saint Isan) is a district in the north of , the capital city of . Llanishen is well-known as the home of the 'Tax Offices', the tallest buildings in north Cardiff and a landmark for miles around. The office complex overlooks the 'Crystal and Fishguard estates', Parc Ty Glas industrial estate, old village, leafy suburban roads and various parkland that constitute the district. Llanishen is also home to a fully featured Leisure Centre and the 60-acre Llanishen Reservoir - a local beauty spot that is connected to a green corridor which bisects the city from Llanishen electoral ward of Cardiff the rising hills in the north to in the south.

History Originally wooded farm land, in A.D. 535 two monks came eastwards from the small religious settlement of , aiming to establish new settlements, or "llans", in the land below Caerphilly mountain. With fresh water from the Nant Fawr stream, one of the monks Isan founded his llan on the site of the modern day Oval Park. In 1089 in the Battle of the Heath, the Normans fought the Welsh Celts north of the settlement. The victorious Normans expanded Llanishen, starting work on a church to the north which was completed in the 12th century. Although Oliver Cromwell had ties with Llanishen and the neighbouring village of Llysfaen, the village remained undisturbed until 1871, when the Rhymney Railway was given permission to break the stranglehold of the Taff Vale Railway into Cardiff Docks. Building a line from Caerphilly to Crockherbtown Junction just north of Cardiff Queen Street, its 1.5 miles (2.4 km) tunnel to the north resulted in a number of accidental deaths, many of whom are buried in St Isans church. The railway and the development of Llanishen railway station allowed wealthy Cardiff business people to commute from the village to the centre of city easily, resulting in the expansion of the villages population by 20,000 between 1851 and 1871. In 1887, the two new reservoirs of Llanishen were built to allow distribution of water collected in the Brecon Beacons to the city. In 1922, after expansion north by the city and south by the village, Llanishen became a suburb of Cardiff. Development of the village since has been through redevelopment of the former farming and military land into commercial usage and housing development.

Commerce and Industry

ROF Cardiff The First World War, like in many locations, brought death to the young men of the village, but the Second World War brought greater affect. With the development of ROF Bridgend, a Royal Ordnance Factory, ROF Cardiff, was developed along Ty Glas Road to take the explosives from Bridgend and produce tank and anti-tank guns. Air defences against paratroopers were placed in nearby fields, but this was strengthened in 1941 when the Royal Air Force established both a RAF Regiment base and a glider training facility. In 1943 the United States Army began using the facilities to hold troops and undertake local training, including basic flight in Tiger Cubs. The Americans left in June 1944 as the Allies prepared for D-Day. In 1987 ROF Cardiff became an Atomic Weapons Establishment. It closed down in February 1997. Llanishen 2

ROF Cardiff since closure has become the site of housing development: George Wimpey called theirs 'Parklands', Barratt built 'Ty Glas Square' and Leadbitter built 'Llys Enfys', with Bellway and Persimmon/Charles Church creating even more housing between the AWE site and the HMRC building. The site will also host a new public open space, the final element to be constructed (2010), to include children's play area, sports pitch and community garden. The Wimpey plc development has been named 'Watkins Square' and the Barratt 'Tasker Square' - after Wales' famous winner Sir Tasker Watkins, who died during 2007.

Parc Ty Glas Industrial Estate

Parc Ty Glas is home to the offices of S4C (the national television station for Wales) and the National of Wales. HM Revenue and Customs occupies a 16-storey tower block (Phase 2) plus some of the 11-storey Gleider House (Phase 1) in a complex of HM Government offices,[1] employing more than 2,700 staff on site in late 2007[2] (mainly Revenue division — including an enquiry centre, or IREC). In 2003, a retail complex of six stores was HM Government buildings, Phase 2 (left) and Gleider House - Phase 1 (right) and built; the current occupants are Marks and Ty Rhodfa in the foreground Spencer Simply Food, Boots, Laura Ashley, HomeSense Starbucks DW fitness and pets at home

Other offices The Orchards complex, formerly the site of the National Coal Board's regional office,[1] houses the offices of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales,[3] the Welsh Assembly Government's Department for Rural Affairs,[4] and the Welsh office of the Camelot Group, operators of the UK National Lottery.[5]

Leisure

Cardiff Sailing Centre Cardiff Sailing Centre (Llanishen Sailing Centre)[6] is one of Wales' foremost Sailing Schools teaching sailing, windsurfing and powerboating, and enjoys an international reputation. [7] [8] The centre currently operates all it's courses in Cardiff Bay due to the drain down, however still has buildings at the reservoir should they be able to return.

Llanishen and Lisvane Reservoirs Two non-functional reservoirs (the smaller Lisvane reservoir is adjoined to Llanishen Reservoir). Llanishen Reservoir forms the end of a Victorian water supply system stretching from the Brecon Beacons to Cardiff and has recently had its CADW listing confirmed. It had been under threat from an American-lead commercial development for domestic housing, where the proposed houses would be built around a reduced lake. But the CADW designation plus the Site of Special Scientific Interest for grassland fungi on the embankments of the reservoir, will make it very difficult for a developer to gain building permission. Locals are campaigning to make the area a registered village green.[9] [10] Llanishen 3

Llanishen Leisure Centre

Llanishen Leisure Centre[11] is situated in Llanishen and is the largest in the city. It has a pool with a wave machine, Squash courts, multi-activity Sports Hall, an improved Gym & Fitness suite, a Snooker table and Lounge Bar & Pool side Cafeteria. It is built in a very similar layout to the Pentwyn leisure centre.

Llanishen Library

Llanishen Library is a part-time branch library with two PCs with free Llanishen Leisure Centre Internet access.

Llanishen Skate Park In the large 'Glider Field' alongside the leisure centre, there is a public Skatepark.[12] Skate Park Facilities: 2 Quarter-pipes / Jump box / 2 flat banks / Driveway / Spine

Llanishen Rugby Club The playing ground and large training ground of Llanishen RFC is off Usk Road, and has been used in the past by visiting international rugby union teams. The Club House is off Ty Glas Avenue nearby.[13]

Public Houses Llanishen's pubs include The Church Inn, Ty Glas Road, Ty Glas and Wolf's Castle.

Schools Local Primary schools: • Cefn Onn • Christ the King R.C. Primary School • Coed Glas[14] • Ysgol y Wern • The Court Special School Secondary schools: • Llanishen High School

Transport The district is served by two railway stations, Llanishen railway station (on the Cardiff Central to ) in the east and Ty Glas railway station (on the Cardiff Central to Coryton) in the west. operates several bus routes through the area: • 28 from Station Road (Thornhill) or (--Central Stn) • 29 (Llanishen Village Circle) or (Roath Park-Roath-Central Stn) • 29B (Llanishen Village Circle via Ty Glas) or (Roath Park-Roath-Central Stn) • 52A (Llanishen Village Circle-Penylan-Roath-Central Stn) • 86 (Lisvane) Llanishen can be approached from the south via Caerphilly Road and also, more centrally, via Fidlas Road at Rhydypenau crossroads (north of Roath Park). Llanishen 4

Government and politics

Electoral ward The electoral ward of Llanishen falls within the parliamentary constituency of Cardiff North. It covers some or all of the geographical areas of Llanishen, Birchgrove and Thornhill. It is bounded by the wards of Lisvane to the northwest; to the southwest; Heath to the south; and Rhiwbina to the west.

Representation • Represented in the British House of Commons since 2010 by Jonathan Evans, Member of Parliament (Conservative, Cardiff North). • Represented in the Welsh Assembly since 2007 by Jonathan Morgan, AM (Conservative, Cardiff North) • Represented on since 2004 by Jonathan Burns, Craig Piper, Richard Foley and Robert Smith; all of the Welsh Conservative Party

Famous people from Llanishen The film director Richard Marquand (Jagged Edge, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi) was born in Llanishen. His father was Labour MP Hilary Marquand.[15]

External links • Llanishen Leisure Centre [16] • Llanishen Reservoir Action Group [17] • Llanishen Rugby Club [18] • Llanishen Sailing Centre [19] • Llanishen Baptist Church [20] • Geograph.co.uk : photos of Llanishen and surrounding area [21] • Friends of the Crystals Community Website [22] • Llanishen Local History Society [23]

(NW) Thornhill Lisvane

Rhiwbina Llanishen Cyncoed

Birchgrove Heath (SE)

[24] Please help fill in this table.

References

[1] Eduweb.co.uk (http:/ / atschool. eduweb. co. uk/ wellscs/ geog/ Llan6. html)

[2] House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 14 January 2008 (pt 0019) (http:/ / www. publications. parliament. uk/ pa/ cm200708/

cmhansrd/ cm080114/ text/ 80114w0019. htm)

[3] HEFCW - Map & Directions (http:/ / www. hefcw. ac. uk/ Contact_Us/ directions. htm)

[4] New.Wales.gov.uk (http:/ / new. wales. gov. uk/ about/ departments/ depc/ epcstructure/ RAofficemap/ Llanishen_office/ ?lang=en)

[5] How To Contact Camelot (http:/ / lottery. merseyworld. com/ Info/ Camelot. html)

[6] "Cardiff Sailing Centre" (http:/ / www. llanishensc. co. uk). .

[7] "Marlow Ropes joy for up-and-coming Evans" (http:/ / www. rya. org. uk/ newsevents/ news/ Pages/ daveevansmarlowfeb08. aspx). .

[8] "Cardiff school children get OnBoard" (http:/ / www. rya. org. uk/ newsevents/ news/ Pages/ CardiffschoolchildrengetOnBoard. aspx). .

[9] "Llanishen RAG" (http:/ / www. llanishenrag. com). .

[10] "icWales Feature" (http:/ / icwales. icnetwork. co. uk/ 0100news/ features/ tm_objectid=17632301& method=full&

siteid=50082-name_page. html). .

[11] "Llanishen Leisure Centre" (http:/ / www. cardiff. gov. uk/ content. asp?nav=2868,2967,3001,3707,3712& parent_directory_id=2865). . Llanishen 5

[12] "Llanishen Skate Park" (http:/ / www. cardiff. gov. uk/ content. asp?Parent_Directory_id=2865& nav=2868,2967,3772,3773,4839). .

[13] "Llanishen Rugby Club" (http:/ / www. llanishenrfc. co. uk/ ). .

[14] "Coed Glas Primary School" (http:/ / 212. 219. 231. 113/ ). .

[15] "Richard Marquand biography" (http:/ / cinema. aliceadsl. fr/ personnalite/ default. aspx?personnaliteid=PI010074). .

[16] http:/ / www. cardiff. gov. uk/ content. asp?nav=2868%2C2967%2C3001%2C3707%2C3712& parent_directory_id=2865

[17] http:/ / www. llanishenrag. com/

[18] http:/ / www. llanishenrfc. co. uk/

[19] http:/ / www. llanishensc. co. uk/

[20] http:/ / www. llanishenbaptist. org. uk/

[21] http:/ / www. geograph. org. uk/ search. php?i=2774301

[22] http:/ / www. crystalscommunity. org/

[23] http:/ / www. llanishenlocalhistory. btik. com/

[24] http:/ / en. wikipedia. org{{subst:localurl::Llanishen}} Article Sources and Contributors 6 Article Sources and Contributors

Llanishen Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=373225890 Contributors: Alai, Ananaso, AndrewHowse, Aranel, Beetstra, Bubz chilis, Chriscf, Clubjuggle, DMacks, Daicaregos, Dangherous, Davematcardiff, Debresser, EdwardLane, Failedstate, Ground Zero, Gunner357, Happysailor, IJA, Iluvcurry123, Inkypaws, Jeremy Bolwell, Jevansen, Jmcc150, JonasLove120, MPF, Matt Lewis, [email protected], Mattg82, Meisterkoch, Mike Cline, Miq, Mongbei, Morwen, Mwng, NSR, Nihiltres, Pascal666, Paul Weaver, Peterunner, Pondle, Pyrotec, Rodhullandemu, Seth Whales, Sloman, Tassedethe, Tern, The Nut, The Wild West guy, TimBentley, Tomos ANTIGUA Tomos, Ulric1313, Welshleprechaun, Wilcel, WittyKitty2008, Www999, 56 anonymous edits Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

Image:Cew llanishen.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Cew_llanishen.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Sloman Image:Government offices, Llanishen, Cardiff.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Government_offices,_Llanishen,_Cardiff.jpg License: unknown Contributors: Man vyi, Seth Whales File:Llanishen Leisure Centre Cardiff.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Llanishen_Leisure_Centre_Cardiff.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: Welshleprechaun License

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

http:/ / creativecommons. org/ licenses/ by-sa/ 3. 0/