Program Overview

A History of Cardiff: From Roman Fort to Capital City

Course Overview

This course examines the main historical, social, and cultural factors that have shaped Cardiff's story. Over 10 weeks, students will learn about the city's early development, its growth as a county town and port, and the legacy of the Bute family. The course will also explore the diverse activities that have preoccupied the lives of the people of Cardiff, from politics, education, and religion to culture, recreation, and sport.

Course Outline

The main historical outline covers:

• Cardiff's origins
• Roman development
• Norman occupation
• Medieval Cardiff
• 16th and 17th centuries: the county town of Glamorganshire
• 18th and 19th centuries: the coal industry and the development of the docks, shipping, and ship repairing
• The Bute family
• 20th century: city status and capital of Wales

The course covers the following themes:

• Population growth and immigration
• Politics and attitudes
• National and local events
• The life of the people: occupations, housing, education, religion, culture, recreation, sport

Learning and Teaching

Learning and teaching are undertaken by means of small group work. This is a 10-credit course, with two-hour meetings once a week (20 contact hours in all), including group discussion, exercises, source analysis, and presentation of material on video and/or DVD.

Coursework and Assessment

Essays or other equivalent written assignments to a total of 1500 words demonstrating an understanding of core elements of the course material. Assessments are flexible to suit the course and the student, with the most important element being that it should enhance learning.

Reading Suggestions

• Edgar L. Chappel, History of the Port of Cardiff (Cardiff, 1939; second edition, 1994)
• John Davies, Cardiff and the Marquesses of Bute (Cardiff, 1981)
• J. Daunton, Coal Metropolis: Cardiff (Leicester, 1977)
• Dennis Morgan, The Cardiff Story (Cardiff, 1991; reprinted, 2001)
• Dennis Morgan, The Illustrated History of Cardiff's Suburbs (Derby, 2003)
• Dic Mortimer, Cardiff: The Biography (Stroud, 2014)
• Nick Shepley, The Story of Cardiff (Stroud, 2014)

Library and Computing Facilities

Students on this course are entitled to join and use the University's library and computing facilities.

Accessibility

The University aims to provide a confidential advice and support service for any student with a long-term medical condition, disability, or specific learning difficulty. Support includes one-to-one advice, pre-enrolment visits, liaison with tutors, material in alternative formats, arrangements for accessible courses, assessment arrangements, loan equipment, and dyslexia screening.