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In pictures: Remembering Tiger Bay

While the Pierhead building in Cardiff Bay remains closed for public exhibitions due to the pandemic, it has been celebrating the area's history online by posting a series of archive photos on social media. They come from the Heritage and Cultural Exchange, which inherited the collection from the former Butetown History and Arts Centre.

Loudoun Square was originally built in the mid-1850s as upmarket homes for merchants, mariners, ship brokers and the like around a central park. By the 1950s it was decided to demolish the existing houses, which were replaced by tower blocks shortly after this photo was taken in 1962

Amgueddfa Cymru/National Museum Wales Loudoun Square, Cardiff — Loudoun Square was originally built in the mid-1850s as upmarket homes for merchants, mariners, ship brokers and the like around a central park. By the 1950s it was decided to demolish the existing houses, which were replaced by tower blocks shortly after this photo was taken in 1962

Much of this crew of a steam ship would have been paid off when they reached the destination port. As new seafarers were signed up only when the ship was ready to sail again, the crewmen could have originated locally from the foreign port or from other recently-arrived vessels. So the very diverse mix seen here would have been the norm

Heritage and Cultural Exchange Steam ship crew in Cardiff Docks — Much of this crew of a steam ship would have been paid off when they reached the destination port. As new seafarers were signed up only when the ship was ready to sail again, the crewmen could have originated locally from the foreign port or from other recently-arrived vessels. So the very diverse mix seen here would have been the norm

Cardiff Docks was a very busy commercial and business area as seen here in this image of James Street around 1920

Heritage and Cultural Exchange James Street, Cardiff Docks, circa 1920 — Cardiff Docks was a very busy commercial and business area as seen here in this image of James Street around 1920

Class Standard 7 at Clarence Road School in 1926

Heritage and Cultural Exchange Class Standard 7 at Clarence Road School in 1926 — Class Standard 7 at Clarence Road School in 1926

Bute Street in the early part of the 20th Century had shops of every type, boarding houses, pubs and other establishments to help seamen spend their money. Trams ran down to the Pierhead from Cardiff city centre and the high wall on the right divided the street from the railway line as it does today

Heritage and Cultural Exchange Bute Street, Cardiff Docks, early 20th Century — Bute Street in the early part of the 20th Century had shops of every type, boarding houses, pubs and other establishments to help seamen spend their money. Trams ran down to the Pierhead from Cardiff city centre and the high wall on the right divided the street from the railway line as it does today

A visit by the Rainbow Club to HMS Tiger in 1966. Dame Shirley Bassey was a former member of this local youth club organised by Mrs Capener (in centre of picture). HMS Tiger was visiting Cardiff as part of the relief effort following the Aberfan disaster

Heritage and Cultural Exchange Rainbow Club visits HMS Tiger in 1966 — A visit by the Rainbow Club to HMS Tiger in 1966. Dame Shirley Bassey was a former member of this local youth club organised by Mrs Capener (in centre of picture). HMS Tiger was visiting Cardiff as part of the relief effort following the Aberfan disaster

Exporting of coal is what made Cardiff rich. This photo was taken on 17 July 1884 and shows a sailing ship being loaded with coal from No 7 tip on the west side of Bute East Dock.

ABP Coal ship at Bute East Dock, Cardiff in 1884 — Exporting of coal is what made Cardiff rich. This photo was taken on 17 July 1884 and shows a sailing ship being loaded with coal from No 7 tip on the west side of Bute East Dock.

A view in 1900 taken from the tower of the Pierhead Building showing the West Bute Dock. It was later filled in to create a public space now known as Roald Dahl Plass

Ernest T Bush West Bute Dock, Cardiff, in 1900 — A view in 1900 taken from the tower of the Pierhead Building showing the West Bute Dock. It was later filled in to create a public space now known as Roald Dahl Plass

This wedding illustrates the people of all cultures that were part of Tiger Bay, living and raising families in harmony.

Heritage and Cultural Exchange Butetown wedding — This wedding illustrates the people of all cultures that were part of Tiger Bay, living and raising families in harmony.

See tigerbay.org.uk for more about the work of the Heritage and Cultural Exchange.

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