Middle Ages Canton, or Treganna in the
Welsh language, was formed around a 13th-century Manor in Cardiff and assumed lands from nearby
Llandaff parish under the stewardship of an Earl (or Baron) de Kanetune, although today the manor comes under the jurisdiction of the Manor of Llandaff. It is believed that Canton is named after Saint Canna, the holy matron in the Celtic age of Saints, and Canna herself is reputed to have been a relative of
King Arthur. In 1215, a parishioner called Lucia de Kanetune is recorded as occupying a field ‘near the Earl's wall’. In 1230, a man named as Walter de Canetune is named in the Cardiff charter, and signed the charter, obviously as a resident of quite high status. In 1262, a doctor or ‘Physicus’ called Nicholas de Kanetone gave evidence in a legal dispute between the
Abbeys of
Margam and St. Peter's,
Gloucester. In 1290, Richard de Canetone is recorded as a witness on the new Cardiff charter. Also in 1290 (
Cartae 1 page 294) records: : “John, son of Robert de Landaf, granting to Milo de Regny a rent of sixpence arising out of three
acres of land with the appurtenances, which John de Lake, formerly bailiff of la Lekwiffe, had of my fee under Kanetone, in Sudcrofte. As also one penny rent from John, son of John Godman of Kaerdif, for three other acres in the same Sudcrofte under Kanetone." (Richard de Kaneton was also one of the witnesses to this charter.)
A medieval market From around 1250, for several hundred years Canton Cross was the site of the largest and most significant trading market in the
South Wales area. The market was open daily except Sundays on the extensive Canton common lands at the junction where Llandaff Road and Leckwith Road now cross
Cowbridge Road East, opposite where the Canton Cross Vaults public house still stands. Goods, including all manner of fresh food stuffs, live animals and household items were brought from all over Cardiff and the
South Wales Valleys to be traded at the market. Items that were to be exported were then transported or herded to the docks at Cardiff,
Penarth and
Swanbridge. Imports of fresh foods and tradeable goods were also brought to the market from those ports. In the year 1450, stewardship of the Manor of Caneton is recorded as having been granted to
Sir David ap Mathew, Lord of Llandaff manor but a resident of
Radyr.
19th and 20th centuries In 1853 St. Johns, Canton was completed and opened as a local chapel annexe of nearby Llandaff Cathedral. From around 1840, Halket Street, Canton, became home to many
Irish families, indeed Canton was the recognised centre of Cardiff's increasing Irish community, most of whom were fleeing the
potato famines in their own country and seeking work and housing in the ports of
Liverpool and Cardiff. In 1870 the large Atlas Engineering works was built in Canton and opened its doors, creating many new skilled jobs in the area. The independent
hamlet of Canton was incorporated as a district of the City of Cardiff by charter in 1875. Included in Canton was
Pwll-coch, which had previously been considered part of
Ely. In 1899, the Manor House was recorded as still standing, on the west side of Canton Common, but it was in a poor condition and in danger of falling down. At that time it was under the occupation of a Mr Richard Williams, but there is no record of when the Manor House was eventually demolished. The extensive common lands at Ely Common were already in the process of being converted into a municipal recreation ground called
Victoria Park and new housing by the city council in 1899. The market near Canton Cross, which by then had wound down to a weekly
cattle market, had been relocated to lands that now house
Cantonian High School in adjacent Fairwater. The market yard and rows of stables would be full of the farmers’ carts and traps from all over the
Vale of Glamorgan. The market dealt with
sheep and
pigs as well as cattle and the market buildings also included a slaughterhouse, so the animals could be
butchered on site ready for transporting to the many butchers shops all over Cardiff. The market's
tram depot and stabling was also next to Severn Road Council School, trams ran on rails with overhead electric power from the depot and Victoria Park to the city centre and on to other locations in Cardiff from 1902, until they were replaced by
Cardiff's electric trolleybuses in 1950. The traditional Canton Cross
common land now has
Cardiff City FC's
Cardiff City Stadium football ground and
Cardiff International Sports Stadium built on it, with the last remnant of the medieval market represented only by Bessemer Road fruit market. In recent years many commercial car dealerships have moved into the area.
21st century In 2016, work started to redevelop the old Arjo Wiggins Teape Paper Mill site adjoining Sanatorium Park, on the other side of the mainline railway. Eight hundred houses were expected to be completed, with the 'urban village' being marketed as The Mill. ==Transport==