Cardiff Bridge
Grade II listed building in Cardiff. Bridge in Cardiff, Wales
Cardiff Bridge (also known locally as Canton Bridge) is the road bridge crossing the River Taff at the approximate site of the original river crossing, close to Cardiff Castle in the centre of Cardiff, Wales.
Early history
A bridge link crossing the Taff at Cardiff has existed since Roman times, though a safer river crossing beyond the tidal range was preferred at Llandaff, to the north. In 1582 the timber bridge was replaced by one built of stone, to the north of the current bridge and connecting to the town's Westgate. It was continually damaged by flooding and rebuilt in 1649, 1671 and 1720. When the Westgate was demolished in 1781 it was decided to relocate and rebuild the bridge. A narrow replacement was completed in 1796 (footpaths were later added supported by corbels). In 1827 another huge flood swept away the bridge and traffic reverted to using the crossing at Llandaff.
In 1859 a new stone bridge was built, incorporating parts of the earlier structure and with iron lattice railings. It was widened in 1877.
20th century
In 1930/1 the bridge was almost completely replaced with the currently existing bridge.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Cardiff Bridge” is grade II listed building in Cardiff. Bridge in Cardiff, Wales. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Cardiff, Bridge and Grade, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “grade II listed building in Cardiff. Bridge in Cardiff, Wales” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
Place names and jurisdictional language are key evidence: both can reveal earlier catalogue descriptions and overlooked record series. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 6, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q18640408. Authority coordinates are 51.481, -3.186. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1582, 1649, 1671 and 1720.
A single description cannot reconcile every naming convention, rebuilding phase or administrative transfer associated with a place. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
- Historic place names
- Jurisdictional context
- Routes into maps and plans
Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Cardiff Bridge”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Cardiff Bridge primary sources, Cardiff Bridge archive and Cardiff research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Cardiff Bridge”?
- Which earlier names or jurisdictions may reveal additional records?
- Which authority defined the place, boundary or structure at the relevant date?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Cardiff Bridge” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.