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 View of Culverhouse Cross from the A4050 coming from Barry | |
| OS grid reference | ST118748 |
| Principal area | |
| Preserved county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CARDIFF |
| Postcode district | CF5 |
| Dialling code | 029 |
| Police | South Wales |
| Fire | South Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
Culverhouse Cross (Template:Lang-cy) is suburban district in the west of Cardiff, capital of Wales, lying on the border with the Vale of Glamorgan.
The busy Culverhouse Cross roundabout is an important part of the primary road network to the west of the city and connects the A4232 (northbound to the M4 motorway Junction 33, and southbound to Cardiff Bay and Cardiff City Centre), the A4050 (to Barry), and the A48 (westbound to Cowbridge and Bridgend, and eastbound to North and East Cardiff). A number of retail parks form around the roundabout and the Copthorne Hotel Cardiff-Caerdydd.
History
According to place-name etymologist Deric Meidrum John, there has been a crossroads at Culverhouse Cross for some centuries, originally at the intersection of the Cardiff to Cowbridge turnpike and the road between the parishes of St Fagans and Wenvoe. He states that a farmhouse by the name Culverhouse existed nearby and that the word Culver refers to a pigeon. The Welsh equivalent name Cwrlwys was apparently recorded in 1776. Research at British History Online shows that the word Culverhouse may also refer to a dovecot.
Significant commercial and retail development of the area began in 1984 when HTV, the local commercial television contractor at that time, established television headquarters and studios and related facilities near the village of Wenvoe. Following consolidation and centralisation within the industry, the site is now owned by ITV plc and occupied by ITV Wales together with a number of entirely separate and independent media organisations, such as Nation Radio, Boomerang+, NEP Cymru and Tidy Productions. Between them, these companies provide a diverse range of programmes in both the English and Welsh languages.
Tesco was the first store to be built in 1986 which preceded a decade of rapid development in the suburb because of its accessible location. In'n'Out is the latest new development built in early 2009. Demolition of the old Tesco superstore began in March 2007 and operated out of a temporary structure while a new Tesco Extra was built in its place. This opened on 22 October 2007.
Rail History (for those that don't know)
Culverhouse Cross roundabout also has a 1 mile tunnel running underneath it, built in 1885 to service the then Taff Vale Railway from Taffs Well to the north-east of Cardiff, Creigiau & Church Village in the North West via a 9 arch viaduct crossing the river Ely. The viaduct was demolished in the late 70s or early 80s to make way for the then new A4232 connecting the M4 with Cardiff West. The line closed in the mid 1960. The northern approach to the tunnel was via an embankment which is a few hundred yards north of the rear of the Tesco store and off to the left of the Culverhouse Cross- M4 slip road(northbound). It travels south under the rounderabout for 1 mile towards Barry under the retail parks at Brooklands Terrice & emerges at the at Alps Road alongside the Vale of Glamorgan Council works & yards. The line then runs towards Wenvoe and its final destination Barry Cadoxston & Barry Dock. The half way point of the tunnel used to have a smoke chimny near Brooklands Terrice, Wenvoe (the exact site is now under the carpark of Burger King at Brooklands Retail Park. It was locally known as the One Mile Tunnel.
Retail parks
All retail parks are situated on or very close to the main roundabout.
Valegate Retail Park forms around the A48 westbound exit of the roundabout towards Cowbridge and Bridgend.
Brooklands Retail Park is situated between the A4232 southbound and the A4050 exits of the roundabout.
Wenvoe Retail Park forms around the A48 eastbound exit of the roundabout.
The following stores are opposite Wenvoe Retail park on the A48 eastbound exit of the roundabout.
Roundabout exits
- A4232 South to Cardiff City Centre, Leckwith, Cardiff Bay and Penarth.
- A4050 to Barry, Wenvoe, (Twyn-yr-Odyn), Dinas Powys, (St. Lythan's) and Cardiff International Airport.
- A48 West to the Vale of Glamorgan - St. Nicholas, Bonvilston, Cowbridge - and Bridgend. Nearby up "The Tumble" hill along the A48 on the road to St. Nicholas is the historical estate of Coedarhydyglyn.
- A4232 North to the M4 Junction 33 (onwards to Bridgend and Llanelli, or Newport, Bristol and London).
- A48 East to Cardiff West e.g. Ely, Caerau, Fairwater, leading to St. Fagans and Western Cemetery.
Public transport
Culverhouse Cross is served by Cardiff Bus and First Cymru. Bus stops served by the 96 to Barry or Cardiff central bus station.
The nearest railway station, although not particularly close, is Waun-Gron Park in Fairwater. The bus services from Culverhouse Cross, however, provide a direct service to Cardiff Central railway station.
References
51°27′56″N 3°16′13″W / 51.46566°N 3.27036°W / 51.46566; -3.27036
| Economy and industry of Cardiff | |
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| Company and organisation headquarters | |
| Company and organisation major locations | |
| Major public sector employers | |
| Retail | |
| Hospitality | |
| Regeneration & development | |
| Tourism | |
| Major events | |
| 19th and 20th centuries | |