Womanby Street

Womanby Street

Native name	1310: Houndemammeby 1550: Hunmanby 1715: Home & by 1731: Homandby Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help)
Location	Cardiff, Wales
North	Castle Street
East	St. Mary's Street
South	Quay Street
West	Westgate Street

Name

Originally, before the River Taff was diverted, the street ran from the towns quay where the modern Westgate Street is sited, towards Cardiff Castle.

After Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare, Duke of Gloucester, rebuilt Cardiff Castle from wood to stone in the 12th century, the medieval town began to spread out from the castle's rebuilt South Gate. The first stage was between Working Street in the east, Quay Street in the south and what was then known as Houndemammeby Street to the west. To the far west, the town was protected by the River Taff, with tents pitched on the land between.

All of these street names originated in the Norsk language, with Houndemammeby translating as "the home or dwelling of the hound man or keeper of hounds", or simply "huntsman's dwelling". Although there is no direct evidence of a Viking presence in Cardiff, the street's names suggest that they could have reached the port town. The name then changed regularly through the next few hundreds of years:

• 1550: Hunmanby
• 1715: Home & by
• 1731: Homandby

The word Womanby is early Teutonic language in origins, and translates as "the abode of the foreigners". It was hence probably used to signify the strangers quarters, where the native Welsh and resident non Anglo-Norman's were permitted to live together under the shadow of the mediaeval castle.

Jones Court

Jones Court, which leads off of Womanby Street, was built in 1830 by the Marquis of Bute to house labourers imported for the expansion of Cardiff Docks. Each of the 50 houses had just two rooms, and with no water supply or drainage, the occupants faired poorly in the Cholera outbreak in the city in 1849. Cardiff Council acquired Jones Court from the Marquis in the early 1900's, and used it as council offices until post-World War 2. In a dilapidated state by 1980, and housing only the cities Weights & Measures office, it was fully restored and reopened by the Lord Mayor in February 1982. During the restoration, it was found that the land had long been used as the cities rubbish dump for the properties on the High Street, again confirming the low social stance of the area. Now Grade1 listed, Jones Court is the last remaining example of the over 50 19th century housing courts that had existed in Cardiff.

Modern street

In 1983, Club Ifor Bach (English: The Welsh Club), started on Womanby Street, to promote the Welsh language in Cardiff by engaging Welsh-medium youth entertainment. It has since proved a successful launchpad for various Welsh-medium groups, including Super Furry Animals, Gorky’s, Zygotic Mynci and Catatonia.

2011 refurbishment

In 2011 as part of Cardiff Council's redevelopment and pedestrianisation of St. Mary's Street, known as the Castle Quarter, Womanby Street and Quay Street were included in the scheme and given refurbishment.

Started in February 2010, Castle Quarter, in keeping with the nearby Cardiff Castle, was designed on a Victorian architecture theme, including Victorian-style street lighting and commemorative seating. Work commenced on Womanby Street and Quay Street in February 2011. The street was repaved and pedestrianised, with access permitted solely for delivery vehicles from the North (Castle Street) and permit holders from the South (Quay Street). Works were completed in Spring 2011.

External links

• Clwb Ifor Bach