As the capital of Wales, Cardiff has captivated visitors with its iconic landmarks, vibrant cultural scene, and warm Welsh hospitality.
But beneath its well-known façade lies a treasure trove of hidden secrets that even locals are yet to uncover. I lived in Cardiff for three years and never new about any of these secrets which I uncovered during some intense research about the city.
1. There’s a secret ‘Mahogany Room’ in Burger King
If you look at Burger King on St John’s Street, you’ll notice that on the first floor, the two windows to the far right don’t look into the restaurant. That’s because there is a secret room in here called The Mahogany Room.
It’s called the Mahogany Room because inside, the walls are covered in mahogany panels, along with a grand fireplace and stained-glass windows.
The building was once a pub and this room would be used to welcome distinguished guests such as ship owners and councilors.
This is actually a grade-II listed building and apparently Burger King were unaware of this when they bought it and now have no use for such a room so it just stays there, closed to the public but not used for anything other than the occasional staff meeting.
You can see photos of the inside of the room here.
2. There is £30,000 worth of artwork hidden in regular looking bollards
Like most other cities, Cardiff is full of bollards. But 11 of them contain secret artwork.
You can identify the ones that contain the artwork because they have ‘look inside’ painted on them in orange paint. They are also slightly larger than the other bollards because they were specially commissioned for £30,000.
The project is called ‘Post Secrets’ and was created by artist Jane Edden and students at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
To help get you started, you can spot a bunch of them on the row of bollards near the Hayes, between Cardiff Market and the statue of John Batchelor.
3. The city’s biggest church was turned into a sex cinema and now a Wetherspoons
Have you ever noticed the outline of a church in the side of the Wetherspoons pub called The Prince of Wales?
This marks where St Mary’s Church used to stand. It was the oldest and biggest church in Cardiff. Unfortunately, flooding destroyed it back when the River Taff ran through the city centre.
After the river was diverted, the plot became usable again and a theatre was built. This theatre later became a sex cinema and eventually became a pub.
4. Dead bodies lie beneath one of the streets
If you’ve ever wondered why the alley outside Cardiff Market is called Dead Man’s Alley, it’s because it was built through the middle of the graveyard of St John the Baptist Church.
Look at the floor next time you walk down here and you’ll spot numbers in the pavement. These refer to the grave plots that stood here before the alley was built.
5. There are secret tunnels under the city, once used by monks
Among the most intriguing secrets of Cardiff are the enigmatic tunnels that weave their way underneath the city, captivating the imagination and leaving locals and historians alike pondering their purpose.
One such tunnel lies hidden beneath the verdant expanse of Bute Park, stretching back to the medieval era when the Blackfriars and Greyfriars monasteries were still active in the area.
Some historians propose that these tunnels served as clandestine routes, allowing the friars to move discreetly between the monasteries or to escape persecution during turbulent times. Others believe that they may have been utilized for more secretive purposes, such as the smuggling of goods or providing shelter for those in need.
You can see photos of the tunnels in this BBC News article.
Published: 18 May 2023