We discovered this cemetery about 25 years ago, it formed part of a 10-12 mile quasi-rural walk when the countryside was closed down by foot and mouth and has been at the back of our minds as a cache location for some time. But the real incentive to do something about it was our pledge to Dorsetgal, at the Burrington geocaching event in February 2007, to set up a wheelchair friendly cache. We ask that geocachers show appropriate respect for the cemetery during their visit. Cathays Cemetery was opened in 1859 and, at that time, the Cardiff Times predicted that it “would form the principal walk of the inhabitants of Cardiff”. In Victorian and Edwardian times, the inclusion of personal information like occupation, membership of societies and cause of death was much more common than it is today. The result is that inscriptions give a greater insight into lives and circumstances, sometimes tragically, sometimes entertainingly.
Visitors to the cemetery are encouraged and a heritage and ecological trail has been devised. Copies of the guide to the trail are usually available in the hut just inside the main entrance and would enhance any visit to the cemetery to do this cache. There is an additional guide to the World War Insignia on graves in the cemetery.
The reference coordinates at the head of this listing are for the start of the trail and are at the main entrance to the cemetery in Fairoak Road, where it is usually possible to find roadside parking. Alternatively, roadside parking is also available in Allensbank Road, from where the “Catholic Entrance” (see Waypoint below) can be used. You will need to find information from some memorials to determine the coordinates of later ones on the trail and the position of the final cache, which is located at ground level within 18” of the edge of a drive. All of the memorials from which information is to be obtained are visible from and close to hard surfaced drives or paths. At four other locations, short excursions onto mown grass are involved and, at three of these, space is restricted – but these can be omitted if necessary without prejudicing the ability to complete the cache. The cache has been rated on handicaching.com and the ratings can be reached via the following link:
View Ratings for GC14NPF
The cemetery opens at 9.00 on weekdays and 10.00 at weekends and bank holidays. It closes at 17.45 between April and September, but between 1 and 2 hours earlier through the winter 6 months.
Just inside the main entrance, the twin chapels are in a somewhat neglected state. They were built in 1859 at a cost of £5200. The more ornate right-hand chapel is consecrated and was used by the Anglican Church: the left-hand chapel was used by nonconformist religions. At first glance, the chapels might appear to be in good condition, but this first impression is entirely due to restoration work undertaken on the chapel roofs early in 2009. This stopped what might otherwise have been a calamitous deterioration and demonstrates the Council’s commitment to a longer term renovation plan, but this is still dependent upon the usual problem – funding. Look more closely and it will be obvious what further work is required to the remainder of the external fabric. Inside, cleaning, new flooring and complete redecoration and furnishing are required. Although expert evidence indicates that the chapels are one of the best examples of Victorian cemetery architecture, it seems that funding for their restoration is not available. Grants might be forthcoming, but crucial to this is that some beneficial use must be found. There is little enthusiasm from funeral directors to use them for their original purpose: the archways were designed for horse-drawn hearses and are not big enough for today’s cars, so they might have to unload a coffin in the rain and carry it a bit further – ahhhh! If anyone has any bright ideas as to how the restored chapels could be put to good use, the Friends would be pleased to hear from you.
The 2009 roof restoration was spurred on by the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the opening of the cemetery. This was marked by an open day and the publication of a book, “Cathays Cemetery Cardiff on its 150th Anniversary”. This book describes the history and development of the cemetery, its current role and how this might change in the future. The book also includes ‘grave tales’ relating to characters buried there and events which have influenced the cemetery. You should find the book in local bookshops for £9.99. It is also available to members of the Friends (who include the owners of this cache) at a significant discount. Now follow the Waypoints, answering the clues on the way, to get round the trail to the final cache.
Waypoint Prefix 01 – the memorial to John Stuart Rogers is a fine example of Victorian/Edwardian symbolism. The tree standing on a rock indicates a strong attachment to religion: the clear cut in the top of the bough represents a life cut off in its prime: the upturned torch shows a life extinguished, while the anchor epitomises hope for life beyond death: the ivy climbing the bough is a symbol of immortality. Notice that memorials nearer the chapels are generally larger and more ornate. The Victorians operated a scale of charges for different parts of the site so the more desirable areas were more expensive and attracted the wealthier people. Thus the various sections of the cemetery reflect both religion and class structure.
Waypoint Prefix 02 – memorial to Andrew Pettigrew, a Scot who was head gardener to the Bute estates for 37 years from 1866. He took charge of the grounds attached to Cardiff Castle, established a vineyard and winery when Castell Coch was restored and landscaped Sophia Gardens as a public recreation ground. At the time of his death (in the gardens of Cardiff Castle) he was one of the oldest fellows of the Royal Horticultural Society.
CLUE 1 = Andrew Pettigrew died in month A of 1903 (January would be Month 1, etc).
Waypoint Prefix 03 – the memorial to Thomas John Wall tells us that he was a member of the Independent Order of Rechabites (a charity that believed in abstinence from alcohol) and drowned in the River Taff. Unusually, the second inscription, to the mariner John Allier, is not apparently remembering a relative, but a friend. The clasped hands on the memorial represent both friendship and farewell.
CLUE 2 = Thomas John Wall was BB years old when he drowned.
Waypoint Prefix 04: coordinates N51 30.(A – 2B)(A + 1)A W003 10.(2A + 1)(A ÷ 2B)(A + B) – a simple wooden cross marks the burial of Samuel Chivers’ leg. The limb was amputated after he was run over by a horse and cart in 1883. The rest of Mr Chivers was buried in Penarth several years later.
Waypoint Prefix 05: coordinates N51 30.(A – 2B)(A + B)(2A – 1) W003 10.(2A + 1)A(2A) – this is just an intermediate path junction and change of direction. From this point you are entering the Roman Catholic section of the cemetery, which had its own entrance (from Allensbank Road) and chapel. The imagery of the memorials changes and there are some fine examples of hand carving in white Carrera marble. These memorials would have been made in Italy, with only the inscriptions being added locally.
Waypoint Prefix 06: coordinates N51 30.(A ÷ 2B)B(A – 2B) W003 10.(2A + 1)A(2A - 1) – the memorial to Bishop Hedley is one of the largest and most elaborate in the cemetery, in a style more reminiscent of those found in churches or cathedrals. John Cuthbert Hedley was born in Northumberland and educated at Ampleforth, where he became a monk. Ordained as a priest, he moved to Newport to assist the Bishop in 1862 and succeeded him in 1880. He had wanted Cardiff to become an archdiocese but died in 1915, a year before this came about.
Waypoint Prefix 07: coordinates N51 30.(A ÷ 2B)B(A – 1) W003 10.(2A + 1)A(A + 1) – the memorial to “Peerless” Jim Driscoll states that he was the retired featherweight champion of the world but he never achieved that title – the nuns of Nazareth House in Cardiff crowned him world champion after he turned down the chance of a title fight to keep a charity date in aid of the convent. Driscoll’s boxing prowess and great generosity meant that he was hugely popular and 100,000 people lined the streets to watch his funeral cortege.
Waypoint Prefix 08: coordinates N51 30.(A ÷ 2B)(B + 1)A W003 10.(2A + 1)A(A + 1) – the memorial to the victims of the Irish Potato Famine (1845-49) is an indication of the strong links between the two countries. The famine claimed the lives of more than a million people, while twice as many fled their homeland, including thousands who came to Wales. The Celtic Cross is carved from Irish limestone and mounted on a base constructed of stones from the former Catholic Chapel that stood just across the drive until it was demolished in 1986, after falling into disrepair. As you move on, note the lack of memorials in the section to the north. During World War II, several bombs and a land mine destroyed hundreds of memorials. After one raid, it is said that dogs were seen running through the streets with human bones in their mouths. There are other legacies of war here – the distinctive white Portland headstones of British servicemen (usually with the regimental insignia) and small stone crosses with metal plaques marking the burials of French soldiers and sailors killed while serving in this country. (See uploaded images for examples of these memorials.)
Waypoint Prefix 09: coordinates N51 30.(A ÷ 2B)(2B + 1)A W003 10.(2A + 1)B(2A) – this memorial is dedicated to 21 French sailors who died while serving with the French navy during World War I.
CLUE 3 = The French naval memorial was unveiled on Remembrance Day 19CD.
Waypoint Prefix 10: coordinates N51 30.(C - D)A(D – B) W003 10.DAB – this is an emotive memorial to Louisa Maud Evans, a servant with Hancock’s Circus who met her death in a freak ballooning accident, during the Cardiff Exhibition of 1896.
CLUE 4 = Louisa Maud Evans was EF½ years old when she drowned.
Waypoint Prefix 11: coordinates N51 30.(C - D)E(F – E) W003 10.DB(A + F) – this is the headstone of Captain Ernest Thompson Willows, who is also remembered by a street (Willows Avenue, Splott) and a school (in Tremorfa) named after him. Willows was a pioneer of airship flight – his first airship reached a height of 120 feet, over Splott, in 1905: in August 1910 he flew from Cardiff to London in 10 hours and, in November the same year, crossed the Channel and reached Paris. He was killed in 1926, at the age of 40, while piloting a balloon at a flower show near Bedford, when the balloon and passenger basket parted company.
Waypoint Prefix 12: coordinates N51 30.(C - D)(D – 2F)(A – F) W003 10.DFB – this is the memorial to William Reardon Smith, a name that will be familiar to most locals – but who was he? Born to a Devonshire seafaring family in 1856, he was sent to sea at the age of 12 and rose to be the master of a ship by the age of 25. He retired from active seafaring in 1900 and settled in Cardiff a booming port at the time. He acquired his first ship in 1905 and had a fleet of 29 vessels by 1919. In the following year he was elevated to the baronetcy for his services in the war. He was renowned for his generosity to the National Museum of Wales, where a lecture theatre bears his name.
CLUE 5 = When William Reardon Smith “crossed the bar” he hoped to come face to face with … (two words)? There are G letters in total in the answer.
Waypoint Prefix 13: coordinates N51 30.(A - F)C(C – G - B) W003 10.D(C - G)(F x B) – there are two notable memorials side by side here. The first commemorates the Seager family, owners of the Tempus Shipping Company. William Henry Seager was born in Cardiff in 1862 and, in his early twenties worked for a ships chandler, earning 4 shillings a week. However, by the age of 30 he had his own chandlery in Bute Street and he purchased his first ship, Tempus, in 1904. The company had a fleet of seven modern vessels by 1928, but the business never recovered from the loss of all but one of its ships to enemy action during World War II. Perhaps it is not surprising that the adjacent prominent memorial marks the vault of the Summers undertaking dynasty. While still a teenager, James Summers arrived by sea from his native Bridgwater as a master carpenter and, amongst other things, worked on the building of the Royal Hotel. He was persuaded to become an undertaker by Augustine Stone (a somewhat appropriate name!) who had befriended him. By the age of 30 he had established premises in Broadway, which developed a stable of Belgian black horses named after generals and leaders of the Boer War period. The family business continues, though now based at the prestigious Roath Court. When you look at the commemorations on the memorial, you cannot help but wonder whether undertakers are more pleased to help us to move on from this life than they are to leave it themselves!
Waypoint Prefix 14: coordinates N51 30.(A - 2B)(G – E)(F – E) W003 10.GC(C - A) – a memorial to John (Jack) Peterson, another boxer … but, in keeping with late 20th century customs, there is nothing to tell you this (quite different from the memorials from 100 years earlier seen at the beginning of this trail). Jack won the British heavyweight title in 1931 and added the light heavyweight title within fifty days to become the first boxer to hold both titles at the same time. Eye problems caused during his fights forced retirement at the age of 25, with a Lonsdale belt and a record of 35 wins in 38 professional bouts. He continued to be involved in sport, becoming president of the British Boxing Board of Control and serving on the Sports Council for Wales. He was awarded an OBE in 1978.
CLUE 6 = Jack Peterson was HJ years old when he died.
Waypoint Prefix 15: coordinates N51 30.(A - 2B)(H – E)(J – E) W003 10.HAH – one of the more impressive memorials, it was erected in 1910 to John White, but owes much to the flamboyance of his son, Sidney. Sidney was a well-known local amusement caterer and honoured his father’s dying wish – to be drawn through the streets by one of his son’s traction engines. The traction engine was draped in purple and black and covered in floral tributes, including a harp and fleur de lys. Police were needed to clear the crowds around his home in Tin Street and the whole route to the cemetery was lined with people.
CLUE 7 = Sidney White (careful, make sure you get the right person!) was KL years old when he died.
Waypoint Prefix 16: final cache coordinates N51 30.(L - D)(L – F)(J – K) W003 10.K(K – B)(K - G).
This cache has been set up with the permission of the Bereavement Services Divisions of Cardiff County Council, whose support and assistance we are pleased to acknowledge.