When I visit a city full of history like Cardiff, I often wish I could step back in time, just to have a look around and see it as it was in its hey day. Thanks to modern AI, we can now do exactly that and as 20th December 2025 marks 70 years since Cardiff was made capital city of Wales it seemed a fitting time to make this video.
I have created it by using AI to animate a series of photographs taken at various points around Cardiff between 1880 -1909. I have seen these photos many times before but the injection of movement and human interaction really adds another dimension to them.
I realise that some of these landmarks have changed a lot down the years, so here is what you are looking at, in each clip:
- Trolley buses in front of Cardiff Castle. Note the “Animal Wall” used to be there and not along Bute Park as it is today.
- Walking towards Canton Bridge looking up at Duke Street. Castle and clock tower in the back left
- Castle walls and clock tower strewn with ivy
- Castle South Gate, facing onto Duke Street and part of animal wall.
- An ivy covered Norman keep inside the castle
- The newly opened Westgate Street which follows the old course of the River Taff, after the land had been reclaimed by Brunel
- High Street, looking towards the castle
- The first ever edition of the South Wales Echo from 6th November 1880
- The Empire Theatre on Queen Street
- The old town hall which used to stand where Quay Street meets High Street
- Another view of the High Street, town hall on the left
- The Angel Hotel as it used to be
- Crowds gather outside a pub in Bute Terrace (a murder had just been committed inside).
- Queen Street
- Duke Street
- Four views of Cardiff Docks
- The Glamorgan Canal
- Cardiff Docks
- The old ’Tiger Bay’
- Hospital ship
- Football fans at a Cardiff game
- Cardiff Intermediate Schools Team 1909
To watch the video just click on the image below…
Now that I’ve got the bug I fully intend to make a few more of these. Taking a retrospective wander down the streets of Welsh towns, cities and villages and breathing some life back into age old photographs.
#Cardiff #oldphotos #history
