Gyfieithu i'r Cymraeg
Canton (Welsh: Treganna) is an inner-city district in the west of Cardiff, lying 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) west of the city's civic centre. One of the most ethnically diverse of Cardiff's suburbs, with a significant Asian population such as Pakistanis and Indians, Canton has a population just in excess of 13,000.
The name (from "St. Canna's Town") refers to the 6th century female saint after whom Pontcanna is also named. Canton, also known as Treganna (tref town + Saint Canna), was a 13th century manor in Llandaff. It became part of Victorian era Cardiff in 1875.
In 1853 St. Johns, Canton was completed and opened as a local chapel annexe of nearby Llandaff Cathedral. From around 1840, Halket Street, Canton, became home to a large number of Irish families, indeed Canton was the recognised centre of Cardiff’s increasing Irish community, most of whom were fleeing the potato famines in their own country and seeking work and housing in the ports of Liverpool and Cardiff. In 1870 the large Atlas Engineering works was built in Canton and opened its doors, creating a large number of new skilled jobs in the area.
The independent hamlet (place) of Canton was incorporated as a district of the City of Cardiff by charter in 1875.
In 1899 the Manor House is recorded as still standing, on the west side of Canton Common but is in a poor condition and in danger of falling down. At that time it was under the occupation of a Mr. Richard Williams, but there is no record of when the Manor house was eventually demolished.
The extensive common lands at Canton Cross, home of the medieval trading market were already in the process of being converted into a municipal recreation ground called Victoria Park and extensive sports fields by the city council in 1899. The market, which by then had wound down to a weekly cattle market, had been relocated to lands that now house Cantonian High School in adjacent Fairwater. The market yard and rows of stables would be full of the farmers’ carts and traps from all over the Vale of Glamorgan. The market dealt with sheep and pigs as well as cattle and the market buildings also included a slaughterhouse, so the animals could be butchered on site ready for transporting to the many butchers shops all over Cardiff. The market’s tram depot and stabling was also next to Severn Road Council School, trams ran on rails with overhead electric power from the depot and Victoria Park to the city centre and on to other locations in Cardiff from 1902 until they were replaced by the electric trolley-buses in 1950.
The traditional Canton Cross common land now has Victoria Park, Cardiff City FC's Ninian Park football ground and Cardiff Athletics Stadium built on it, with the last remnant of the medieval market represented only by Bessemer Road fruit market. In recent years a large number of commercial car dealerships have moved into the area.
The main road through the district is Cowbridge Road East, a busy thoroughfare with many discount shops as well as pubs and restaurants. Canton is home to Thompson's Park and Victoria Park, to the education centre Llanover Hall, and to the Chapter Arts Centre, which is housed in a former school.
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