Culverhouse Cross

Culverhouse Cross (Welsh: Croes Cwrlwys) is a district straddling the boundary between Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, in the community of Wenvoe.

Culverhouse Cross

View of Culverhouse Cross from the A4050 coming from Barry
Culverhouse Cross
Location within the Vale of Glamorgan
OS grid referenceST118748
Principal area
Ceremonial county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townVale of Glamorgan
Postcode districtCF5
Dialling code029
PoliceSouth Wales
FireSouth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament

The district is centred on a major traffic roundabout that links West Cardiff to the M4 motorway and is home to a number of different retail outlets, and formerly ITV Wales's headquarters.

History

According to place-name etymologist Deric Meidrum John,[1] there has been a crossroads at Culverhouse Cross for some centuries, originally at the intersection of the Cardiff to Cowbridge turnpike and the road between the parishes of St Fagans and Wenvoe. He states that a farmhouse by the name Culverhouse existed nearby and that the word Culver refers to a pigeon. The Welsh equivalent name Cwrlwys was apparently recorded in 1776. Research at British History Online shows that the word Culverhouse may also refer to a dovecot. The Coedarhydyglyn estate, seat of numerous local prominent men from 1767 onwards, is located at the top of the Tumble Hill above the crossroads.

ITV Wales studios

Significant commercial and retail development of the area began in 1984 when HTV, the local commercial television contractor at that time, established television headquarters, studios and related facilities near the village of Wenvoe. Renamed ITV Wales, the company downsized and relocated to Cardiff Bay in 2014, and the entire Culverhouse Cross studio, technical and office complex was demolished in April 2015.[2]

Tesco was the first store to be built in Culverhouse Cross in 1986, which preceded a decade of rapid development in the suburb because of its accessible location. Demolition of the old Tesco superstore began in March 2007 and operated out of a temporary structure while a new Tesco Extra was built in its place. This opened on 22 October 2007.

Retail parks

All retail parks are situated on or very close to the main roundabout.

Valegate Retail Park forms around the A48 westbound exit of the roundabout towards Cowbridge and Bridgend.

Brooklands Retail Park is situated between the A4232 southbound and the A4050 exits of the roundabout.

Wenvoe Retail Park forms around the A48 eastbound exit of the roundabout. There is a large B&Q store opposite.

Roundabout exits
Roundabout junction where the A48 and A4232 join Culverhouse Cross.
Map of Culverhouse Cross

Public transport

Culverhouse Cross is served by Cardiff Bus and First Cymru.

  • Service 96 (provided by the Vale of Glamorgan Council) serves Cardiff City Centre and Barry
  • Service X2 (FirstBus) goes to Cowbridge and Bridgend
  • The T9 express service between Cardiff city centre, Cardiff Bay and Cardiff Airport passes through Culverhouse Cross, but does not make scheduled stops.

The nearest railway station, although not particularly close, is Waun-Gron Park in Fairwater. The bus services from Culverhouse Cross, however, provide a direct service to Cardiff Central railway station.

References
  1. http://www.someplacenamesinsouthwales.4t.com/rich_text_1.html
  2. Kelsey, Chris (16 April 2015). "Culverhouse Cross - new pictures show demolition of the former ITV Wales studios". Wales Online.
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