It is located in the north of Cardiff and can be considered a two-part ward, each containing about half the population; a northern section of mainly middle classhousing, and a southern section commonly known as the Gabalfa housing estate which consists of public sector and former public sector housing stock. When the Community Charge (or Poll Tax) was introduced in 1990 the Gabalfa housing estate and also parts of the Mynachdy housing estate were placed into the new Llandaff North Electoral Ward, and the boundaries of the Gabalfa Electoral Ward were moved and redrawn to create a now separate ward to the south east of the new Llandaff North ward. This new Gabalfa ward still includes the Gabalfa Interchange and also some parts of Mynachdy, but no longer includes any of the Gabalfa housing estate. Llandaff North is located directly north of Llandaff but is an electoral ward which falls within the wider parliamentary constituency of Cardiff North. This constituency is known as a key marginal and is one of a handful within the United Kingdom which is decisive in a British General Election. Being mainly middle-class and "swing voters" the residents of Llandaff North are of some interest to national politicians.[citation needed]
Llandaff North is quite a small and quiet residential area which is served by a number of village shops, including cafes, a pharmacy and an artisan bakery. The south-western boundary of Llandaff North is formed by the River Taff which also separates Llandaff North from Llandaff. These two areas are linked by a road bridge which spans this river, where Llandaff Rowing Club is located, and which also provides a view of Llandaff Cathedral. The Welsh name, Ystum Taf, means "bend in the River Taff".
Llandaff North is also home to Hailey Park along the River Taff, with large playing fields, tennis courts and two children's playgrounds. The land that became Hailey Park was originally donated by Claude Hailey.[1]
History
Llandaff North, along with Llandaff, was incorporated into Cardiff in 1922.
Population (June 1999) = 8,250 (Cardiff Research Centre Estimate)
Population (mid-2007) = 7,778 (Cardiff Research Centre Estimate, based on Office for National Statistics figures)[2]
Population (2011) = 8,344 (United Kingdom Census)[3]
Schools
Hawthorn Junior School and Hawthorn Infant School were amalgamated in June 2009 on the Infant school site to form Hawthorn Primary School, with large investment into new buildings and facilities. In 2016 Hawthorn Primary School was one of the most over-subscribed schools in Cardiff.[4]
Cardiff Steiner School is an independent school that is part of the Steiner Waldorf education movement, with pupils from 3 to 18. It opened in 2013 in the former Hawthorn Junior School building.[5]
Whitchurch High School is a state secondary school based in the Whitchurch area of Cardiff. It is an English-medium comprehensive school of non-denominational religion which serves the majority of state educated children in Llandaff North.
The Cathedral School is a preparatory and secondary school based in the Llandaff area of Cardiff. It is an independent boarding and day school which has strong links with Llandaff Cathedral. Parents in Llandaff North wanting to educate their children privately (but locally) send their children to this school.
Facilities
Llandaff North Medical Centre is a modern purpose built surgery constructed in 1997. Llandaff North Community Centre is centre for people to arrange meetings and mostly used for Old Aged Pensioner's Bingo. Hawthorn Junior School was closed in 2009 and Hawthorn Infant School has now incorporated the juniors section with large investment into new buildings and facilities. Llandaff North Library is located on Gabalfa Avenue.
Cardiff Bus services 24 (Llandaff-Pontcanna-Central Station) and 25 (Whitchurch-Birchgrove-Gabalfa-Cathays-Central Station) run frequently through the area.
The A4054 road follows Station Road and Bridge Road, leading north to Whitchurch and the M4 motorway, and south to Llandaff and the city centre.
Llandaff Rowing Club – A sports rowing club based on the Llandaff bank of the River Taff, which uses the stretch of the river that forms the southern boundary of Llandaff North.
^Latest Official Population Estimates for Cardiff - Cardiff Research Centre document "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Retrieved Nov 2009.