Sophia Gardens has staged some crucial matches in Glamorgan's history, notably in 1969 when they won the County Championship against Worcestershire in front of 16,000 people, and in 1978 when they claimed the John Player League for a crowd of 11,500 ecstatic fans. It was formally opened on June 5th 1878. Close to the north-east corner of the car park the Millennium footbridge crosses the Taff into Bute Park. This was used for many years to stage large entertainment functions and shows, though its last function was a night club. have previously used the area for football. It is located in Sophia Gardens on the River Taff. Sophie's Garden by Dedri Uys. The area can be accessed from Cowbridge Road East adjacent to the river (The Taff Trail, here on a raised flood bank adjacent the river) and further west via the former main gates of the old park. It is home to Glamorgan County Cricket Club and is listed as an international Test cricket venue. Sophia’s Garden Resort offers basic services and so much more to make your stay in this paradise a comfortable and efficient one. Pettigrew's account mentions the presence of flower beds in the park and bridges over the lake and that a fountain was erected in the park around 1859. North of this a continuation of the avenue passes the Welsh National Sports Centre and associated car park, football and hockey pitches and the SWALEC Cricket Stadium. [18], The logos used during the SWALEC sponsorship deal, List of international cricket centuries at Sophia Gardens, List of cricket grounds in England and Wales, List of sports venues with sole naming rights, "Glamorgan host more 2013 Champions Trophy games", "Ashes 2015: England and Australia open Test series in Cardiff", SWALEC Stadium awarded more international cricket, Cricket: Swalec Test match loss is confirmed, "Trent Bridge to host Ashes Tests in 2013 and 2015", "ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 schedule announced", Atherton says Cardiff ground “too small” for Ashes cricket, Gladiators spoil Glamorgan’s opening-night party, Cricket: Sophia Gardens ground to be renamed Swalec Stadium, "Glamorgan rename ground as The SSE SWALEC ahead of Ashes showdown between England and Australia", Iconic Cardiff sporting venue renamed as sponsorship deal comes to an end, Cardiff Corinthians (Welsh football league), Cardiff City Ladies F.C. [17] In April 2018 the stadium officially reverted to its traditional name of Sophia Gardens following the end of the sponsorship deal. In July 2007, Glamorgan cricketer Mike Powell was granted his wish to have a rib, removed during surgery, buried at the ground. The roof of the pavilion collapsed under the weight of snow in January 1982, fortunately at a time when it was unoccupied. [15], In June 2015, ahead of the First Test of the 2015 Ashes series, the stadium was renamed as simply "The SSE SWALEC" in reflection of the ownership of sponsors SWALEC by SSE plc. Bedrooms 3 Bedrooms. There was also a path around the lake. North-east of the SWALEC Stadium there is a stone wall which marks the boundary of Sophia Gardens. The Millennium footbridge, which links Sophia Gardens and Bute Park, was constructed in 1999. Land Area 576 m 2. [6], On 11 April 2008, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that the venue would host a series of major Test matches over the next four years. Gauge. Sam Collins. These features are shown on the 1:2500 scale Ordnance Survey plans dated 1901, which also show the presence of a bandstand north of the fountain and a bowling green in the older portion of the park, the latter being still extant. Glamorgan have played on and off at the ground since 1967, after Cardiff Athletic Club, the leaseholders at the time, had a pitch laid and spent £25,000 on a new pavilion. According to Pettigrew the green had been laid down with "Cumberland turf" in 1877/8 for the use of Cardiff Bowling Club. Floor Area 164 m 2. "The Public Parks and Recreation Grounds of Cardiff". It would host its first Test match on 8 July 2009 as the opening match of an Ashes series between England and Australia. CADW, {Register of Landscapes, Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales: Glamorgan} (Cardiff: CADW, 2000) 78, Pettigrew, A., {The Public Parks and Recreation Grounds of Cardiff, Vol. At present the ground capacity is set at 12,000, but in March 2006 Glamorgan announced plans for further developments, including a new pavilion, media centre, grandstand and more covered seating. [10], The £9.4 million cost to redevelop stadium was funded by with approximately half (£4.5 million) being provided in the form of a Cardiff Council loan. An at-a-glance overview of all our UK events. North-west of the car park is the site of Cardiff Bowls Club (indoor and outdoor). Adjacent to Cowbridge Road there is still a small area of grass with some trees. Original manuscript version consulted. The avenue passes through an opening in this wall into Pontcanna Fields. The park was extended northwards by a further 28 acres (11.3 hectares) into "Sophia Field" around 1879 and this area became a recreation ground with gravel tracks laid down for cycling around the edge. It was replaced by a bungalow in 1951 when the large Sophia Pavilion (hall) was erected south of the bowling green at the location of the present day car park. [4], Sophia Gardens has been an international cricket venue since 20 May 1999, when it played host to the 1999 Cricket World Cup match between Australia and New Zealand. Together with Pontcanna and Llandaff Fields, which opened later, Sophia Gardens forms a huge public open space in the heart of Cardiff, mirrored on the east bank of the river Taff by Bute Park. Plans to create Sophia Gardens began in 1854 and were first described in 1857. A lodge was present on the north side of the Sophia Close turning circle which is still extant, having been converted into a wine bar. An elaborate lodge was built on the east side of the entrance. 1:500 scale Ordnance Survey Town Plans published in 1880 show the area east of the main avenue to be subdivided by paths into four areas, a triangular piece south and east of the lodge, two square shaped areas north of this between which, in a central location, stood the fountain and a more elongate area leading up to the lake. The original park occupied an area of 16 acres (6.5 hectares) stretching from Cowbridge Road East northwards for 640 yards (585 metres), between the banks of the river Taff and the prestigious properties on Cathedral Road, each of which had its own private entrance. Although once a formally laid out public park occupying about 18 hectares (see history section), the vast majority of this area has been developed, mostly for sporting activities. The signing of a 125-year lease in November 1995 ended the clubs 74-year search for a ground, a nomadic period during which the clubs base had at times been limited to a small office in Cardiff high street. There was a path alongside the river which, from about the middle of the park northwards, was on a raised embankment. Whether it’s a corporate trip or a personal getaway, we have services in store for you. This is the location of the modern day Sophia Close. Afghan block. Glamorgan Cricket Club transferred their ground from Cardiff Arms Park to the north end of Sophia Gardens recreation ground in 1966. Come and visit Sophia’s Garden Resort, your home away from home! The National Cricket Centre was finished in 1999, the same year that the ground played host to Australia's contest with New Zealand in the group stages of the World Cup. Bathrooms 1 Bathroom, 1 Ensuite. [7] This made Sophia Gardens the 100th Test match venue. The stadium was completely redeveloped between 2005 and 2008. Beside the cricket ground is the large sports hall complex of the Sport Wales National Centre. The venue is home to Glamorgan County Cricket Club which has played its home matches there since 24 May 1967,[3] after moving away from Cardiff Arms Park. Listing ID TRC13957 The Cardiff Wales Stadium, which is part of Sophia Gardens Cardiff (Welsh: Gerddi Soffia Caerdydd), is a cricket stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Behind these improvements, scheduled to be finished by 2008, has been Glamorgan's campaign for the ground to be upgraded to category 'A' status, enabling Sophia Gardens to stage Tests . The area had always been at risk of flooding, serious floods having occurred in the 20th century in 1927, the 1960s and 1979; the latter prompted the instigation of an extensive flood protection scheme in 1982, when the present day river banks were engineered. It was built by the Marquis of Bute and opened in 1858 to compensate for the closing of the castle grounds. The entrance gate and avenue of trees are still extant. [1] Entitled "A Public Walk for Cardiff" the report outlined the proposals to create an ornamental walk and pleasure ground covering 24 acres, unlike anything else in Wales, and an example to … 2, The Public Parks and Recreation Grounds of Cardiff, Vol. Glamorgan first played at Sophia Gardens against the Indian touring team in May 1967, but it was not until nearly three decades later that it officially became the county's home. The area where the cricket pitch now stands has a colourful history, having once played host to a 'Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show' and 'Barnum and Bailey's traveling circus and menagerie'. Price Enquiries over $529,000. [5] The ground also hosted two Twenty20 Internationals between England and Pakistan in September 2010, and it is due to host another against Australia in August 2015. Sophia Gardens has staged some crucial matches in Glamorgan's history, notably in 1969 when they won the County Championship against Worcestershire … [14], On 4 March 2008, Glamorgan Cricket Club announced a 10-year sponsorship deal with SWALEC, thought to be the biggest single sponsorship by a county cricket club, giving SWALEC the naming rights to the new stadium, worth in excess of £1.5 million over 10 years. It is located in Sophia Gardens on the River Taff. Although much of the original framework of Sophia Gardens has been lost, some original features remain. Sophia Gardens was the first public park in Cardiff, and the earliest in Wales. Perhaps the most notable performance ever staged at the park was Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, which came for a week in September 1891. North-west and south-west of the Bowling Club compound is another small area of grass and trees crossed by a path joining the Taff Trail to Sophia Close. Sophia’s Gardens creates your gardens with the assistance of trusted landscapers throughout the North East of England. North of this is a car park. From 2001 to 2012, the ground was a regular venue for One Day Internationals, hosting nine matches in 12 years, but it was not until 2006 that it hosted its first England match, the first match of the series against Pakistan on 30 August 2006.