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History of The Group

2022

  • December

    • - Carols in The Square

  • November

    • - We do not do Pumpkins in The Square this year due to vandalism last year, and the overwhelming amount of pumpkins we had to deal with.

  • October

    • -

  • September

    • -

  • August

    • ​

  • July

    • -

  • June

    • 03 As the Eden Project Big Lunch for 2023 was moved to May to coincide with the Coronation of King Charles III we keep our event on this weekend and re-label it The BIG PICNIC instead, with this year's theme being THE BIG TEDDY BEAR'S PICNIC.

  • May

    • - Plant & Cake Sale

  • April

    • 09 - 4th Anniversary of our First (Founding) Meeting

  • March

    • -

  • February

    • - The fallen oak stump is turned into another Stumpery.

  • January

    • High winds bring down an oak tree in the south east side of The Square (Ancient Woods). It falls onto the side of All Saints Greater Hall but luckily it fell slowly, and the main trunk landed in the gap between two lean-tos with only a few minor branches hitting the lower roof, causing tile damage and a broken window. Those inside the hall attending a children's activity were shaken but unharmed. VoGC Parks dept. were quick respond, sending tree cutters that evening to remove.

2023
2022

2022

  • December

    • - Carols in The Square

  • November

    • - 

  • October

    • - Pumpkins in The Square. 

    • Installation of two new features at the north corner of The Square in the ancient woods, a Sunken Rain Garden and a Raised Rain Garden.

  • September

    • -

  • August

    • End of period for projects funded by NLHF & WG (Extended from March 2022)

  • July

    • 23 - We take part in the Penarth Open Gardens* for the first time as one of the stops on the trail (Saturday only).

  • June

  • May

    • -

  • April

    • 09 - 3rd Anniversary of our First (Founding) Meeting

  • March

    • -

  • February

    • -

  • January

    • 28 - We take part in the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch

    • 22 - BRAMBLE SCRAMBLE #3. We also plant two new oaks to replace the failed Prunus.

    • 08 - Saturday Sessions 2022 begin.

    • 01 - A trial Live broadcast from The Square to Facebook was made, to see how useful this option could be for us (you can see the result on our Videos page).

2021

2021

  • 2021 News Page (Archive)

  • December

    • 15 - Carols in The Square, in collaboration with Sound Women Choir

    • 1-15 - Victoria Primary's Lanterns in The Square - An illuminated scavenger hunt for the children of the local primary School

  • November

    • 17 - History of Victoria Square & All Saints Church talk given by local historian and PCS member, Chris Riley.

    • 06 - Our ecologists Laura & Ella are interviewed by a trainee broadcaster from Cardiff University's School of Journalism about their work with the pumpkins.

    • 06-27 (Saturdays) - BULB PLANTING NOVEMBER. We plant a lot of bulbs for next spring. Nearly 4500 bulbs English Bluebells were planted on the 6th. With the remaining 500 + 1000 Tenby Daffodils being added on the 13th (the remaining Saturdays became other site task days).

    • 03 - We launch Wildlife Wednesday on Facebook, with our ecologists posting information and facts about our local wildlife.

    • 02 - Following on from the Tree Talk we launch Tree Tuesday on Facebook. Each Tuesday we look to post some information about our Trees.

    • 01-06 - The Great Pumpkin Post-Halloween After Party - We asked members of the public to once again donate their pumpkins to help feed the local wildlife. Our new ecologists headed up the project.

  • October

    • 31 - 130th Anniversary of the Consecration of All Saints Church (1891)

    • 30 - Ambler Tree Experts member Vaughan Lewis ran a couple of Trees of The Square guided tours.

    • 30 - GPG/PGC hold Community Fest @ West House. PCS/PTF were there, as were several of our members (as visitors) / shared members as representatives of those respective groups & other sub groups.

    • 14 - We (& Victoria Square) are officially awarded a GREEN FLAG Community Award

    • 06 - A Members Meeting was held to both talk about the work we've done so far, and to make plans for future of our work. These include looking at how we can engage with the public more, as well as local schools and other groups. Grow Cardiff helped us out planning with this.

    • 01 - FoVS Website goes into expansion development mode, with volunteers taking control and gathering information to include.

  • September

    • 30 - We appear Front Page (and Page 2) of The Penarth Times paper copy.

    • 28 - We appear on The Penarth Times website, for our work

    • c04 - New info signs go into the Square for the various projects

    • Work begins on the Hibernacula. Three are built over several Saturdays

  • August

    • 19 - Community Garden starts sharing out its first produce, Courgettes/Squashes, Beans, Onions & more.

    • 14 - Public Open Day held. Many attended, which resulted in several new members with useful specialist skills (right place, right time). Penarth Times kindly announces it.

  • July

    • -

  • June

    • -

  • May

    • 06 - AGM 2021 - held outdoors at The Square as we couldn't be inside.

  • April

  • March

    • -

  • February

  • January

    • 30K in Funds were awarded in the form of grants from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Welsh Government (Woodlands Scheme)

2020

  • December

    • c08 - The cherry tree stump & trunk near the notice board on Victoria Rd had to be cut down following severe storm damage. The FOVS Gardening Group made the tree remains a ‘living thing’ by planting ferns, ivy & mosses in nooks & crannies.

    • c02 - Local Artist & Art Teacher Andrew Coslett* created us an artistic poster of The Square [6]

  • November

    • c28 - The new bird boxes are finally installed (made from the floorboards of a Victoria Sq house apparently)

    • c03 - Fairies start appearing in The Square [6]

    • c02 - One of the new Log Piles is created [6]

  • October

    • -

  • September

    • c16 - Two new noticeboards for us go up at the South and West corners of The Square [6]

  • August

    • -

  • July

    • -

  • June

    • 06 - The Eden Project Big Lunch is unfortunately cancelled due to the global issue taking place.

    • 02 - more bird boxes are donated to us, made by David Rapley (Thank You)

  • May

    • 03 - Ribbons and rainbows start appearing in The Square from locals showing their support for the NHS [6] They remain as of this update Nov2021

  • April

    • 02 - This Website goes Live with first published version

  • March

    • 10 - We start to install bird boxes on some trees [6]

    • 03 - A topographical survey of Victoria Square is done by Tim Coombs of Alpine Land Survey Ltd [6]

    • c03 - Penarth Civic Society hold a successful Penarth Tree Forum* talk [6] [9] 

  • February

    • 15 - We did another BRAMBLE SCRAMBLE

  • January

    • 22 - Penarth Nub News* report on our Bramble Scramble* [6] [9] 

    • 18 - We attempted our first ever BRAMBLE SCRAMBLE

2020

2019

  • December

    • 11 - Carols in The Square, in collaboration with All Saints Church [6]

  • November

    • 29 - Tree-felling of the sick trees started. While sad this led us on to some good things. [6]

    • 27 - Autumn Open Meeting - an update on things so far [6]

    • 01 - The Great Pumpkin Drive 2019 - We asked members of the public to once again donate their pumpkins to help feed the local wildlife. [6]

  • October

    • ​

  • September

    • -

  • August

    • -

  • July

    • -

  • June

    • 01 - We took part in The Eden Project BIG LUNCH. [5] [6]

    • A £9K grant was awarded from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for initial surveys of the trees and landscape. [5]

  • May

    • -

  • April

    • 09 - Our first ever Annual General Meeting! [6] This date is considered our Official Start Date.

  • March

    • 23 - Facebook Page launched.

  • February

    • -

  • January

    • -

2019

2018

  • December

    • -

  • November

    • -

  • October

    • Public Meeting held at All Saints Church to discus future maintenance of Victoria Square. As a result, Friends of Victoria Square was formed (note, official start date is taken from first AGM April 2019).

  • September

    • -

  • August

    • -

  • July

    • -

  • June

    • x

  • May

    • -

  • April

    • -

  • March

    • -

  • February

    • -

  • January

    • -

2018

History of The Square & All Saints

& Associated Penarth

History of The Square

For more History of Penarth Town itself & details about some of the historical figures mentioned below, The Penarth Civic Society* is looking to expand its website with this information.
We will link to it and update you as soon as it is available.

2000-2017

  • 2017 -

  • 2016 -

  • 2015

  • 2014 -

  • 2013 -

  • 2012 -

  • 2011 -

  • 2010 -

  • 2009 -

  • 2008 -

  • 2007 -

  • 2006

    • ​(circa) - Gavin & Stacey film in All Saints Church Hall* (series 1 episode 5 "The Stag & Hen Do")

  • 2005 -

  • 2004 -

  • 2003 -

  • 2002 -

  • 2001 -

  • 2000 -

2000-2017

1980-1999

  • 1999 -

  • 1998 -

  • 1997 -

  • 1996 -

  • 1995 -

  • 1994 -

  • 1993 -

  • 1992 -

  • 1991

    • Oct 31st - 100th Anniversary of the Consecration of All Saints Church

  • 1990 -

  • 1989 -

  • 1988 -​

  • 1987 -

  • 1986

    • Penarth Society* Formed. [3]​. (It is now know as The Penarth Civic Society)

  • 1985 -

  • 1984 -

  • 1983 -

  • 1982 -

  • 1981 -

  • 1980 -

1980-1999

1960-1979

  • 1979 -

  • 1978 -

  • 1977 -

  • 1976

    • Penarth Conservation Area boundary extended to include Victoria Square [2]

  • 1975 -

  • 1974 -

  • 1973 -

  • 1972 -

  • 1971

    • Aug - Penarth Conservation Area designated. Victoria Square is not included within the initial boundary. [2]

  • 1970 -

  • 1969 -

  • 1968 -

  • 1967 -

  • 1966 -

  • 1965 -

  • 1964 -

  • 1963 -

  • 1962 -

  • 1961 -

1960-1979

1900-1959

  • 1955

    • D. Rev Heathcoate

  • 1954

    • 14 Sep - All Saints Church is re-opened [1]

  • 1941 - 1954

    • All Saints Church services held in church hall until church rebuilt. [1]

  • 1941

    • 04 Mar - All Saints Church is bombed [1] - Click HERE* too see what that looked like.

  • 1928

    • 01 Mar - All Saints Church is reopened [1]

  • 1927

    • D. John Coates Carter.​

  • 1926

    • 30 Apr - All Saints Church is burned down by fire [1]

    • Italian Gardens* opened. [3]

  • 1916

    • John Coates Carter leaves Cardiff​

  • 1906

    • Jun - Foundation stone laid for new Parish Rooms (current church hall). Deisnged by Mr Coates Carter and costing £3,000

  • 1904

    • Jun - All Saints had cleared its debt, secured a curate and had £3,500 in the benefice fund [3]

    • John Coats Cater left partnership with Seddon

  • 1903

    • D. Mr S A Brain. 15,000 lined the streets of Penarth

    • D. Ann Elizabeth Cater (Wife of John Coates Carter)

  • 1900

    • Jan - A committee is formed, including Lord Windsor & Mr Brain to help provide funds for the church. Items to be funded include: A Parish room, an organ, debt repayment, and establishing a benefice fund. [3]​

1900-1959

1800s

  • 1899

    • Sep - Rev J E Courtenay from Manchester is nominated as vicar. Took up post in November

    • May - Post of Vicar is vacant

    • Parish rooms disappear

    • Vicar announces intention to resign

    • Mr Shackel made vicar's warden

    • (SA Brain is Mayor of Cardiff)

  • 1898

    • Apr 14th - A shocking meeting took place in the vestry. The Vicar had nominated Mr Brain as his warden but the parish elected Mr Coates Carter. A Mr J Maddox pointedly asked the vicar if he'd resigned as he he had apparently written a letter stating he would do so... but the bishop asked him not to. [3]

  • 1897

    • Mr Berkeley appointed warden with Mr Brain. [3]

  • 1896

    • Oct - Choirmaster dismissed, causing the choir to resign en masse. It was a misunderstanding though [Information pending] [3]

    • Sep - New parish rooms built [3]

    • Apr - curate Rev E A Ostreham [3]

    • Mr Martin takes over from Mr Curthoys [3]

  • 1895

    • Aug - [Information pending]

    • Jul - A new parish as formed and a new Vicar designated.

  • 1894

    • Mr Curthoys takes over from Mr Purnell [3]

  • 1893

    • Wydham Selfe Heathcote [Information pending]

    • Mr Purnell takes over from Mr Carter [3]

    • Leases were let in some of the houses of Victoria Rd

  • 1892

    • Apr - Mr Brain & Mr Carter become Church Wardens [3]

  • 1891

    • Oct 31st - Consecration of All Saints Church [1] - (as a 'chapel of ease') . Priest in charge Rev. Henry Charles Davies [3]

    • Mar - Messers Brain, Carter & Purnell were All Saints Sidesmen. Mr Brain also donated the pulpit.[3]

    • Water main was added to Victoria Rd

  • 1890

    • Sep - Foundation Stone for All Saints laid by Lady Windsor [3]

    • Feb - St Paul's in Grangetown was opened (foundation stone laid in March 1889 by Lord Windsor). This church is a twin to All Saints, also designed by Seddon & Carter. It retains its original features that closely matched those of All Saints before it was burned. It cost £4,000 to build. [3]

    • Feb - Contract to build let to Mr Purnell of Penarth £6,300 [3]

    • Jan - a Design for All Saints by Mr John Coates Carter of Seddon & Carter of Cardiff was agreed upon. [3]

  • 1889

    • A committee was set up to raise funds for the building of the new All Saints Church Led by Mr S.A.  Brain* (the brewer) of Cardiff. [3]

    • Construction of Victoria Road began [3]

  • 1884

    • A possible site for a larger church somewhere near Park Rd was given by Lord Windsor. This site however was not used. [3]

  • 1881

    • Original All Saints Church (known as The Iron Church) was built. Loc. at corner (S) of Rectory Rd & Stanwell Rd. This church could only hold 400 people. [3]

1800s

Sources

  1. Penarth - A History Of (Vol. 1 & 2) by Roy Thorne

  2. Vale of Glamorgan Conservation Area Penarth, Appraisal and Management Plan 2011*

  3. Penarth Civic Society / Penarth History Society and their members (through gathered research)

  4. Penarth 1842-71 (A Glimpse of the Past) by E. Alwyn Benjamin

  5. FoVS Historical Archives - Website

  6. FoVS Historical Archives - Facebook

  7. FoVS Historical Archives - Offline (e.g. meeting minutes)

  8. Penarth Times

  9. Penarth Nub News

Sources
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