Jack Davies
@tongwynlais.bsky.social
210 followers 130 following 190 posts
Art, local history, photography and adventures around Tongwynlais and Castell Coch in Cardiff, Wales. Running the #CardiffTrails tongwynlais.app
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tongwynlais.bsky.social
I write about Tongwynlais on tongwynlais.com and Castell Coch on castellcoch.com
I also run up hills and share photos on cardifftrails.com
Castell Coch nestled in woodland with a blue sky.
tongwynlais.bsky.social
I've just celebrated the 5th anniversary of castellcoch.com, where I write about this Cardiff landmark.

castellcoch.com/2021/08/25/w...
tongwynlais.bsky.social
5 favourite posts from my Castell Coch lockdown project.

castellcoch.com/2025/10/01/5...

#Tongwynlais #Cardiff #Cadw #CastellCoch
The number 5 that contains a photo of a window in Castell Coch. Contains text, "Castell Coch, Est. 2020" and URL, "castellcoch.com".
tongwynlais.bsky.social
The 5th anniversary of my lockdown project is coming up. This view was from a frosty morning back in January 2025.

I've written a post every month so there's loads to explore if you've not visited before.

castellcoch.com

#Cadw #CastellCoch #Tongwynlais
Castell Coch nestled in autumnal trees above a frosty field. Contains the text, "Castell Coch, Est. 2020" and URL, "castellcoch.com".
tongwynlais.bsky.social
The 5th anniversary of my lockdown project is coming up. I've taken thousands of photos like this from the Ironbridge!

I've written a post every month so there's loads to explore if you've not visited before.

castellcoch.com

#Cadw #CastellCoch #Tongwynlais
Castell Coch overlooking the river Taff under a blue sky with large clouds. Contains text, "Castell Coch, Est. 2020" and the URL, "castellcoch.com".
tongwynlais.bsky.social
The 5th anniversary of my lockdown project is coming up. The ceiling in Lady Bute's bedroom is an iconic feature of the castle.

I've written a post every month so there's loads to explore if you've not visited before.

castellcoch.com

#Cadw #CastellCoch #Tongwynlais
The ornate ceiling in Lady Bute's bedroom at Castell Coch, Cardiff.
tongwynlais.bsky.social
The 5th anniversary of my lockdown project is coming up. There was a new Halloween display in the banqueting hall when I popped in this week.

I've written a post every month so there's loads to explore if you've not visited before.

castellcoch.com

#Cadw #CastellCoch #Tongwynlais
Halloween display on a table in the banqueting hall at Castell Coch. There are two skulls in a glass case, some roses and a large white candle.
tongwynlais.bsky.social
The 5th anniversary of my lockdown project is coming up.

"CastellCoch.com is a collection of memorabilia, stories and images inspired by Cardiff’s fairytale castle."

I've written a post every month so there's loads to explore if you've not visited before.

castellcoch.com

#Cadw #CastellCoch
View of Castell Coch under a blue sky. Contains text, "Castell Coch, Est. 2020" and the URL "castellcoch.com".
tongwynlais.bsky.social
Cardiff is celebrating 70 years as the capital of Wales in 2025.

I've been collecting examples of the old Borough Arms in my "Villa Cardiff" series.

tongwynlais.com/tag/cardiff

These historic arms can be found all over Cardiff. Can you think of any examples?

#CardiffHistory #Cardiff70
Illustration of the old Cardiff Borough Arms. A yellow crest with three red chevrons. It has a crown above it and a scroll with text, "Villa Cardiff".
tongwynlais.bsky.social
The 5th anniversary of my lockdown project is coming up.

"CastellCoch.com is a collection of memorabilia, stories and images inspired by Cardiff’s fairytale castle."

I've written a post every month so there's loads to explore if you've not visited before.

castellcoch.com

#Cadw #CastellCoch
Sun streaming through the window of Castell Coch's banqueting hall.
tongwynlais.bsky.social
The 5th anniversary of my lockdown project is coming up.

"CastellCoch.com is a collection of memorabilia, stories and images inspired by Cardiff’s fairytale castle."

I've written a post every month so there's loads to explore if you've not visited before.

castellcoch.com
Castell Coch sitting above some roofs under a blue sky. Contains text, "Castell Coch Est. 2020" with url castellcoch.com.
tongwynlais.bsky.social
A gentle run/walk along the Glamorganshire Canal
A fallen tree across a woodland path with text:
4.25 miles, 158 feet
Glamorganshire Canal, Taff Trail South
Reposted by Jack Davies
glamarchives.bsky.social
The Cardiff Fine Art and Industrial Exhibition of 1896

Our blog post today looks at a recently completed volunteer project. The project examined the records of the Cardiff Exhibition of 1896, throwing light on an amazing but often overlooked event in Cardiff’s history.

bit.ly/3IjSVti
The Cardiff Fine Art and Industrial Exhibition of 1896
If you have an interest in history, volunteering at Glamorgan Archives can take you in many varied and unexpected directions. How many of us have heard of the Cardiff Fine Art and Industrial Exhibi…
bit.ly
tongwynlais.bsky.social
Lord Bute was born on this day in 1847. I've restored an old photo from my collection and shared a few book recommendations to learn more about the 3rd Marquess of Bute.

castellcoch.com/2025/09/12/l...

#Cardiff #CastellCoch #LordBute
Lord Bute – Part 1
John Crichton-Stuart, the 3rd Marquess of Bute (1847 – 1900), was simply known as Lord Bute. The Bute family played an important part in Cardiff’s modern history and Lord Bute was the d…
castellcoch.com
tongwynlais.bsky.social
I decided to create a Lady Bute Lego minifig a while ago. Lord Bute seemed like a good idea and I had to include Billy Burgess too!

All this took a long time so I'm sure they'll feature in a future post. I'm really pleased with how they turned out, if only I could make them for real.
Vector illustrations of Lord and Lady Bute and William Burges as Lego minifigs.
tongwynlais.bsky.social
castellcoch.com is 5 next month. 🎂

I've posted an article every month - castellcoch.com/blog

#Cardiff #Tongwynlais #Heritage #Cadw #LocalHistory
Castell Coch covered in scaffolding and nestled in woodland under a blue cloudy sky.
Reposted by Jack Davies
Reposted by Jack Davies
glamarchives.bsky.social
Open Doors at Glamorgan Archives

Join us on Saturday 27 September for our annual Open Doors event

The tours behind the scenes are now fully booked. But Glamorgan Family History Society will be giving two free talks – no need to book for the talks, just drop in!
A photograph of shelves within one of the Glamorgan Archives strongrooms. The shelves are filled with rolled maps and plans. Some are rolled in yellow acid-free paper; others are within archival cardboard tubes.
tongwynlais.bsky.social
Nice! I've been tempted by some of the Horizon sets. The Aloy minifig is very detailed.
tongwynlais.bsky.social
I make them using Affinity Designer and the designs are based on historic photos.
tongwynlais.bsky.social
And to complete the trio, Billy Burges!

#WilliamBurges #Lego #Minifig #AffinityDesigner

castellcoch.com
Vector illustration of William Burges as a Lego minifig.
tongwynlais.bsky.social
These vector illustrations of Lord & Lady Bute as Lego minifigs took about 25 hours to create.

I tried to design the prints to look as real as possible which involved simplifying the shapes, restricting the number of colours and only using specific areas.

I'm going to work on William Burges next.
Vector illustrations of Lord and Lady Bute as Lego minifigs.
tongwynlais.bsky.social
I've really enjoyed your posts Haydn. Looks like an amazing trip!