CARDIFFREMEMBERED Oldest city street was scene of fatal fight between ship crews

THE oldest street in Cardiff must surely be Womanby Street.

In The Place Names of Cardiff we are informed: “Womanby: a burgage (1270, 1310): the lane or street leading from the bottom of Quay Street northward to Castle Street.”

The name is thought to mean the home or dwelling of the houndman or the keeper of hounds.

And it’s certainly seen its share of action over the years.

In Womanby Street in 1759 a fight broke out between the crew of a ship named the Eagle of Bristol and the crew of a man-o-war called Aldrough.

Both crews were armed to the teeth with pistols, swords, pikes, cutlasses and muskets.

At the end of the battle, one man lay dead and many were injured.

The affair being “nobody’s business, apart from the ship’s crews”, it was hushed up.

A coroner’s court declared the deceased sailor, Edmund Ffaharty, had been shot “by persons unknown”.

Meanwhile, the Horse and Groom pub in Womanby Street was once known as the Red Cow – and it was from there that the Cardiff to Cowbridge coach would start.

Meanwhile, a short hop away across the city centre, I wonder how many Cardiffians know how Charles Street got its name?

Well, it was named after Charles Vachell who was elected mayor on two occasions.

The first time was in 1849 and the second in 1855.

There was a time when huntsmen