A brief history of Whitchurch
Evidence has been found in and around the area of Stone, Bronze and Iron Age inhabitants. An arrowhead found at Waunfawr Road, Rhiwbina, and a flint arrowhead in the Motte at the rear of the Fox & Hounds confirms this.
The Romans came to Wales between AD48 and AD50, and came up against a tribe known as the Silures. Their leader was Caratacus who had many a battle with the Romans and in AD50 was captured somewhere on the Welsh marches, taken to Rome, and featured in a victory parade by Claudius, who granted him a pardon and life. The Fox & Hounds pub is built more or less in the centre of a Roman compound; a rectangular structure of 195 yards by 160 yards. Close by there were also Roman remains at the rear of Tyn-y-Pwll Road where Whitchurch Tennis Club is situated.
During the Dark Ages after the Romans had left Britain, Whitchurch came under the auspices of the Church, namely Llandaff Cathedral. The graveyard opposite the Fox & Hounds pub is the site of the original St. Mary's Church which gave Whitchurch its name, and was rebuilt on Penlline Road in 1883.
In approximately 1093 the Normans invaded the area. They applied the name "Album Monasterium" - Latin, which is printed on the Whitchurch High School Badge and "Blancminster" - Norman French, and so White Church became Whitchurch. The Normans conquered the lowland coastal area of South Wales and made Cardiff their Capital.
The last native Welsh Prince of Morgannwg (Glamorgan), Iestyn ap Gwrgant, was killed in a battle north of Rhiwbina. So much blood was shed at the battle that a nearby stream, which runs directly behind the Fox & Hounds, was, and still is, called Nant Waedlyd or the 'Bloody Brook'.
After the overthrow of Iestyn, by the Duke of Gloucester, Robert Fizthamon ruled the Welsh lowlands. In reality the Normans never really controlled the area and allowed the Welsh to follow their traditions, custo
ms, beliefs and religion, so as to keep the peace.
The area over the years slipped from Welsh to Norman control and Whitchurch became a bit of a no man's land. Late in the 10th early 11th Century, the Normans built a wooden motte on the sight that is now Clos Treoda flats at the rear of the Fox & Hounds. This was to try to repel the still belligerent Welsh.
Then in 1158 a dramatic event took place. Ifor ap Meurig better known as Ifor Bach the Welsh Lord of Senghenydd, stole into Cardiff Castle under the cover of darkness and captured William, Earl of Gloucester, his wife and son. He held them captive until his lands were restored to him and he was compensated. The motte was then fortified in stone, and over the centuries, unfortunately fell into disrepair, and in 1966 was excavated for building.
During the 17th Century the biggest single event to affect the fortunes of Whitchurch was the Civil War between King and Parliament. In general the Welsh aligned themselves with the King but were poorly equipped and suffered great losses.
In 1645 after the King was defeated at Naseby he came to South Wales to obtain further support. But after such serious loses the Welsh counselled him on peace. However the King was not happy with this, and on the 8th May, 1648 a battle took place near St. Fagan's and the Royalists were defeated within two hours. The Parliamentary cavalry pursued the Royalists for 8 to 10 miles and slaughtered many. This had a devastating affect on Whitchurch and Glamorgan leaving some 700 widows in a sparsely populated rural area.
The first school in Whitchurch was founded by Master Thomas Phillips, born at Thornhill in 1791, which he ran for 35 years until his retirement in the 1850's. The School Commissioners of the time were known to be a bit anti-Welsh, and on one visit commented "That the Master appeared intelligent and spoke reasonable English. The children were orderly on the whole, this appeared to be an efficient school".
In 1924 a Roman Catholic Mass was held in Whitchurch at The Fox & Hounds School House, and later in the Skittle Alley, the first since the reformation of 16th Century, and was performed by Canon Hannon. Land was later procured and St. Teilo's Roman Catholic Church was built next door.
A sporting first is also attributed to the Fox & Hounds. Whitchurch Rugby Club seems from its inception to have been centred in and around the Fox & Hounds. The teams changed in the Old School room and played on a pitch which was roughly in the position of the old Whitchurch High School hockey pitch. There is some discussion about about the definite founding date. There are records of Whitchurch playing Taffs Well on Nov 20th 1885, and a brief report of the game reads; 'Play owing to a very unpleasant incident came to an abrupt conclusion, it was decided that the result should be a draw'. No explanation was offered. The actual written founding date is 1892. The purchase of land, and the building of the club house took place in 1967.
