The Victorian gardens of the UK are one of the most obvious
inheritances we have from any past generation. The great
bridges, railways, and lighthouses that make such a bold
statement of Victorian engineering prowess (not to mention
pride) are one piece of the historical puzzle, but the
beautifully laid out parks and superb gardens the Victorians
left behind show that it wasn’t all about progress and industry.
In South Wales the legacy is more obvious than in most other
places. Here, the coal boom brought an explosion in industry but
also tremendous wealth- at least to a minority. The people who
owned the coal mines, docks, and iron works built fabulous
houses and sometimes even castles. Both Cardiff Castle and
Castell Coch are at least partially Victorian follies but in the
aesthetics of the era the house was just the beginning. A large
and spectacular Victorian garden was an equally important way to
demonstrate immaculate taste and wealth. Many of the most
beautiful Victorian gardens in South Wales still ex