During its peak, Cardiff Docks used to be one of the largest docks in the world
The docks of Cardiff played one of the most important roles in the history of our country's development, the place where coal from the South Wales coalfield was brought to be shipped around the world. Cardiff had been home to a port for centuries, but it was in the 19th century that trade (and therefore the size of the city) exploded and turned from a relatively small town to the bustling city we know today.
These fascinating pictures show how much what is known today as Cardiff Bay has changed since it was one of the world's key industrial ports. Where today we find the shops and bars of Mermaid Quay, flats and a barrage where leisure boats sail peacefully around calm waters, 100 years ago you'd have found a huge amount of industrial activity, huge ships docked and thousands of workers all doing their best to keep the whole thing moving. The surrounding dockland area and especially Butetown grew into a vibrant community as seafarers from all around the world made Cardiff their home.
Of course, we know what the area looks like now, as the docks' industrial significance declined and the area fell into ruin before being resurrected into what we see there today. In these fascinating photos, which have recently been uploaded to the Getty picture archive, you can see how remarkable the transformation has been through the 20th century.
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Morris Minor convertible craned onto the ship for export at Cardiff docks.
More cars ready for export in 1958.
Christmas fruit is stacked on the quayside at Cardiff docks, where the influx is causing much more work - 1935
A busy early morning scene at the docks, where the trawlers were unloading a good catch for Easter, after fishing off the West Coast of Ireland - April 1938
The engine and saloon which took King Edward VII and the Queen around the new dock to perform the opening ceremony - 1907
Girls working at a rag and bottle merchant's firm in carrying sacks of broken glass and wearing trousers which are more practical than skirts - January 1936
Cranes for unloading coal on the new export side of Cardiff docks - circa 1907
The steam yacht, 'Lizzie', in the graving dock of Bute dockyard - circa 1900
Press and cameras awaiting the arrival of the King and Queen, for the opening of the new dock at Cardiff - July 1907
Repairs to the anchor chains of the SS Imperial Valley in dry dock - February 1938
Spectators gaze at a giant grain elevator at the Great Western Railway's Docks - June 1927
A large pile of logs dock waiting to be sent to various collieries as pit props - December 1936
A shipment of haricot beans being unloaded at the docks - October 1943
A wholesale rag merchant in Cardiff Docks is run by women who all wear a uniform. They are rushing to the canteen at lunchtime - July 1938
Thousands of boles are being offloaded every day, which are determined for mines - 1936
An aerial View of the docks
Men fishing from the timber float at Cardiff docks - February 1937
E. Vargas of Pontypridd sits at the entrance to Cardiff Docks for a quiet evening fishing - October 1964
Car waiting for shipment from Queen Alexandra Dock. These are just a few of the 30,000 vehicles a year which were to be shipped under a new five-year agreement - April 1966
The first shipment for more than 12 months, including meat, butter, flour and canned goods, at King's Wharf - January 1957
Undergoing repair at the docks is the Queen's Pier Head Bridge - May 1967
A ship in Bute Dry Dock, seen from the top of a crane - August 1951
Idle coal hoists at Cardiff Docks - April 1963
The Bute Warehouse in the Bute East Dock - October 1969
The empty Mount Stuart Channel Dry Dock - July 1967
A sports car being loaded onto the Silverbeach for export to America - January 1968
The policeman on duty at Cardiff Docks was caught in the act of preparing his tea with a teapot, during a cold snap of the weather - December 1937
As a warm June evening draws to a close two men enjoy a leisure hour in the evening sun alongside Cardiff Docks -June 1962