What is the history of the capital of Wales?

Answer 1

Wales did not have an official capital before 1955. There were a number of places that had a claim to this title - St. David's (as an ecclesiastical centre and home of Wales's first cathedral), Carnarvon (the site of the investiture of the Prince of Wales), Aberystwyth (as a neutral, middle town boasting the National Library of Wales) or Machynlleth (seat of Owain Glyndŵr's Welsh Parliament in 1404). Much political wrangling ensued,with debates in Parliament over which town should have the honour.

In the end, and to decide the matter, an official ballot was organised between the members of the Welsh local authorities. The results, declared on July 2, 1954, found that Cardiff had won 136 votes, Caernarfon took just 11 and Aberystwyth had only four. Local authorities representing more than two million people (around 85% of the Principality's total population) had opted for Cardiff. Cardiff's position was finally confirmed in a written statement to the House of Commons by the Minister for Welsh Affairs Gwilym Lloyd George, son of David Lloyd George, on Tuesday 20 December 1955.

Answer 2

There was no formal capital at that time - The first formalised capital was Cardiff made so in 1955

Answer 3

Machynlleth in Powys used to be the old capital in Wales in the time of Owain Glyndwr, but some say that Dolgellau in Gwynedd used to be it.

Answer 4

Cardiff was the first actual capital which was formalised in 1955