There was a fort in Cardiff from early Roman times with a small quay which Viking traders also used. Later the Normans built a castle on the remains of the old Roman fort. A settlement grew up and by the mid-twelfth century the population was around 2000.
In the 18th century maritime trade was developing fast, but Cardiff was handicapped by the inability to accommodate large vessels. By the end of that century iron production was growing rapidly around Merthyr Tydfil. Unloading and loading ships at anchor in the channel or on the mud near the river mouth was far from satisfactory and in the age of canal building the Glamorganshire Canal was seen as the solution to transport issues.
Subsequent exploitation of the coal deposits in the Valleys made the canal inadequate. Extra dock facilities and wharfage was needed.
And so began 70 years that would see the docks ever expanding, until in the early 20th Century, Cardiff was the largest exporter of coal in the world.
