Bute Street was built as a link between the docks and Cardiff centre.
On the east side was the Bute West Dock and its railway sidings separated by a protective high wall. Trams ran down the middle of what was a wide thoroughfare. The west side of the upper part of the road was largely given over to shops as well as pubs, hotels and boarding houses.
But, towards the Pierhead end offices of coal mining companies, ship owners and shipping agents abound on both sides. James Street and Stuart Street that ran from Bute Street to what was then the canal were both busy with shops and offices too.
In the boom years there was a lot of new building of grand offices and impressive banks. Subsequently many were extended to accommodate ever growing demand.
Central to it all was the Coal Exchange, the trading hub for coal where the first £1m cheque is reputed to have been written.
With the decline in the coal trade, what had been a major commercial area became underused and poorly maintained. Over the years, much ended up being demolished and replaced but other buildings have survived and been converted (or there are plans to convert) to other uses, often residential. Modern developments associated with the Cardiff Bay project have seen the area become busy and vibrant again.
