The Barry and District still sees it's heritage hidden in full view. There is a great deal to be said about our locations that holds our history with pride, says Karl-James Langford. Here he tells us more about one of these locations.

One such location is Victoria Park, Cadoxton. Victoria Park is constructed within the landscape of the Cadoxton common, and that same location issued atop of a prehistoric settlement and farmed landscape. If I was to be asked: "what one building is atop of my list of wonders at Victoria Park?" I would respond: "the bandstand!"

The bandstand was the brain child of a company based over the border a certain, Hill and Smith of Brierley Hill. The bandstand has been extensively photographed and filmed since its construction in 1907. I for one have used the bandstand in film work. We see some early images published on the internet, showing band members and a wide audience enjoying a gig in the peaceful years before the Great War (1914-1918).

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The hexagonal bandstand has been restored a number of times, most recently in 2016. We saw the bandstand was in sorry state in the 1970s, and was restored in 2005 after a generous contribution from the Heritage Lottery Fund using original plans and archival photographs.

With the restorations and rebuild, the structure today is pretty much in keeping with the original opening of the bandstand in 1907. Although today what looks like a weather vain that was present on the pre 1914-1918 photos, which isn't there now.

Peter Sampson, who I am grateful to for taking the image for this week, pointed out to me the following: There are signs that the original metal railings around the bandstand site were removed in the Second World War as part of the war effort.

Removing metals of all kinds across Britain in the war, assisted people to understand that they were doing their bit for the war effort. The bandstand did however retain its leaden roof in the Second World War and the beautiful iron metal work that it supported.

Local bands would have proudly performed in the bandstand, including the Barry Town Brass Band and the R. A. O. B Brass Band. Today, it is the centre piece of the annual Cadstock music festival. History has truly come full circle for the bandstand, after 115 years.

May we see many more of our Barry and District monuments survive, and more from our beautiful heritage next week.