The Goat Major, High St, Cardiff

Image: © John Lord Taken: 1 Jul 2019

Apparently originally called the Goat, it became the Blue Bell in 1813, then the Goat Major in 1995. Two contrasting news items from old newspapers, involving the Blue Bell, give pictures of life in the mid C19th. The Principality 3 May 1850: (Magistrates court) The Riot in High Street. A great disturbance was occasioned in High-street, between five and seven o’clock last evening. It being the 1st of May, a great many country people had arrived in the town, in course of changing masters – a custom that day amongst the Welsh. They met in the Blue Bell public-house in that street, and one of the young men was rioting and creating a mob of persons around him. … Mr Roberts, the landlord of the Blue Bell, was reprimanded for having so large a number of persons in his house, some of whom were intoxicated, and yet being served with beer. Western Mail 5 May 1870: The Blue Bell Convivial Club. On Wednesday evening the first anniversary supper took place at the Blue Bell, High St ... The above club meets at the Blue Bell every Saturday evening for harmony and social enjoyment. It contains about 60 members, and great credit is due to the promoters for the very orderly manner in which the meetings are conducted.

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0