‘Never Have I Ever’ showcases the historical landmarks of South Wales

The podcast follows the conversations of three Welsh women and two English men discussing historical gems in South Wales

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Cardiff castle has stood in the centre of the city since the 11th century (Photo courtesy of Charlie Seaman)
Listen to the first episode here:

Never Have I Ever is the podcast for those who want an adventure, whether it be by finding an exciting music scene, exploring a museum, or discovering their new favourite restaurant. 

The podcast follows the conversations of three welsh women and two English men and the things they have or have not done around South Wales. 

In this episode, the topic of discussion is historical landmarks.

The heart of the city

First up is the iconic Cardiff Castle.

Built on the site of a Roman fort, Cardiff castle was a product of the Norman conquest and has been passed through the hands of many noble families until it was given to the city in 1947.

In this section, the group looks at the myths and legends surrounding the Castle and what to expect when you take a tour of its many rooms.

The history of life

People who have grown up in South Wales have probably visited St Fagan’s at least three times on a school trip.

It was Wales’ first open-air museum and is a portrayal of welsh life throughout history by showcasing the different houses people would have lived in.

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St Fagan’s National Museum of History showcases homes from the Bronze Age all the way through to the present day (Photo has been cropped for use and is courtesy of Mick Lobb)

In the podcast, the group talks about the fond memories they have of visiting St Fagan’s and how it offers such a unique insight into welsh culture.

A hole in the ground

The last historical landmark on the bill is Big Pit National Coal Museum, which is dedicated to preserving the heritage of coal mining.

This museum is unique as it offers a taste of what life was like for a miner making money off the coal face by taking you 300ft underground into the old colliery.

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Big Pit Colliery operated from 1880 to 1980 and opened as a museum in 1983 (Photo has been cropped for use and is courtesy of Wikimedia)

The podcast looks at the importance of the Welsh mining heritage, but also about the parts of Big Pit you may not know about, such as the delicious food from the canteen.

King of the castle

If you take a walk around Cardiff, the name Bute seems to crop up everywhere from Bute park, Bute Library and Bute east dock.
But where does this name come from?
The Butes were an extremely wealthy family who had a profound impact 
on the formation of Cardiff as we know it. They were responsible for the creation
 of the docks in the 1800s and brought a lot of prosperity to the city 
through coal exportation.

The family also owned Cardiff Castle and Castle Coch and were responsible for their renovation. 
Alongside the architect William Burges, they transformed the interiors of these castles
 into gothic, fairy tale fantasies.