The launch of 'The Story of Splott in 50 Objects'

Splott Community Volunteers founders Angela, Fred and Trisha, with CEO Lynne, chair Ed, Councillor Huw and volunteers at the launch of 'The Story of Splott in 50 Objects at The Maltings on Tyndall Street.

The Lord Mayor of Cardiff and Andy Green at the launch of 'The Story of Splott in 50 Objects'

The ‘pocket museum’ features 50 cards, each card highlighting a different person, place, thing, or quirk of Splott’s story that celebrates a shared community pride, history, and togetherness.

The inspiring yet much overlooked story of Splott is being told in a new pocket museum telling ‘The Story of Splott in 50 Objects’ that seeks to promotes alternative tourism while also serving as a teaching resource and builds greater community pride, togetherness, and a better shared future.

Splott campaigners are hoping their museum will inspire other local communities across Cardiff, Wales and the UK to co-create their own pocket museums to tell their stories.

Launched by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Cllr. Helen Lloyd Jones the pocket museum features 50 cards, each celebrating a different person, place, or quirk of one of the most highly cherished but little commemorated inner-city district of the Welsh capital. 

Splott’s inspiring stories include the first-ever black captain for Great Britain or a home nation in any sport - Clive Sullivan MBE, and former Prime Minister James Callaghan was its local MP. 

Splott once boasted an aerodrome that was an RAF base in World War II with many more local treasures in its collection. The museum was produced by local people collaborating to cocreate their shared heritage, character, and vibrant future at events ranging from an historic bus tour of the area on a vehicle built in Splott in the 1930’s, to bingo and quiz nights, visiting local school, community groups, refugee centres, along with online social media call outs, and simply asking passers-by what they want to see in their museum.

The project is run by Splott Community Volunteers, local community news site Inksplott, and social enterprise Grow Social Capital, with the support of the Doc Media Centre and the Jo Cox Foundation’s More in Common campaign. It is supported through Cardiff Council’s community cohesion programme, funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. 

Welcoming visitors near and far to Splott, Lynne Thomas, CEO of Splott Community Volunteers said, “Our new pocket museum tells the often unheard Splott story, celebrating its fascinating history, diversity, inclusivity, and shared values.”