Subject: Rhondda Buses 550 (N550 MTG) Chassis: Mercedes-Benz O405 Body: Optare Prisma B49F Location: Cardiff, Duke Street Date: 20–Jul-1996
In the morning the sun is in the right direction for a nice shot of vehicles leaving Cardiff along Duke Street with the castle as a background. 550 heads for Maerdy on the 1052 departure from the bus station.
Cardiff Castle originated as a medieval fortification and came into the hands of the Marquess of Bute in the 18th Century. The Butes became fabulously wealthy during the 19th Century through controlling much of the huge coal trade that passed through Cardiff. This money was spent developing the mansion in a Gothic revival style directed by Wiliam Burges with many fantasy elements. The highly-regarded building came into public ownership when it passed to the City of Cardiff on the death of the 4th Marquess of Bute in 1947.
