William Harpur (1853-1917)

William Harpur was appointed Borough Surveyor in 1883 and responsible for the Cardiff we know today. As Borough Surveyor, he ultimately had the the final say over whether a proposed street layout scheme or individual building was acceptable during the building boom powered by the growth of the city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Evidence of his work can be seen in the layout of both Roath and Victoria Parks, as well as the civic centre at Cathays Park. If you have visited the Central Market, in St Mary Street you will have entered the Market Hall also designed by Harpur.

William Harpur is mentioned in the Minute books for 1890-1900 as Cathays Cemetery Surveyor.

William Harpur (c1853-1917), Cardiff city engineer and surveyor

William Harpur

Aged 64 years

Buried 1st June 1917

Buried Cathays S 1664 with Mary Ann Harpur, Mary Harpur and Ivor Harpur.

Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/roath_park_mark/sets/1417000/

Kind permission: https://www.flickr.com/x/t/0144002/photos/roath_park_mark/

Courtesy : Glamorgan Archives