For nearly two decades, a small wall in Cardiff Bay has quietly become one of the city’s most unusual landmarks. Now, after 17 years, the much-loved Ianto Shrine in Mermaid Quay is set to be taken down due to safety concerns.
The shrine began in July 2009 after a pivotal moment in the BBC sci-fi series Torchwood. In the episode Children of Earth: Day Four, fan favourite character Ianto Jones played by Gareth Lloyd from Newport, dies during the dramatic storyline.
The day after the episode aired, fans travelled to Cardiff Bay and left a handwritten message at the spot used in the show as the entrance to the Torchwood Hub, disguised as the fictional Torchwood Tourist Office. What started as a single tribute quickly grew.
Within days the wall was covered with postcards, photos, flowers and handwritten notes from fans paying tribute to Ianto. Visitors from around the world continued to add their own messages over the years, turning the site into a lasting fan memorial and a small piece of Cardiff’s TV history.
But time has taken its toll.
The wooden structure behind the shrine has suffered rot and decay, and it has now been deemed a public safety risk, meaning it needs to be removed.
The person who runs the shrine’s Instagram page has said they plan to carefully remove and preserve many of the items before the structure is dismantled. The intention is to keep the messages and main tributes safe at home, ensuring they are not lost when the wall is taken down.
The shrine is due to be removed at the end of April, so if you’re a fan of Doctor Who or Torchwood, now might be the time to head down to Cardiff Bay and say goodbye to Ianto.
What began as a spontaneous fan tribute in 2009 has lasted 17 years and become one of the most unusual and heartfelt TV memorials in the UK. Even when the wall is gone, the connection between the show, the city and its fans will still remain.
