Roald Dahl Plass - Doctor Who / Torchwood

SCREENSHOT from "Boom Town" of Roald Dahl Plass.

When Doctor Who returned to television in 2005, I knew that it was mostly filmed in Cardiff, Wales but allowed myself to think of everything as connected to London because that was the point in many cases. But in the episode "Boom Town," The Doctor, Rose, and Captain Jack Harkness meet up with Mickey Smith in Cardiff - the real Cardiff, and in one the city's most iconic locations. Roald Dahl Plass can't be mistaken for anywhere else.

Now, there had been an earlier episode when The Doctor and Rose visit Cardiff in 1869 for "The Unquiet Dead" but it didn't feel distinctly Cardiff like "Boom Town." This is also the first time when we find out that the Rift, which had played such a big part of "The Unquiet Dead," is still active - enough that The Doctor is using it to recharge the TARDIS.

What we didn't know then, but we know now, is that everything is connected: the maid Gwenyth (Eve Myles) opens and then closes the Rift in "The Unquiet Dead" and Captain Jack Harkness is in Cardiff with The Doctor using the residual Rift energy for the TARDIS. Later Jack will return to Cardiff to monitor the Rift as part of Torchwood Three (located under the plass with a lift that comes up right in front of the Water Tower) and Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) becomes part of his team.

PHOTO from Beautiful Britain website of Roald Dahl Plass.

Quick history lesson

Once a thriving port for the coal mining industry, the Cardiff Bay area underwent a renovation that included the creation of the Oval Basin designed by artist William Pye which opened in 2000. In July 2002, the name was changed to honor Cardiff author Roald Dahl, who is of Norwegian heritage hence the “plass”- meaning place, space or square. (I love that a large oval area is sometimes referred to as a square!)

There is a large water tower fountain that featured heavily in the Torchwood series. The tower is another creation of William Pye’s, and like the Oval Basin, was designed by Nicholas Hare Architects. It stands 70 meters tall with water intermittently flowing down the metal face. It stands across from the Wales Millennium Center and sometimes reflects the inscription in the front of the domed entrance to the building.

The English reads:

“In These Stones

Horizons

Sing.”

The Welsh says:

"Creu Gwir

Fel Gwydr

O Ffwrnais Awen"

(Translation: "Creating Truth Like Glass From Inspiration's Furnace")

It is a busy area where cultural events and concerts are held. The area is surrounded by shops and restaurants, and off to the side is “Ianto’s Shrine” - in remembrance of the Torchwood character Ianto Jones. That particular area was used as the entrance to the Tourist Information Centre that was a front for Torchwood’s underground hub.

This is a Google Earth Photo Sphere contribution from user Surf Forecast. Someday I will add a little note to that wall. Poor Ianto...

SCREENSHOT of The Doctor and Martha Jones watching Captain Jack Harkness run back to the Torchwood Hub in "At Journey's End."

What it means to me

The scene that always sticks with me when I think of Roald Dahl Plass is when, at the end of another adventure with The Doctor and his companion Martha Jones, Captain Jack Harkness again says goodbye to return to his Torchwood team. The Doctor and Martha are leaning on the railing with the Pierhead Building in the background talking to Jack who turns down The Doctor’s offer to stay with him and Martha. He starts to leave, but turns back and asks about aging because he can’t die but he has found grey hairs. Reminiscing about growing up in the Boeshane Peninsula, he mentions that he was called the "Face of Boe” and leaves while The Doctor and Martha are processing. The joke is that during his travels in a far future time The Doctor, with Rose and later with Martha, comes into contact a few times with the "Face of Boe," an ancient being that no one quite knows the origins of. Was the mystery solved?

I remember watching that scene and being both happy and sad that Captain Jack decided to go back to Torchwood. I loved the relationship he had with The Doctor and Martha, just as much as when he was with The Doctor and Rose, but I was also a huge fan of the Torchwood series and was glad to know the show would be continuing on a little longer.

SCREENSHOT from Google Earth, an aerial view of Roald Dahl Plass.

Best way to virtually visit

Google Earth seemed to be the best way to explore Roald Dahl Plass. I like using Google Earth on my tablet more than the PC, but both work the same way.

1. Open the Google Earth app or go to https://www.google.com/earth/ (Click "Launch Earth)

2. Click the magnifying glass icon to search and enter “Roald Dahl Plass”

3. Use the + (plus) icon to zoom in

The 3D option will help get a better feel for the Cardiff architecture and will pan around to get a 360 degree view of the area. You can go back to the 2D view anytime.

SCREENSHOT of Google Earth in Street View.

Moving in too close means losing picture resolution, but by clicking on the little figure icon, you go into "Street View" and blue lines and dots show up indicating a closer view. Since the Google camera didn’t follow along a route through the plass, you are now relying on pictures taken by previous visitors within the "Photo Sphere," and that’s not a bad thing. The little blue dots indicate a picture which will often give you a 360 degree view that is fabulous. The Photo Sphere contribution from user Surf Forecast goes right up to the Water Tower. In Torchwood, we know that there's one spot that acts as a perception filter so people passing by don't see things like Captain Jack using the lift to enter or exit the underground Hub.

I think if I ever have the chance to visit I will find the best spots that relate to Doctor Who and Torchwood and see if I can't make a few photo contributions for other virtually visiting fans!

Additional sources

Roald Dahl Plass. Nicolashare.co.uk https://www.nicholashare.co.uk/projects/view/roald-dahl-plass-cardiff

Roald Dahl Plass. Visitcardiff.com https://www.visitcardiff.com/highlights/roald-dahl-plass/

Wales Millennium Centre. https://www.wmc.org.uk/