The Cardiff Times, a weekly newspaper, served its readership in the Welsh counties of Brecknockshire, Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, Glamorgan, Monmouthshire, Montgomeryshire, Pembrokeshire, and Radnorshire, as well as in neighbouring English counties.

The newspaper was a proponent of Welsh Liberalism, and for the first few decades of its run, the main coverage centered on this very topic. However, in 1886, the content was revised to allow for other topics of interest to be included, such as the contributions of Welsh writers and bards. One such contributor was William Abraham, known by his bardic name Mabon. Aside from being a talented orator, Mabon was also a trade unionist, MP, and a Liberal/Labour politician. You can follow much of his political career in the pages of The Cardiff Times: ‘On Saturday evening a large number attended at the Workmen’s-hall, Taibach, the occasion being a presentation to be made to Mr William Abraham, M.P. (Mabon). […] Mr John Evans presented Mabon with a handsome pair of buffalo horns, which had been brought over from California by Mr Thomas Heycock, who wished Mr Abraham to have them’.

The newspaper also began to include accounts of the social life in Wales and serial stories. Such stories as Prisoners of Love; or In the Days of Owain Glyndwr by Marie Trevelyan and Beneath the Wave by Dora Russell were printed as serials in the paper.

The Cardiff Times was first published in 1857. During its initial run from 1857 to 1928, Duncan & Sons owned the newspaper. During this time, David Duncan and William Ward published and printed the paper. After ownership of the newspaper passed over to the Western Mail, the newspaper went on to have a second run from 1930 to 1955 and was published and printed by Robert William John.