This South Wales market town has long been a site of of strategic significance, as evidenced by its magnificent castle. Caerphilly Castle remains a pure example of 13th century military architecture and is the largest castle in Wales, and the second largest in Britain (after Windsor). The original town of Caerphilly grew up as a small settlement just south of the castle. The town was rebuilt but remained very small throughout the Middle Ages. The first evidence of its emerging importance was the construction of a Court House in the 14th century, the only pre-19th century building still remaining in the town. During the 1700s, Caerphilly began to grow into a market town, and during the 19th century, as the South Wales valleys underwent massive growth through industrialisation, so to the town's population grew. Caerphilly railway station was opened in 1871, and in 1899 the Rhymney Railway built their Caerphilly railway works maintenance facilities; however, the expansion of the population in the 19th century was more to do with the increasing market for coal. Today, Caerphilly is also well known for its famous cheese and the town has hosted a food fair, The Big Cheese, in and around Caerphilly Castle every summer since 1998, attracting tens of thousands of visitors every year.

Comprising a magnificent range of images old and new, this new book explores the historical development of this fascinating town and its attractive surrounding area.