Ever since Doctor Who returned in 2005, it has been inextricably linked to its production home of Cardiff, Wales—but that connection really forged itself in the early years of modern Who‘s spinoff, Torchwood, which spent its first few seasons rooted in the heart of Cardiff Bay, battling alien threats from underneath the surface of the town. But while Doctor Who‘s Welsh legacy still endures today (the series still films out of a production hub in Cardiff), one part of it is about to be no more.
The management for Cardiff City’s Mermaid Quay has confirmed that, after 17 years, it will be removing a long-supported memorial to the Torchwood character Ianto Jones maintained on the lower part of the quay next month, citing health and safety concerns. The tribute wall was first set up in 2009 by fans after Ianto perished during the events of Torchwood‘s third season, Children of Earth, with the boardwalk location selected as it was used in the series as one of the several secret entrances to Torchwood’s underground base in the bay.
Despite Torchwood itself moving on—the Cardiff base was destroyed during Children of Earth as well—Doctor Who fans and staff for Mermaid Quay have helped maintain the memorial wall, littered with flowers, memorabilia, and written tributes to the character and the show at large, for almost two decades.
How it started and how it will be end Ianto's Shrine 😥😪😩 pic.twitter.com/aiBHuqEhOO
— Ianto's Shrine 16 (@wallforianto15) March 4, 2026
“I know I’ll always have an opportunity if friends come over from overseas or are visiting Cardiff,” David-Lloyd previously told the Radio Times about the enduring memorial. “They always want to go to the shrine to have a picture taken. So I’ve been there a few times, it’s been a couple of months since I’ve been there… I went for the 10-year anniversary. I know [memorial caretaker, Carol-Anne Hillman] has put up lots of decorations. My mind boggles that it’s still there and I’m just waiting for Mermaid Quay to say, ‘Enough is enough, let’s take it down!’ So it’s very weird but very flattering.”
According to Mermaid Quay’s owners, the memorial wall will be replaced with a dedication plaque after repairs are made to the Quay’s boardwalk, similar to one already added to the location in 2012. “This work is required to ensure the lower boardwalk continues to provide a wonderful experience for all our visitors,” a statement given to the Radio Times reads in part. “We hope to work with the local community to explore a new plaque for Ianto once the maintenance works have completed.”
As Doctor Who itself prepares to return to Cardiff and prepare for its own uncertain future after the fallout of its production deal with Disney, it’s sad that it’ll be doing so without one of the most enduring reminders of its fans.
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Source: Gizmodo