Lord Bute owned this area of Penarth and local historians suggest that it was considered the poorer and forgotten area of Penarth. Given the fact that the old brick ponds were becoming unacceptable health hazards, especially as public health standards, living conditions and expectations rose, the Bute estate was most probably embarrassed into offering the Cowslip Field for the betterment of the locals. However, the fact remains that Bute must have been somewhat disgruntled at being placed in a position where he was adding to the wellbeing of the dockers who were traditionally the direct competitors of his own docking interests at Cardiff. Also, the ground gifted to the peoples of Cogan was not ideal as a playing field since it is generally accepted that a flat, level playing field is a prerequisite for most games; the Cowslip being, as locals already know, somewhat undulating and definitely uphill in places. Witness, when Julie rode her bicycle down the Cowslip path as a child, she fractured her arm when she fell off at the bottom of the hill! Of the 14 acres only 2 acres was suitable, or used, as a recreation field. [101]