Key Points
- Ianto’s Shrine, a fan-built memorial to Torchwood character Ianto Jones, located at Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Bay, is set for removal by end of April 2026.
- Established in 2009 as an impromptu tribute following Ianto’s death in the Torchwood episode “Children of Earth”.
- Maintained for nearly a decade by fan Carol-Anne Hillman (also spelled Carole Anne-Hillman), who announced the news on X (Twitter) on March 3, 2026, expressing devastation.
- Removal due to health and safety concerns: rotting wood and rusting ironwork on the shrine’s structure.
- Mermaid Quay spokesperson confirmed the takedown for lower boardwalk maintenance, promising collaboration with community for a new plaque post-works.
- Fans outraged; petition “Save Ianto’s Shrine” launched by Jade W on March 3, 2026, with 260+ signatures, calling for relocation or restoration using #SaveTheShrine.
- Shrine attracts global Torchwood and Doctor Who fans, adorned with flowers, notes, photos, mugs, artwork, ties, and LGBTQ+ themed tributes reflecting Ianto’s same-sex relationship.
- Visited by actors Gareth David-Lloyd (Ianto Jones) in 2016, 2019; John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness) in 2016, 2021.
- Added blue plaque by Mermaid Quay in 2012; memorial service held in February 2010 by “Save Ianto Jones” campaign.
- Part of local culture at Mermaid Quay boardwalk, depicting Torchwood Institute site.
Cardiff Bay (Cardiff Daily) March 04, 2026 – A beloved fan shrine honouring Torchwood’s Ianto Jones at Mermaid Quay faces demolition after 17 years, prompting outcry from sci-fi enthusiasts worldwide as health and safety issues force its removal.
What Is Ianto’s Shrine?
Ianto’s Shrine emerged as an impromptu memorial on July 10, 2009, at Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Bay, a filming location for the Torchwood Institute in the BBC sci-fi series Torchwood, a Doctor Who spin-off.
Fans spontaneously created the site following Ianto Jones’s dramatic death in the 2009 special “Children of Earth,” where the character, played by Welsh actor Gareth David-Lloyd, sacrificed himself against the alien 456 threat.
Over the years, it evolved into a tourist landmark, drawing visitors who left tributes like hand-drawn artwork, flowers, mugs, photos, notes, ties, and memorabilia often themed around LGBTQ+ stories, nodding to Ianto’s canonical same-sex relationship with Captain Jack Harkness.
As detailed in Wikipedia’s entry on Ianto’s Shrine, a “Save Ianto Jones” campaign organised a memorial service there in February 2010, presenting plaques to Mermaid Quay staff, with management adding a blue plaque mimicking official ones in 2012.
Why Is the Shrine Being Removed?
The decision stems from structural decay, including rotting wood and corroding metal, posing health and safety risks amid planned maintenance on the lower Mermaid Quay boardwalk.
As reported by David Owens of Nation.Cymru, Mermaid Quay management informed shrine caretaker Carol-Anne Hillman (running the X account @wallforianto15) that removal would occur by late April 2026 to ensure a “wonderful experience for all visitors.”
A Mermaid Quay spokesperson stated: “We can confirm that Ianto’s shrine at Mermaid Quay will be taken down whilst we carry out maintenance work. This work is required to ensure the lower boardwalk continues to provide a wonderful experience for all our visitors. We hope to work with the local community to explore a new plaque for Ianto once the maintenance works have completed.”
WalesOnline coverage echoes this, noting the shrine’s deteriorating condition after nearly two decades of exposure.
Who Announced the Removal?
Carol-Anne Hillman, the devoted fan who has maintained the shrine for almost a decade, broke the news on X on March 3, 2026.
She posted: “Really sad news, afraid. Ianto’s Shrine is being taken down the end of April. I will try and take off cups and other small items. It is really sad. I am devastated.” — Ianto’s Shrine 16 (@wallforianto15) March 3, 2026.
Hillman, cited across reports, plans to salvage small items like cups before the takedown.
David Owens of Nation.Cymru first highlighted Hillman’s announcement, emphasising her long-term stewardship.
How Are Fans Reacting?
Outrage has swept online communities, with fans lamenting the loss of a cultural icon.
One X user commented: “This is really unfortunate. I thought it was just a matter of changing decorations. Is there any way to stop this?” as covered by WalesOnline.
Another suggested: “Maybe Cardiff Museum could assist in preserving it, as it has become a part of local history.”
A petition by Jade W, titled “Save Ianto’s Shrine,” launched March 3, 2026, states: “Sadly due to structural decay and wood rot – Ianto’s shrine is under consideration by management of Mermaid Quay to be removed. … This shrine has become a landmark for both Torchwood and Doctor Who fans. If they are considering removal, perhaps Torchwood fans could come together to come up with a solution to save the shrine. Whether that’s relocation or restoring the shrine. Let’s start something – #SaveTheShrine.”
It urges signing, photo-sharing with #SaveTheShrine, and tagging Mermaid Quay, amassing over 260 signatures swiftly.
Fans propose alternatives like museum relocation or restoration, per WalesOnline and Nation.Cymru reports.
[Ianto Jones]
What Is the Future of the Site?
Mermaid Quay pledges community collaboration for a new plaque commemorating Ianto post-maintenance, though specifics remain unclear.
The spokesperson reiterated hopes to “explore a new plaque for Ianto,” balancing preservation with safety.
Petition organiser Jade W rallies for broader solutions: “Sign the petition. Post your photos with the shrine with this hashtag and with myself in, tag Mermaid Quay too. Let’s show them how much we love it.”
No formal response from actors Gareth David-Lloyd or John Barrowman has surfaced yet, but their past visits underscore the shrine’s significance.
Torchwood and Ianto Jones Background?
Torchwood, airing 2006-2011, spun off from Doctor Who, centring on a Cardiff-based team fighting alien threats, with Ianto Jones as a key member portrayed by Gareth David-Lloyd.
Ianto’s romance with John Barrowman’s Captain Jack Harkness marked a milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in British TV.
As per Fanlore.org, the shrine symbolised the “Save Ianto Jones” campaign post his 2009 demise.
Gareth David-Lloyd described it as “very weird but very flattering” during 2019 and 2016 visits alongside Barrowman.
Shrine’s Cultural Impact?
This site has drawn global pilgrims, boosting Cardiff Bay’s appeal as a sci-fi hub, per TripAdvisor reviews calling it a “great tribute to a beloved character.”
InterCardiff’s piece by an unnamed journalist notes: “If you ever find yourself strolling through the boardwalk at the Mermaid Quay, you’re more than likely to come across a mystical wall… dedicated to the fictional character of Ianto Jones.”
Nation.Cymru’s David Owens labels it an “iconic tourist attraction… focal point for sci-fi fans… from around the world.”
Reddit threads and Instagram reels affirm its enduring fandom legacy.
City Monitor.ai once dubbed it “The Cardiff landmark that commemorates a man who never was.”
The shrine’s fate tests how cities honour pop culture amid practical needs, with fans determined to etch Ianto’s memory enduringly.
