F O R T R E S S
  • MOVIES
  • TV
  • GAMING
  • TECH
  • COMICS
  • TOYS
  • SNEAKERS
  • WIN
  • PODCAST
SUBSCRIBE
No Result
View All Result
F O R T R E S S
  • MOVIES
  • TV
  • GAMING
  • TECH
  • COMICS
  • TOYS
  • SNEAKERS
  • WIN
  • PODCAST
SUBSCRIBE
No Result
View All Result
Fortress of Solitude
No Result
View All Result

A Tour Of Torchwood

Home > TV Series > A Tour Of Torchwood

A Tour Of Torchwood

Rick AustinbyRick Austin
June 12, 2017
Tags: Doctor Who
ShareTweetSend

There is a rift in Cardiff, Wales. A week ago it hosted Juventus and Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final, but it isn’t the rift between the two rival football team fans that Fortress was interested in. Instead, it was a rift in space-time, one made famous back in the first series of Doctor Who’s return. First brought to fans’ attention in the episode The Unquiet Dead, it wasn’t until the episode Boom Town that it really came to prominence, both in powering up the TARDIS and nearly destroying the Earth.

It was only logical that Torchwood – an organisation designed to contain paranormal and extraterrestrial threats – would build a base there, deep underground and away from public view. Torchwood, an adult-rated show starring Arrow’s John Barrowman as team leader Captain Jack Harkness, ran for four seasons and pushed the boundaries of the Whoniverse in directions nobody had ever dreamed of.

Sadly, when Fortress visited the primary above-ground location of Torchwood Three, it was shut down for construction. Torchwood Tower – a 70-foot high waterfall pouring down a metallic fountain wall – stood there glistening, still an imposing sight but without the cascading water. Looming ominously over the oval basin of the area is the Wales Millennium Centre, a truly iconic building nicknamed The Armadillo by some. In giant letters on its side the inscription “In These Stones Horizons Sing”.

Bosphorus 1
Bosphorus 1
Bosphorus dw experience background
Bosphorus dw experience background
Ianto Jones close
Ianto Jones close
Ianto Jones Shrine Plaque
Ianto Jones Shrine Plaque
Ianto Jones Shrine side
Ianto Jones Shrine side
Ianto Jones Shrine
Ianto Jones Shrine
Millennium Centre
Millennium Centre
Pierhead Building
Pierhead Building
Pizza Express
Pizza Express
Torchwood Tower
Torchwood Tower

A short walk away from the Roald Dahl Plass you can see various other locations seen often in Doctor Who and Torchwood and they’re all real. The red brick Pierhead Building, from Last of the Time Lords; the Bosphorus restaurant, where The Doctor shared a meal with companions Rose Tyler, Captain Jack and Mickey Smith; the Pizza Express branch whose delivery to Torchwood Three was our first entry into their Hub base… and then the Ianto Jones Shrine.

The back door to Torchwood’s Hub base, located along the waterfront of Mermaid Quay, fans knew it as always being manned by the “resident tea boy” Ianto Jones, played by Gareth David-Lloyd. Over the course of several seasons, fans came to learn that there was far more to Ianto than met the eye. The character’s death in the show was heartbreaking for many, and that’s when the Shrine was created there by fans. The outpouring of messages left, bizarrely, for a fictional character was so great that before long the management of Mermaid Quay endorsed it and recently it was visited once again by actors Barrowman and David-Lloyd.

It’s now been seven years since the Shrine first started, and even now heartfelt messages for this groundbreaking character are being left. Messages of love for Ianto from all over the world, coffee mugs, photos, cartoon, flowers, fan fiction and even (rather weirdly) a pair of underwear are attached to the wall fencing. Now, a tie from Team Fortress all the way in South Africa has joined them and flutters proudly in the wind.

MORE NEWS

Superman & Lois Trailer Proves Man of Steel 2 Could Happen

What Happens Next to Baby Yoda on The Mandalorian?

A Tour Of Torchwood

Walking back through Roald Dahl Plass it begins to rain. Standing where the TARDIS once parked next to Torchwood Tower it’s a surreal experience, especially as the rain starts to hit the silver sides of the waterfall and pour down. The construction going on in the background makes it resemble the state of Torchwood after it was blown up in the third season. The ground vibrates slightly, and whether it’s the work going on or the Rift energy itself humming with power, the giant letters on the wall nearby are right.

In these stones, the horizon itself seems to be singing… and the song is beautiful.

ShareTweetSend

Related Posts

Spyfall Part 2 Remains A Hot Mess, And Don’t Ask How It Works
TV Series

Spyfall Part 2 Remains A Hot Mess, And Don’t Ask How It Works

Dumb, Stupid And Tedious… But Doctor Who Season 12 Is Still an Improvement!
TV Series

Dumb, Stupid And Tedious… But Doctor Who Season 12 Is Still an Improvement!

Doctor Who Resolution
TV Series

Doctor Who: Resolution Review – A Special Kind Of Special?

ADVERTISEMENT

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments 3

  1. isara says:
    4 years ago

    The Doctor, Torchwood, Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones… the best times. Always. I couldn´t think a better reason to visit Cardiff.

    Reply
  2. excentric says:
    4 years ago

    Nice article, lovely drawing, too. Ianto lives.

    Reply
  3. Ria says:
    4 years ago

    Brilliant, Ianto would have loved the tie.

    Reply

Latest

Superman & Lois Trailer Proves Man of Steel 2 Could Happen
TV Series

Superman & Lois Trailer Proves Man of Steel 2 Could Happen

January 22, 2021
WD_Black D10 Game Drive 12TB Review
Tech

WD_Black D10 Game Drive 12TB Review – Solid and Reliable

RTX 3080 Sneakers
Sneakers

RTX 3080 Sneakers: Is The NZXT x RTKFT PC Wearable?

January 21, 2021
adidas YEEZY BOOST 700 SUN Sneaker
Sneakers

adidas YEEZY BOOST 700 SUN Sneaker Drops

January 21, 2021
Atomic Heart Gets New Trailer Ahead Of Release Date
Gaming

Atomic Heart Gets New Trailer Ahead Of Release Date

January 21, 2021
The Mandalorian Season 2 Finale Reaction Star Wars Baby Yoda
TV Series

What Happens Next to Baby Yoda on The Mandalorian?

January 20, 2021
ADVERTISEMENT
 

ADVERTISEMENT

Fortress of Solitude

Fortress of Solitude

Fortress of Solitude has become one of the most popular geek entertainment interest websites in South Africa and covers news and reviews on movies, games, comic books, gadgets, TV series, toys, sneakers and more.

The articles on Fortress of Solitude are written by a group of talented, professional and experienced freelance writers, all experts and leaders in their various fields.

Categories

  • Board Games
  • Books
  • Comic Books
  • Competitions
  • Gaming
  • Internet
  • Movies
  • Sneakers
  • Tech
  • Toys
  • TV Series

Newsletter

Sign up for news in your inbox.

  • For more information on COVID-19
  • About Us
  • Contact Fortress of Solitude
  • Privacy & Site Disclaimer

© 2020 Fortress of Solitude, a division of Fortress Entertainment. Registered in South Africa. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest
  • Home
  • Movies
  • Gaming
  • Comic Books
  • Tech
  • TV
  • Toys
  • Sneakers
  • Win
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Contact
  • RSS Feeds
  • Privacy & Site Disclaimer

© 2020 Fortress of Solitude, a division of Fortress Entertainment. Registered in South Africa. All Rights Reserved.