Old Acquaintances

We went from Wales to Scotland, it was June and it was wet
(There may have been a few dry days, but so few I forget)
We travelled north to John O' Groats, we went across to Skye,
The passing signposts helped us feel at home - and this is why:

Alfred Donald Mackintosh, the Leader of his Clan,
The Mackintosh of Mackintosh, a very wealthy man,
Met Diana Arabella, who inherited a farm,
An heiress, a Welsh woman and a lady full of charm.
Plasnewydd (or the New Place) was Arabella's plot
And she owned green fields around it from Penylan to Splott.

Big Mac and Arabella watched Cardiff to their west
Grow docks, canals and railways. They observed with interest
That the workers needed housing while the landlords drew the rent,
So they turned their farm to terraced streets - then packed up and went.
They left us streets called Keppoch, Braevel, Inverness and Moy
And Mackintosh and Strathnairn and Arran and Glenroy.

Another Scotsman by descent, in politics a Tory,
(Great grandpa was prime minister, but that's another story!)
Another wealthy landowner, investor of repute,
Was born in Cardiff Castle, the Third Marquis of Bute.
He gave us docks and waterways and playing fields to share,
Ninian Road and Dumfries Place, Bute Park, Mountstuart Square.

Now Bute Street, where the Tiger stalked his prey,
Leads to he promised land in Cardiff Bay.
The Butes and Mackintoshes returned north without hassle
Leaving place names to remind us (and they gave us back our Castle!)
Remembered in our history books with words grateful and kind
As the sort of old acquaintance one is glad to bring to mind

Whether they remembered us I don't know and I can't guess-
Did they build a street called Cardiff in Dumfries or Inverness?