Torchwood 3 is the base of Torchwood in Cardiff, Wales. The location was chosen because of the presence of the Cardiff Rift. Torchwood 3 is significantly smaller than the London branch, with only a handful of employees. Since the destruction of Torchwood 1 in the Battle of Canary Wharf, Torchwood 3 is largely autonomous, with little outside interference.
- Torchwood 3 is the main setting of the Torchwood series.
The Hub
The Hub is the main base of affairs for Torchwood 3, as opposed to Torchwood 1's Torchwood Tower and Torchwood 2's office in Glasgow. The Hub is located directly under Roald Dahl Plass in central Cardiff, also the location of the temporal rift.
The Hub is connected to the rest of the Torchwood Institute via organic computer.
Judging by some of the architecture, the main structure of the Hub was built or renovated some time between 1900 and 1950.
Incomplete list of features
- Invisible lift. This lift leads directly from the hub to Roald Dahl Plass above. Torchwood personnel can enter or leave without arousing suspicion, since the exit is still suffering the effects of the chameleon circuit of a TARDIS that once stood above it.
- An exit disguised as a tourist office.
- Jack Harkness's office.
- Workstations
- Cryo-chambers. Bodies of deceased Torchwood employees as well as aliens & anomalous humans can be stored here.
- Conference room
- Safe containing various alien artefacts
- Autopsy room
- Interrogation room
- Holding cells. Mainly used to hold captured Weevils.
- Firing range
Crew
Current
- Jack Harkness (leader)
- Toshiko Sato, (computer specialist, reverse engeneering of alien artifacts)
- Ianto Jones, (general support)
- Gwen Cooper, (police liaison)
- Owen Harper (doctor, deceased but still an operative)
Former
- Suzie Costello (deceased, former weapon specialist)
- Gerald Carter (Former Leader 1918)
History
Little is known about Torchwood 3 before the Battle of Canary Wharf, though the Hub has existed since 1918. (TW:To the Last Man).
The entire team of Torchwood 3, bar Jack Harkness, was killed by one of their own members on 31st December 1999 (to protect them from the 21st century) who later commited suicide, leaving Torchwood three (and the job of recruiting a new team) to Jack. (TW: Fragments)
At least some of the current personel worked in London previously, including Ianto Jones and Toshiko Sato.
2008 was an eventful year for Torchwood 3, with the defection and death of Suzie Costello, an attack by a cyberwoman that survived their defeat at Torchwood 1, and last but not least a full scale opening of the Rift, resulting in massive worldwide temporal distortions and the release of the ancient demon Abaddon, who briefly caused havoc in central Cardiff before being defeated.
Another trend in recent years is an increase in Weevil activity.