Swansea Jack
"Swansea Jack" is a term often applied to the occupants of Wales' second city. Although most locals believe that their nickname is taken from an adventurous black Labrador Retriever of the same name, the term does, in fact, originate far deeper in history. Despite this, the story of "Swansea Jack" the dog is an uplifting and inspiring tale that, although unfortunately ends in sadness, deserves to be shared and celebrated.
In the early 1930's a young Jack and his owner, William Thomas, resided in the then ramshackle area of Padley Yard. Located near the docklands, it was not unusual for Jack to be found playing around the polluted waters of Swansea's declining maritime industry. Despite the safety issues of such an area, local children also gathered to play in the dock-waters and inevitably found themselves in danger of drowning.
It was amongst such circumstances that the legend of "Swansea Jack" grew. Originally timid of the water, Jack's first recounted rescue was of a 12 year old boy in June 1931. The boy had found himself in real danger and was on the point of drowning when Jack dove into the water and dragged the poor child ashore. The rescue was hardly trumpeted however, given that witnesses to the event were so few.
Only weeks later, Jack's heroism was on display again. This second rescue was witnessed by a larger audience and Jack received full acknowledgment for the act with the local press covering the rescue in detail. This rescue also merited Jack recieving his first award - a silver collar from the local county council.
Jack, now a local star, continued to watch over the waters of the docklands and Swansea Bay and quickly added to the number of his rescues. By the age of five, Jack's rescues were so numerous and well accounted that the dog's fame had already become both legendary and widespread.
Jack's fame began to attract great numbers to Swansea, aiding both the local economy and the popularity of the town as a growing tourist resort. Local councilors and well-to-do's lined up to be photographed with the "lucky icon" and appearances by "Swansea Jack" would often raise large sums of money for local charities.
Jack was a star of both the media and of people's hearts who, it seemed, could do no wrong. Twice awarded a bronze medal, the "canine V.C.", by the National Canine Defence League (the only dog to have ever been awarded two such honours), Jack also won "The Star" newspaper's "Bravest Dog of the Year" award in 1936. Other awards heaped upon the dog were also given by "The Daily Mirror" newspaper and the Lord Mayor of London. Jack and his owner also toured the country, appearing in the "Bravest Dog" sections of international shows such as Crufts and the National Dog Tournament.
However, with an estimated 27 rescues to his credit, tragedy occurred. Ingesting rat poison, Jack took ill and failed to recover. The National Canine League posted notices of a reward for information on the animal's poisoning but the source of the poison was never detected. Jack's life drew on painfully for a while, but there was no hope for a recovery for Swansea's little hero. He died on October 2, 1937, aged just seven years.
Saddened and shocked, the residents and council of Swansea raised funds to give their canine friend a public and ceremonial funeral. Created, at his own expense, by local stonemason Cecil Jones, a large gravestone was placed over the animal's grave on the promenade near Swansea Bay's popular "slip". There it can still be visited today.
As has already been noted, the term "Swansea Jack", despite popular belief and articles perpetuated by the local press and other "scholarly" sources, did not originate from the adventures of this canine hero. It in fact originated from the early 1800's when Swansea was famed as a port. Swansea's sailors had established the reputation of being fine seamen and were welcomed aboard any ship as part of the crew. Collectively, these elite seamen from Swansea became known as "Swansea Jacks" - most likely named after the jack-tarred apparel they wore against the extreme sea conditions. The later bravery of "Jack" the Labrador thus earned him the nickname of "Swansea Jack" after the town's famous naval men.
Pete Ham (Badfinger)
Pete Ham was born on April 27th 1947 and grew up in Gwent Gardens, Townhill, Swansea. Given his first guitar as a Christmas present when he was 12, Pete was hardly parted from the instrument. Often found during his youth hanging round in a gang along Gwylfa Road, Townhill, he would practice his guitar there to a very unappreciative audience of residents. Despite this, Pete continued with his ambition to form a rock group and, along with two other friends, formed Panthers, practising at the Townhill Youth Club.
The leader of this youth club was Brian Coffey and he was so impressed with the talent displayed by the band of young musicians, that he purchased an amplifier and floor tom-tom for the group. Later arranging their very first gigs, Coffey also transported the band and their instruments from venue to venue.
Their very first gig, however, was an unremitting disaster. At that point in the bands evolution, the group still needed a vocalist and their repertoire consisted mainly of instrumental Shadows covers. Paid at the interval, the group were asked to leave before one of them was physically hurt by their unhappy audience!
Over the following years, the group continued with very little success. Various members left and joined the group which was now titled The Iveys and at last featured a vocalist. Their big break came when Paul McCartney listened to a demo tape of the group and signed them up to the new Apple label.
Performing at Liverpool's 'Cavern' and being described as 'The New Beatles' did surprisingly little to rocket the group to stardom and so, after a major rethink, and another shuffle of band members, the group re-emerged as Badfinger.
Bandfinger's first real success came when they contributed to the soundtrack of 'Magic Christian Music' - scored for the film 'The Magic Christian' which starred Peter Sellers and Ringo Star. This album featured the track 'Come and Get it' - a song which rocketed the band to the Top 5 in both the US and UK markets. Their second single, 'No Matter What' (written by Pete) had similar success - as did their album 'No Dice'. 'No Dice' was critically acclaimed and, amongst its track listing, featured the song 'Without You'. A flurry of successful work followed for Badfinger, including an appearance at George Harrison's Bangladesh benefit concert.
1972 saw Harry Nilson release a phenomenally successful rendition of the groups song 'Without You' (co-written by Pete Ham). Badfinger failed to capitalise on this, however, and Pete, suffering from depression, took a back seat in songwriting for the group. Fame faded fast for the band and, in 1975, at the tender age of 27, Pete Ham lost his fight against depression and hanged himself in his garage studio. Cremated, his ashes were scattered to the winds in Morriston Cemetery, Swansea.
Although Badfinger originally split after Pete's unfortunate death, the groups reformed four years later with new members leaving/joining their number over several occasions. Tragedy struck the band again though when, in November 1983, Tom Evans (who had penned 'Without You' with Pete Ham) also committed suicide. This double suicide gave added pathos to the lyrics of their top love classic, which was later recorded successfully by Mariah Carey:
"I can't live, if living is without youI can't live,
I can't give anymore
I can't live, if living is without youI can't live,
I can't give anymore"
- Badfinger (1969)
Harry Secombe
Singer, actor and comedian, Harold Donald Secombe was born at mid-day on 8th September 1921 and grew up at 7 St. Leger Crescent, St. Thomas, Swansea. Aged 8, he joined St. Thomas Church choir which he continued to participate in until his voice broke. Although spending the second half of his life with his wife Myra and four children in Cheame, Surrey, Harry admitted in his later years that his heart still belonged in Swansea. Sir Harry's favourite childhood haunt was Swansea Market, which he described as "an Aladdin's Cave" and used to travel there each Saturday with his mother on a tram from his home.
On his way to school (Dynevor Secondary School, Swansea) each day, he walked past Weaver's Flour Mill. This building contained a notice board which displayed who would be appearing next at Swansea's Empire Theatre. This fuelled Harry's desire to tread the boards himself. He discovered the joy of applause for himself when he sang the 'Blue Danube' with his friend at The Brangwyn Hall's inaugoral concert. At that point, he knew he wanted to be a star.
His first job was as a pay clerk at Baldwins Limited on Wind Street. He made extra money on his tea round by also taking refreshments to a neighbouring office. Six months before the outbreak of World War II, he joined the Swansea Territorial Army and at the age of 21 he was posted oversea where he spent much of the war, as part of the 321 Gun Battery, Swansea Territorials, in Africa and Italy. It was during the war that he met and formed a lasting friendship with fellow 'Goon', Spike Milligan.
Demobbed from the army at the close of World War II, Sir Harry joined London's West End Windmill Theatre where he met his wife-to-be, Myra Atherton. In 1949, he teamed up with Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Michael Bentine to form the radio troupe 'The Goons'.
Sir Harry married Myra at St. Barnabus Church, Sketty, Swansea and, finding more and more of his time being spent on the Swansea to London train, he and his wife decided to relocate closer to the English Capital.
Through the years 1950-80, Sir Harry was a regular at the London Palladium, where he performed at several Royal Commands. His first UK solo musical hit came in 1955 with 'On with the Motley', whilst in 1967, he reached number two in the UK Charts performing Charlie Chaplin's 'This is my Song'. He was beaten from the top spot by Petula Clarke's rendition of the very same song!
Later in his life, Harry lost a lot of weight through health worries, during which he presented Independent Television's religious series 'Highway'. Actively involved with charities and fundraising, he was awarded the C.B.E. in 1963 and was knighted in 1981.
In 1997, Sir Harry suffered a stroke. Recovering only slowly, he was then informed that he has prostrate cancer. Sir Harry Secombe died on April 11th 2001, aged 79.
Swansea Nature Reserve 2005
Dark
Whilst waiting to be picked up from work this evening, I popped across the road to take some dusky shots the Swans in the Reserve. Hope you like them.
25.07.2005
Year of the Reptile
I went for many years without seeing a lizard. In the last twelve months though I must have seen literally hundreds. On my lunch time walk through Swansea Vale Nature Reserve today, I added another dozen or so to that number. The big ones scatter before you reach them, but the baby ones are not yet so cautious and allow you to get quite close. I will have to take my proper camera into work one day to get some decent photographs of the wildlife.Tucked away amongst this wilderness of the Swansea Vale Nature Reserve, a small lake has provided an idyllic environment for a pair of swans to raise their young. Up until a few weeks ago, the Swans had two young cygnets to look after but some unknown event has now knocked that number to just one.
The surviving cygnet is growing large, however, and it is a real treat to watch these beautiful birds during each lunch break from the nearby DVLA.
03.06.2005
The Lake
Took a short walk around the Swansea Vale Nature Reserve this afternoon. Although it is certainly not a dramatically beautiful place and could not inspire any great landscape photography, the place is ultra jam-packed with wildlife - which, I suppose, the place is all about.
A wooden track has been laid through the small wilderness here, upon which, during the twenty minutes I spent walking the path, I saw five lizards (some of which were very young) and a two year old frog.
Swansea Vale Nature Reserve 2007
11.12.2007
As Promised
Well here here he is - the black Australian swan and his friend I promised to photograph almost a month ago:
The usual swans from the main pond have, I have been informed, been back there (along with the third cygnet that was missing from their company the last time I saw and took a video of them. Unfortunately, they were nowhere to be seen this afternoon.
Maybe next time.
15.11.07
Wider Horizons
Popped over to the Swansea Vale Nature Reserve this morning to take a few photographs before I started work. A heavy frost carpeted the area and the steam rising from the pond looked very atmospheric. 
Was introduced to two completely different ponds during my lunch break. These are located about a five minute from the two ponds I usually frequent. Although I could not get a decent enough picture of it to post here, there is a beautiful black Australian swan currently in residence of one of these 'new' ponds and it is very chummy with a white swan. It is going to be interesting visiting these new ponds, especially once Spring is in the air again. Here are just a trio of images taken at one of these newly discovered ponds. I will head back there real soon to try and get a decent picture of the swans there:
24.10.2007
Fungi in Force
Autumn has now taken a firm hold on the Swansea Vale Nature Reserve.
Whilst the place is currently looking a little bereft of colour, the Reserve's fungal residents are starting to develop in force:
12.10.07
Dunking
As I took the following short video of the birds, I saw one of the strangest sights I have ever encountered (unfortunately, it happened so fast that I was unable to catch it on camera). The cat I saw watching the swan nest last March was up to its neck in water, hiding behind the reeds a little to the right of one of the cygnet. As soon as I spotted it, however, the cat was off, splashing through the water and into the undergrowth across the other side of the pond. It really does seem hell bent on bagging itself a giant bird.
Whilst I did not manage to video this particular event, I did record the rather lengthy dunking habits of one of the young swans (when I first spotted it, I actually thought it had gotten itself stuck and was in danger of drowning):
As the Summer blooms fade from the Reserve, the first of the Autumn fungi have already started to raise their strange little heads above ground. As I did last year, I will try and photograph the more interesting species as and when I stumble upon them:
Shaggy Inkcaps
Lactarius pubescens, Bearded Milkcap
Dispute the Summer being now just a memory, there are still a few flowers - such as this Water Mint (below) remaining to enjoy on the site:
28.9.2007
Autumn 2007
Teasil Leaf
Devil's Bit Scabious
Rosehips
The Last of This Year's Blackberries
Grasshopper
The Swansea Vale Nature Reserve Wildlife Pond
Yellow Loosestrife
Swansea Vale Nature Reserve
Swansea Vale Nature Reserve (2008 Entries)
Swansea Vale Nature Reserve (2007 Entries)
Swansea Vale Nature Reserve (2005 Entries)
Swansea Bay
Swansea Bay provided the greatest catalyst to the city's historical success. First, the Bristol Channel allowed Swansea to develop as a trading post with England and the world at large. It was also the final incentive that pushed the city into becoming the single most important smelting centre of the world. Having been described as one of the three finest bays in the whole world by the 19th century poet Walter Savage Landore, it is little wonder that the bay also attracted great numbers to its sweeping shoreline and thus brought further wealth to the city by becoming a major tourist resort.The local council realised the money spinning opportunities offered by Swansea Bay as far back as the 18th Century. Wanting to take advantage of this natural resource to help finance the further development of the burgeoning town, a grand assembly house, graced with many bathing machines, was built on the site of the present day County Hall to help attract wealthy summer visitors to the beach. In doing this, they even went so far as to drive away poorer visitors for fear that they might deter these more welcome patrons from visiting or returning to the bay.
These poorer folk could not be dissuaded from taking in the pleasures of Swansea Bay so easily though and, ushered away from the sands around the grand assembly house, they gathered instead further west along the stretch of bay known popularly as "the slip". By 1850, it was the turn of these poorer folk to feed money into the town as what they lacked in individual wealth they certainly made up for in number. Soon "the slip" had become like a mini modern-day Blackpool with stalls and fairground rides of infinite variety lining the coast here.
Sand Storm, Swansea Bay
Realising the financial losses this reputation of Swansea Bay made on the town's tourist industry, Swansea Council have recently plunged huge funds into cleaning the bay. Clearing much of the old disused parts of the city docklands and building an award-winning Maritime Quarter upon its skeleton structure has also enhanced the area's appeal greatly. Although still not yet quite suitable for swimming, Swansea Bay 's wide stretch of sand is once more becoming popular amongst sun-worshippers, day trippers and local families alike.
Amongst all local bays, Swansea stands alone in the fact that it can be enjoyed by motorist, cyclist and pedestrian alike. Between 1804 -1960, it could also be enjoyed by train as well. It's large 7 kilometre arc of sand stretches from Swansea Pier in the east to Mumbles Pier in the west, with each segment of the sands finding its own favour amongst visitors and locals alike.
A curious feature of the east end of Swansea Bay are the sea-worn stumps of ancient posts. These are remnants from the time when local fishermen set large net traps along this stretch of beach. This practice is believed to have originated in Norman times and continued until the First World War. During the 18th and early 19th centuries these nets prevented this part of Swansea Bay from being accessed for bathing. Today, however, this region fronting the city's new maritime quarter is by far the most popular area of the bay's large stretch of sand.
Skirting the bay from here to its dramatic conclusion in Mumbles is a well-maintained cycle and pedestrian track. Suitable for all the family to enjoy, it offers a unique opportunity to take in the full splendour of this historic coastline. It is also an excellent precursor to the further coastline delights awaiting once the headland of Mumbles has been turned and the whole of the Gower Peninsula opens up to exploration.
Swansea Bay also has a dark history, being the scene of three public hangings in the 19th century. The last of these hangings attracted over 15,000 spectators to the sands, making this one of the bay's busiest days in history.
Near the foreshore of Swansea Bay , on the area of beach not far from Singleton Hospital , lie the remains of Iron Age woodland. Over time, the gradual encroachment of sand and sea eventually overwhelmed the wood, but the position of it can still be clearly seen defined in the sands today as the flattened stumps and twisted roots of the ancient trees still protrude from the bay at certain low tides.
Another curio on the beach are the remains of a pill box - the only survivor of a series of such anti-aircraft defences which were positioned along the beach during World War 2. This is a Type 26 pill box, which was capable of supporting both rifles and light machine guns, and was designed to hold back any attempted enemy invasion of Swansea during the hostilities.
St.David's Church, Swansea
This depiction of Jesus' Resurrection, located in St. David's Church, Swansea, is believed to be the only Medieval stained glass window in Wales. It was given to the church by George Grant Francis at the time of its opening in 1847.
St.Mary's Church, Swansea
Occupying a central position in Swansea 's city centre, St. Mary's Church stands like an oasis of calm amongst the hustle and bustle of the shops, public houses and offices that surround it. Entering the open planned grounds of the church really is like travelling back in time to a more sedate period where one can unburden oneself briefly from the 21st century's hectic pace of life. Set within a small green, which grants St. Mary's with a colourful and pastoral frame, various paths offer the visitor a choice of approaches to the church.
A gentle slope from St. Mary's Square rises through aromatic beds of Lavender to a path paved with ancient memorial stones. All make for interesting reading and thicken the air of antiquity and permanence that permeates the church and its grounds. Another approach, from Princess Way, allows a fine view of the church tower, without doubt the building's finest feature. The more familiar and direct approach to St. Mary's, however, is via the steps opposite the entrance of the Quadrant Shopping Centre. On a bright Spring afternoon, this approach can flush the senses with the red blossom from a rather striking miniature tree, situated to the immediate right of the church's lynch gate. To the left, a display of colourful roses and a variety of delicately hued trees complete the quiet majesty of the garden.
The splendour of St. Mary's is a natural draw to shoppers and office worker's on their lunch breaks and the park benches that back the squat wall boundary of the church grounds are an extremely popular amenity. One drawback of their appeal, however, is that this seating area has become the begging ground for a large flock of pigeons. Their large number has caused some deterioration in the vegetation immediately around the large trees to the west of the church and a careful eye will have to be kept on the situation if the garden is not to deteriorate further.
One last feature of the church grounds to note before discussing the church itself is its lack of standing gravestones. Early photographs of St. Mary's illustrate that the churchyard was once crowded with graves. Whilst the church gardens themselves have obviously seen some drastic redesign in their history, what is perhaps less evident is that St. Mary's itself has also been subject to some major alterations. Indeed, having been fire bombed during the Second World War, the present day St. Mary's is largely a construct of the 20th century. The earlier incarnation of the church was itself a rebuilding of an 18th century church and, in turn, that was predated by the original 12th century Norman church.
Built within the fortified walls of the Norman town and castle, the original building of St. Mary's Church came to be owned by the Norman monastery of St. Taurin at Evereux (who also owned the monastery at Llangennith). During this period, local criminals could find sanctuary from justice within the church and it is interesting to wonder what characters and crimes were shielded by the building during these medieval years. Henry de Gower, Bishop of St. David's, took over the church in the 14th Century, primarily to use much of St. Mary's income (2/3 of it to be precise) to pay for the building of St. David's Hospital for retired clergymen. Some architectural remains of this hospital/almshouse can still be seen across the road from St. Mary's, incorporated into the Cross Key's public house. The Bishop is believed to have put a little of his architectural style into renovation work at St. Mary's but his main building work was carried out on Swansea Castle (today best witnessed in the castle's arcading) and at the aforementioned Hospital of St. David. What this early church looked like can only be imagined as although there were drawings made of it by one Thomas Dinely - these were made from memory long after his visit to St. Mary's. Dinely's drawings are known to be wide of the mark chiefly because of his portrayal of the church's tower and chancel as being physically separated from one another - a possibility that has long since been disproved. Whatever form the church took, however, it must have been a physically robust building as it survived until the middle of the 18th century, albeit with some major rebuilding and alterations.
Perhaps the first inclination that St. Mary's would have to be rebuilt came in 1739 when the roof of the middle isle of the church caved in after a particularly bad storm (hailstones measuring up to 12 centimetres were measured in some areas of the country). Luckily, on the morning of the collapse, the vicar was late for service and most of the congregation, still waiting outside the church at the time of the incident, escaped any physical harm.
The new church was cheaply made and had very little architectural or artistic significance. It also drained parish finances with its heavy schedule of rebuilding and repair work. Of greater note than the church of this time, were the people who were buried within it. These included Lady de Mowbray, buried in 1360, whose husband was defeated in the Insurrection of Edward I and II. Hung in 1321 for his treachery, his lands and goods were all seized and his wife, Lady de Mowbray was imprisoned in the Tower of London . Upon her release, she returned to Swansea destitute. Her tomb, the oldest in the Church of the time, was identified by the late Colnel Francis as being the tombstone later used as a doorstep for the south entrance. Other notaries who found their final resting place at St. Mary's include Sir Hugh Johnnys - Knight Marshall of France and England (see Landimore Castle for more details), Sir Matthew Cradock (steward of Gower) and Gabriel Powell (a lawyer of distinction and one of Swansea 's most important figures of the 18th century). Given its inexpensive and, perhaps, makeshift construction, it is not surprising to find that the church was in a desperate state of disrepair by the end of the 19th century.
Despite quite heavy public opposition to his plans, the incumbent of the time, Canon Smith, decided to rebuild St. Mary's Church rather than just restore it. Sir Arthur Blomfield, architect for the Bank of England, was chosen to design the new building in 1898. The new church opened the following year. Although by no means built cheaply, in contrast to the earlier church of St. Mary 's, numerous extensions and alterations were made to Blomfield's church between 1899 and 1941. Even further improvements were planned for the church but on February 21st 1941, during the last night of ' Swansea 's Three Night's Blitz' incendiary bombs, dropped by the German Luftwaffe, hit the church. The damage to St. Mary's was virtually complete with only a few walls remaining standing the following morning.
Leslie Moore was the chosen architect for yet another rebuilding of St. Mary's. Studying the surviving drawings made for Blomfield's earlier church, Moore 's design was based largely on Blomfield's designs. The surviving walls of Blomfield's church were also incorporated into the new building, although this had more to do with attracting funding from the War Damage Commission than on any architectural merit. When Moore later dropped out of work on the new church, the contract passed into the hands of the firm Sir Percy Thomas & Son. The present day church of St. Mary's was reconsecrated and reopened by the then Bishop of Swansea and Brecon in the prescence of Her Majesty the Queen Mother on 28th May 1959.
Despite its fairly modern age, St. Mary's today does possess a few antiquities of note that have somehow managed to have survived the ordeals of its turbulent past. As well as these items of interest, it has also built up an excellent collection of 20th century church art. Its stained glass windows, although contemporary, must also be considered to be some of the finest in the country and alone make a visit to St. Mary's more than worthwhile.
Grave Stone Lining path surrounding St. Mary's Church:
Listen to St. Mary's Church Bells [.wma file] Rec. Summer 2005
Swansea Castle
Following the murder of Hywel ap Goronwy, the Welsh ruler of Gower (Gwyr), the Norman King of England , Henry I, appointed his close friend, the first Earl of Warwick, Henry de Beaumont (also known as Henry de Newburgh) as Lord of Gower. As a priority, de Beaumont needed to find headquarters for his command and discovered the ideal location on the west bank of the River Tawe. From this vantage point he would be able to maintain order of the peninsula and the stretches to the north, towards the river banks of the Aman and Twrch, which marked the old boundaries of Gower. No doubt he was also concerned to protect the natural harbour from attacks via the sea, knowing the area to be popular with Norse raiders in the past.
In true Norman tradition he built a motte and bailey style castle. A natural mound along the western bank of the river was incorporated into the motte whereupon a timber keep was constructed. This in turn was defended with the ditch and earth bank of a small inner bailey. A large outer bailey defended the western side of the castle, with the river completing the defense on the eastern side.
The castle was joined by St. Mary's Church to the southwest and was eventually surrounded within the town walls during the early 14th century. These two buildings dictated the placing and development of the early streets and markets of Swansea.
In order to maintain a good level of security from within the town, newcomers were encouraged to settle and trade, by the granting of a charter. The charter was an agreement made by the lord giving all citizens of the borough freedom from feudal obligations with extrarights and incentives, in exchange for a fixed yearly rent for plots of land and strict military allegiance. Swansea's first charter, written between 1158 and 1184, was one of the earliest granted to any town in Wales, and was agreed by William de Newburgh, the grandson of Gower's first lord, Henry de Beaumont.
Nevertheless, despite the town's healthy population and prosperous trading, the castle and market town suffered many attacks from the Welsh. After being ravaged during raids from Llywelyn the Great in 1215 and Rhys Gryg in 1217, the castle was rebuilt in stone on the same site in the 1220's, by John de Braose, the Gower Lord of the time, and it is estimated that the town walls were constructed by William de Braose III between 1306-1332.
Extensions were made to the south east corner of the castle some time before 1347, and this became known as the ' New Castle '. The architecture of the New Castle has been largely attributed to Henry de Gower, Bishop of St. David's (1328-47), as the distinctive arcaded parapets are also to be seen in de Gower's palaces at Lamphey and St. David's. Recent historians have theorised that the absentee Gower Lord, de Mowbray, may have employed the Bishop's masons after seeing their work at St. David's Hospital. This would accurately date the work of Swansea 's New Castle to the year 1332.
The castle was finally seized by the Welsh under the rebellion of Owain Glyndwr between 1400-10. This wreaked devastation for the Lordship of Gower. By the late 16th century the castle had become ruinous and was described in a survey as an 'ancient decayed buildingcalled the New Castle '. The following centuries saw various uses of the surviving chambers of the ruined castle, one such example being its use as a debtor's jail until around 1858.
It is now difficult to imagine the original large scale of Swansea Castle. Only fragments of the New Castle remains to be seen today. The castle's north and south blocks, connected by a short stretch of curtain wall, are all that survives its turbulent history. The impressive parapets of the south block clearly show the hallmarks of de Gower's rich architecture whilst the 18th and 19th century adaptation of the north tower has not completely removed some of the castle's original features - such as the cross arrow slits. The castle ruins now lay adjacent to the British Telecom tower block, its rugged and fragmentary appearance standing in stark contrast to the modernity of its mirror-windowed tower face.
Swansea Castle Has a Large Family of Feral Cats Living On its Grounds -
The Above Shot Shows the Underground Entrance to the Cat's Lair
