Curiouser and Curiouser….Swansea then and now by Karen McCloy
What made me curious about the history of where I live?
Lockdown!!!
Like many of us, I’ve gotten to know my local area very well over the past 15 months (maybe a little too well). I've found myself looking at my surroundings in a different light, and it’s got me wondering about times gone by. I know that Swansea has a very interesting past, and that the city centre has gone through some major changes.
I would like to explore some of this history, looking at some specific buildings and areas along one of my regular walking routes.
One thing you will notice when looking at historical maps of Swansea is the number of public houses that used to exist. Fact: A decade ago Swansea had over 200 licenced premises.
Arches Hotel Quay Parade with Weaver’s Flour Mills in the background, 1920s
Owner: West Glamorgan Archive Service
Ships waiting to load coal for South America at Prince of Wales Dock, 1890s
(Owner: Swansea Library and Information Service)
By 1870 the port of Swansea was handling over 1.5 million tons of cargo per annum. To meet this demand the Tawe Railway Bridge had been constructed allowing the Vale of Neath Railway to access Swansea South Dock. The pillars that supported this bridge can still be seen today.
Ordnance Survey map 1919
The Weavers flour mill once stood on the current site of Sainsbury’s, Quay Parade. It was built in 1897 by the French engineer Francois Hennebique and was the first reinforced concreate framed building in the UK.
Today you’ll find a commemorative plaque and a column from the original building along the footpath by the pillars of the Tawe Railway Bridge.
Aerial view of North Dock half-tide basin and Weaver's flour mills, 1960s (Owner: West Glamorgan Archive Service)
The aptly named Ice House, currently home to apartments and The River House Restaurant, was once an Ice Factory constructed in the 1880s to serve Swansea's growing dock trade. It went on to become a ships chandlery in 1926. Tip: the listed buildings index on the Swansea Council website is a great resource for finding the general history and exact location of a listed building.
There are many free resources available from Swansea Libraries to help you find out about the history of your local area, just ask your local library or contact our library line service for more information. However, be warned as you may find yourself tumbling down the rabbit hole, albeit in the most wonderful way.
Useful websites:
www.swansea.gov.uk/askalibrarian
www.swansea.gov.uk/listedbuildingsindex
www.peoplescollection.wales/ (search: Swansea through the decades)