Blackpill
Blackpill maps (2 available)
Map of West Glamorgan
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
See this old map of West Glamorgan
Personalised maps
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Blackpill books (2 available)
Blackpill memories
Read and share memories of Blackpill and West Glamorgan inspired by Frith photos
Ghostly happenings!!!
I recall my father Gerry Richards of West Cross telling me that when the building was no longer being used( he was then an acting security man having formerly tended the gardens and the boiler system) that he and his colleague were in the kitchen when they heard footsteps(the clicking of high heels) coming from the internal corridor towards the closed door. Thinking it was a visiting hospital worker he went to the door to open it. As the footsteps reached the door he opened it, the footsteps stopped - there was no one there!! then they realised that all the external doors were locked and bolted, CREEPY!!!!
Contributed by David Richards
West Glamorgan memories
Ghostly happenings!!!
I recall my father Gerry Richards of West Cross telling me that when the building was no longer being used( he was then an acting security man having formerly tended the gardens and the boiler system) that he and his colleague were in the kitchen when they heard footsteps(the clicking of high heels) coming from the internal corridor towards the closed door. Thinking it was a visiting hospital worker he went to the door to open it. As the footsteps reached the door he opened it, the footsteps stopped - there was no one there!! then they realised that all the external doors were locked and bolted, CREEPY!!!!
A memory of Blackpill contributed by David Richards
Mumbles Memories
My Great, Great, Grandfather planted these trees which you can see running down the middle of the photo in 1883 when the cemetery was opened and they are still present to this day.
His name was Henry Harris (1827-1911). He died at 84yrs old. His wife Elizabeth Harris passed away in 1920 aged 88yrs at the Cemetery Lodge where they both resided.
A memory of Oystermouth contributed by Nicholas Johns
A Happy Memory
Whenever I heard the words "The Mumbles" as a child, it conjured up a very romantic image in my mind. According to family history, my Great-grandfather Thomas Stokes proposed to my Great-grandmother Matilda Thomas there. I can just imagine them enjoying the lovely view and sea air and planning their future. They left Wales for America in 1908, never to return to their special place. So it was especially sweet for me to be able to visit there in 1992. I still keep the memory of that day close to my heart.
A memory of Mumbles contributed by Karen Larson
Extracts From Blackpill & West Glamorgan books
In July 1905, the National Lifeboat
Association held a demonstration on the
lake. Good Friday and Easter Monday
would see a miniature fair—stalls for
refreshments, model yacht racing on the
reservoir, rowing boats for hire, bowls
and so on. Here we see the ‘tropical
island’ with its giant Gunnera and the
half-timbered lodge.
An extract from from"Swansea Pocket Album".
This is not, in fact a Roman bridge at all, but was
probably built in the 18th century. This fact could be
slightly awkward for Roman Court and Roman Bridge
Lane, two newly-built housing developments nearby. The
bridge is now the subject of controversy: it is scheduled for
relocation to make way for a leisure centre.
An extract from from"Swansea Pocket Album".
The ivy-clad castle is approached
via Castle Avenue. ‘Oystermouth
Castle is a majestic ruin, in a bold
situation near the sea coast, com-
manding a delightful prospect of the
country, and surrounded by broken
cliffs’. (Benjamin Malkin, c1803).
An extract from from"Swansea Pocket Album".
This was a popular coaching inn; it has since been
renamed the Gower Inn to reflect its new-found function
as a public house. The attractive building in the centre
is the former school, now the West Glamorgan Guides
Activity Centre. Further down the road we come to the
Gower Heritage Centre.
An extract from from"Swansea Pocket Album".
Taken thirteen years after number 32723,
this view shows some interesting changes.
The addition of tramlines and the double-
decker electric tram advertising the famous
Ben Evans store would have been brought
into service sometime after the turn of the
century. Notice also the girl with a hoop
on the right, the two inquisitive boys and
a somewhat less inquisitive dog.
An extract from from"Swansea Pocket Album".