List of villages in Gower
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(November 2022) |
| Gower Peninsula | |
|---|---|
| Principal area | |
| Preserved county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Dialling code | 01792 |
| Police | South Wales |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| Gower |
|---|
 |
TheGower Peninsula(Welsh:Gŵyr) in the City and County ofSwansea,Wales, contains over twentyvillagesand communities. Most of the peninsula is a designatedArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Villages
[edit]Bishopston
[edit]Bishopston (Welsh:Llandeilo Ferwallt,or historicallyLlanmerwalltorLlancyngur Trosgardi)[1]is an inland village, 6 miles (9.5 km) west-southwest ofSwanseaand near the beaches ofCaswell Bay,Brandy Cove and Pwll Du. One of the larger villages in Gower, it has its own rugby club, South Gower Rugby Football Club, and its own primary and comprehensive schools. (Bishopston is part of Swansea'sBishopston ward.)
Bishopston church, at the head of Bishopston Valley, is dedicated toSaint Teilo,who gives the village its Welsh name. The church contains a plain, massive font of Romanesque type, and its tower holds two 18th-century bells. In the churchyard are the remains of an old stone cross.
Cheriton
[edit]
Cheriton, near the north coast, is a tourist destination where summer visitors stay whilst exploring the beaches in the local area. The 13th-centurychurch of St Catwg(orCadoc) is Grade 1 listed. The psychoanalystErnest Jonesis buried in its churchyard. The author and cricketerWilliam Collinswas born at Cheriton.
Footpaths lead south-east to Stembridge and south-west to Llangenydd.[2]51°36′54″N4°14′25″W/ 51.61506°N 4.24035°W
Crofty
[edit]Crofty, on the north coast, is a small cockling village, situated betweenPenclawddandLlanmorlais.51°38′18.00″N4°07′33.00″W/ 51.6383333°N 4.1258333°W
Gowerton
[edit]The inland village of Gowerton (Welsh:Tregŵyr), about 4 miles north west ofSwansea city centre,is a gateway toGower.Its original name was Ffosfelin; it has also been known as Gwter Felen. (The village falls within theGowerton electoral wardofSwansea.)
In 1980, the WelshNational Eisteddfodwas hosted on the 'Elba' area of the village. The Eisteddfod stone (Gorsedd stones) is located on the round-about opposite the garage on the road to Penclawdd.[3]
Ilston
[edit]Ilston (Welsh:LlanilltudGŵyr) is an inland village. It has its own community council. Thepopulationof thecommunityin theUnited Kingdom Census 2001was 538. The name of the village (Welsh:Llanilltud) is thought to have originated fromSaintIlltud.The village is home to a brook, a 13th-centuryparish church(which has a 15th-century bell inscribed with a prayer to St Thomas) and aWildlife Trust of South & West Waleslimestonequarry.[4]The community is surrounded bycommon landused as grazing land,woodlandsand fields. 51°35′38″N4°04′49″W/ 51.59399°N 4.08026°W
See also:Ilston Book
Llangennith
[edit]Llangennith (Welsh:Llangynydd), in north-west Gower, has a scattering of houses and one pub – the King's Head. It sits at a crossroads: Moor Lane leads west to a caravan park nearRhossili Bay;and Burrows Lane leads north to a caravan park overlookingBroughton Bay.
The 12th-century village church,St. Cenydd's Church, is the largest in Gower, and was founded by St. Cenydd, who in the 6th century made a hermitage here, which was destroyed byVikingsin 986. The folk singer,Phil Tanner,is buried in its churchyard.
A painting of Worm's Head from Llangennydd was made byCedric Morris.A painting of Llangennith Burrows byJohn Nashis held in the Government Art Collection.
Llanmadoc
[edit]Llanmadoc (Welsh:Llanmadog) is in the north west of Gower. The village is named after the churchyard of St Madoc (or Maidoc), who founded his hermitage or monastery here in the 6th century. The 13th-century building was restored in 1865, but retains a Romanesque font and a Romano-British tombstone.[5]Llanmadoc Hill,formed ofOld Red Sandstone,is a landmark of west Gower and affords wide views from the top. An evocative painting of the Hill, byCedric Morris,may be seen at theGlynn Vivian Art Gallery,Swansea.A painting of Llanmadoc was also made byJohn Nash.TheMedulliwere the likelyCeltictribal ancestors ofMadoc.Haplogroup R1b (Y-DNA)is consistent with the regions of Llanmadoc, Wales andMédoc,Bordeaux,Franceand the Celtic migrations from the South East to the North West, and likely predates St. Madoc. The population was 365 in 2011.[6]
Close by communities include Cheriton and Landimore. Nearby beaches includeBroughton BayandWhiteford Sands.It is in thecommunityofLlangennith, Llanmadoc and Cheriton.
Llanmorlais
[edit]Llanmorlais, on the north coast, was a cockling village. The name Llanmorlais is not a trueLlan place name,but a corruption of the village's old name, Glan Morlais, which refers to the banks of Morlais Stream.[7](The village is inPenclawdd electoral wardofSwansea.) In 2014, it was rated one of the most attractivepostcodeareas to live in Wales.[8]
Llanrhidian
[edit]Llanrhidian is a north Gower estuarine village, sloping down to salt marshes. (It is in theGower electoral wardofSwanseaand the community ofLlanrhidian Lower.)
The village gets its name from Saint Rhidian. Its church is dedicated toSt IlltydandSt Rhidian.The present building was constructed in the 13th century, with a chancel and tower added in the 14th century. In the porch may be seen a 9th-century stone, bearing simple carvings of human figures and animals. A standing stone on thevillage greenmay be the remains of a village cross.[9]
The village is served by an Esso filling station (including a shop, the post office is currently closed), two public houses (The Welcome to Town and The Dolphin Inn), a primary school and a community hall.
Murton
[edit]Murton is in the community of Bishopston and is also a ward for elections to Bishopston Community Council.[10]Murton lies between Bishopston and the village of Newton.
Murton is home to Murton Methodist Church[11]a Wesleyan Methodist Church dating back to 1828, which celebrated the centenary of its current building in 1997. Murton also hosts Murton Rovers AFC Football team.[citation needed]
Oxwich
[edit]
Oxwich is in the far south of Gower. Attractions include the Oxwich Burrows, theTudorOxwich Castle,Penrice CastleandOxwich Bay.[12] The ancient church is dedicated toSaint Illtyd.Legend has it that the stonebaptismal fontwas placed there by the saint himself.[citation needed]
Parkmill
[edit]Parkmill is an inland village betweenPenmaenandIlston,on the northern side of theA4118 road,the main road betweenSwanseaandPort Eynon,in a wooded valley. It once lay within Parc le Breos, a deer park established in the 1221–32CEbyJohn de Braose,Marcher LordofGower.
Penclawdd
[edit]Penclawdd (Welsh:Pen-clawdd) is in the north of the peninsula. It is one of the larger villages in Gower. Part of the village is perched on a high location, enjoying panoramic views over theLoughor estuaryand Gower country, while the main part of the village stretches along the edge of the estuary. It is plentiful inbirdlife,and wildhorsesroam the estuary. Penclawdd is known for its localcockleindustry, which goes back for many years toRomantimes.
It is inSwansea'sPenclawdd electoral ward.
Pennard
[edit]
Pennard (Welsh:Llanarthbodu)[1]is on the south of the peninsula, about 7 miles south west ofSwansea city centre.It falls within thePennard wardofSwansea.It has a church, health centre, library, a primary school and a golf course. It contains the ruins ofPennard Castle.The poetsVernon Watkins(1906–1967),Harri Webb(1920–1994) andNigel Jenkins(1949–2014) are buried at St Mary's church.
Penmaen
[edit]Penmaen (Welsh:Pen-maen) is an inland village – a scatter of houses around theA4118 roadat the foot of the slopes ofCefn Bryn.There are a number of archaeological sites in the area. It contains Parc-Le-Breos, a 19th-century hunting lodge, that was once the deer park of William de Breos,Lord of Gower,but today serves as a hotel and pony-trekking centre.
Penmaen Castle began as a small timber castle. Later it was replaced by a stone structure. Excavations in 1960 and 1961 led byLeslie Alcockfound evidence that the castle was in use in the 12th and 13th centuries; the first phase was likely built by theNormans.[13]The timber gateway was destroyed by fire and later replaced by adrystone walledgate tower. Alcock suggested that stylistically this phase of the castle may have been built by the Welsh.[13]
Penmaen Burrows, a sandy headland west ofThree Cliffs Bay,is part of the National Trust's Penrice Estate, bought withEnterprise Neptunefunds in 1967.[14]The headland had been inundated by sand, probably in the 14th century, burying the now-ruined stone church. It was excavated in 1861 and remains sunk into the sand and overgrowth.[15]
Close to the ruined Church is a neolithic chambered tomb, with a substantial capstone, now partly collapsed but still supported on at least 6 upright stones. Sand inundations hampered the attempts at excavation in 1861, 1882 and 1893, and still make it hard to appreciate what the original landform would have been like. It was probably on a false summit of the headland.[16]
It is thought that the now lost village of Stedwarlango also lies buried somewhere under the Penmaen Burrows.[17]
A pencil and watercolour painting of Penmaen Burrows was made in 1951 byJohn Nash.[18]
Port Eynon
[edit]This small, south coast village, extending fromPort Eynonbeach to the top of a hill, has twofish and chip shopsat the sea front, ayouth hostel,apub,acoffee shopand arestaurant.
To the north-west lies Overton village, with footpaths to Overton Mere, a rocky beach. Half a mile to the east of the main beach stands the village of Horton.
Reynoldston
[edit]Reynoldston is an inland village. It has its own elected community council.
It had one of the longest functioning communitybroadbandschemes in Britain; which started in 2003 and finished at the end of 2008 following the availability ofADSL.
Rhossili
[edit]
Rhossili (Welsh:Rhosili) is on the southwestern tip of the peninsula. Since the 1970s it has fallen within the boundaries of Swansea.[19]The village has acommunity counciland is part of theGower parliamentary constituency,and theGowerelectoral ward.
Slade
[edit]Slade is situated near the south coast, north west ofOxwich Bay.Points of interest include Eastern Slade Farm, adairy farmandcampsite.
The nearbySlade Bayincludes a smallbeach,and is a breeding ground for fish such asrays,dogfish,common dabandbass.
Three Crosses
[edit]Three Crosses (Welsh:Y Crwys) is an inland village at the north east of the peninsula. Situated at a crossroad on the road fromSwansea city centre(10 km) toPenclawdd(5 km), it grew up in the early 19th century to serve small shallowcollieriesin the area. These collieries had disappeared by the early years of the 20th century, and since then Three Crosses has developed as a 'dormitory village' for Swansea. Three Crosses is home toCapel Y Crwys,a large independent chapel. The village is currently home to one village shop (Country Stores) and two public houses, The Joiners Arms and The Poundffald.
It has its own Community Council. Three Crossescommunity,in the City and County of Swansea, was formed in 2012 from the Three Crosses ward formerly inLlanrhidian Highercommunity.
Upper Killay
[edit]Upper Killay (Welsh:Cilâ Uchaf) is an inland village andcommunity.It has its own elected community council.[20]The Clyne Valley cycle track passes through the village. Upper Killay is a gateway toGowerfrom the east. It lies to the south ofDunvant.The main road through the village passes over a cattle grid to the west, which marks the start ofFairwood Common.The village has its own rugby team,Swansea Uplands RFC.Their clubhouse and playing fields are to the south of the village, on Fairwood Common. There is a primary school in Upper Killay, named Cila Primary School. The school has a nursery. There is a park next to the community centre and a village shop.Fairwood Hospital,an elderly care facility, closed in 2010.[21]The community population was 1,331 as of the 2011 census.[22]
Notable residents includeAndrew Jones (filmmaker)and David Stacey (Actor).
Small settlements
[edit]- Burry Green is ahamleton the junction between the northGowerroad (fromSwanseatoLlangenith) and the road south toPort EynonandRhossilion the south Gower coast. The latter road forms the shortest road link between Rhossili and Llangenith. It is a little over a mile north west ofReynoldston,[23]and is not far from the Burry Stream, which runs north into the Loughor estuary. The large village green faces the north-eastern slopes of Cefn Bryn, the second-highest point in Gower. Footpaths lead north across Ryers Down to Cheriton.
- Caswell village rises aboveCaswell Bay,one of the most popular bays in south Gower.51°34′16″N4°01′04″W/ 51.57115°N 4.01787°W
- Horton is a southGowervillage, situated just north east ofPort Eynonoff theA4118 road.Steep lanes descend to sea level, where there are dunes and firm sands, and where visitors may enjoy good bathing, canoeing, fishing and walking. Footpaths lead west to Port Eynon, and east to Slade Bay, Lucas Bay, Oxwich Point and Oxwich.51°33′12.00″N4°12′06.00″W/ 51.5533333°N 4.2016667°W
- Kittleis an inland village, near to Bishopston, spreading north and south of the Pennard Road. (It is inSwansea'sPennard electoral ward.)51°35′03.00″N4°03′35.00″W/ 51.5841667°N 4.0597222°W
- Knelston (Welsh:Llan-y-tair-mair) is an inland settlement on a conspicuous rise one mile south-west ofReynoldston.(It is in theGower ward.)[24]51°34′46.00″N4°12′53.00″W/ 51.5794444°N 4.2147222°WIn neighbouring fields may be found ruins of a 12th-century church of St Taurin, and three standing stones.
- Landimoreis a north Gower hamlet, descending to salt marshes east of Cheriton. It is in theGower wardbetween Llanmadoc andLlanrhidian.On the slopes of a hill to the west are traces of Landimore Castle (also known as Bovehill Castle).
- Langland village, near the south Gower coast, adjoins theLangland Baybeach resort. It is in theNewtonandOystermouthwards.[25]51°34′11.00″N4°00′12.00″W/ 51.5697222°N 4.0033333°W
- Llandewi or Llanddewi is an inland hamlet, on the road linking the north Gower villages ofLlangenith,Llanmadoc andLlanrhidianwith the south Gower villages ofPort EynonandRhossili.It is in thePort Eynoncommunity council area, approximately 2 miles south west ofReynoldstonand 3 miles north ofRhossili.[26]The church of St. David was built byHenry de Gowerbetween 1328 and 1347. Its tower contains an 18th-century bell.[27]51°34′46.00″N4°13′25.00″W/ 51.5794444°N 4.2236111°W
- Llethryd (or Llethrid) is an inland farming settlement, near the centre of Gower, around the B4271 road out ofSwansea,just over halfway betweenUpper KillayandLlanrhidian,and on the western edge of Pengwern Common. Here the road descends steeply into a little wooded valley, through which flows the stream of Parkmill Pill. About 200 yards south of the road lies the entrance to the vastLlethryd Tooth Cave.
- Middleton lies on the south-west edge of Gower, on the outskirts ofRhossilivillage and not far fromRhossili Bay.It has a much-used village hall. Lanes lead south toFall BayandMewslade,and north across Rhossili Down toLlangenydd.
- Nicholaston is a farming community near the south coast of Gower, on the road between Penmaen and Oxwich. It is in theGower ward.[28]The isolated church of St Nicolas was built in the 14th century, but was thoroughly reconstructed in 1894. Its alabaster pulpit incorporates sculptures of the 19th-century theologians Keble, Liddon and Pusey.
- Oldwalls, on the north Gower road, a little west ofLlanrhidian,consists of a small number of houses and a holiday accommodation site.[29]
- Overton in south Gower is a secluded hamlet situated 1/3 of a mile west ofPort Eynon.It is in theGower ward.Footpaths lead south to the pebbly beach of Overton Mere, and west along the cliffs toPaviland,The Knave andRhossili.
- Oxwich Green in south Gower is a farming settlement on the road between the villages of Oxwich and Slade.
- Penrice, a hamlet in south Gower, inland fromOxwich Bay,is approachable by steep, narrow roads. On its village green – once a social centre of Gower – standsSt Andrew's Church, Penriceand the stone base of a former cross. The painterAlfred Janeshas a memorial in the churchyard. Penrice Park contains an 18th-century country-house and the remains of a Norman castle – both known asPenrice Castle.
- Pitton is a sheltered settlement in south-west Gower, near Rhossili, centred on Great Pitton Farm, one of the oldest farms in Gower. It is in theGower ward.In the 18th century some villagers were involved in smuggling. Lanes lead south from Pitton Hill to the sea at Mewslade, and north across Rhossili Downs toLlangenith.
- Pilton Green consists of a few houses on the road connecting the villages of Scurlage andRhossili.
- Scurlage in southern Gower lies at the junction of roads leading toPort Eynonor Rhossili. It has a sports field and a caravan site. Some walls of Scurlage Castle may be seen.
- Southgateis on the cliffs of south Gower, within thePennard communityofSwansea.It is near Pennard golf links. Footpaths lead to Pobbles andThree Cliffs Bay.
References
[edit]- ^abWilliams, Nino (11 January 2020)."The lost Welsh place names of Gower".walesonline.Retrieved12 January2020.
- ^"Cheriton Info and Photos".Welcometogower.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 5 March 2014.Retrieved27 February2014.
- ^Gowerton local historyArchived12 February 2005 at theWayback Machine
- ^"CADW: Historic Landscape Characterisation: Ilston".Ggat.org.uk.Retrieved27 February2014.
- ^"St. Madoc's Church Llanmadoc".The-gower.com.Retrieved27 February2014.
- ^UK Census(2011)."Local Area Report – Llanmadoc Built-up area (W37000135)".Nomis.Office for National Statistics.Retrieved26 September2020.
- ^"GOWER/GWYR".www.someplacenamesinsouthwales.4t.com.Retrieved10 January2010.
- ^"UK's 'most desirable' postcodes revealed".BBC News.
- ^"St. Rhidian & St. Illtyd Church, Llanrhidian".The-gower.com.Retrieved27 February2014.
- ^"Bishopston CC".Bishopston Community Council.Retrieved26 May2022.
- ^[1]Archived13 November 2010 at theWayback Machine
- ^"Holiday & background information on the village of Oxwich".The-gower.com.Retrieved27 February2014.
- ^abAlcock, Leslie; Talbot, E. J. (1966)."Castle Tower, Penmaen: A Norman Ring-work in Glamorgan".The Antiquaries Journal.46(2): 196.doi:10.1017/S0003581500053245.
- ^"Discover the National Trust Land Map".National Trust.Our land History: Part Penrice Estate.Retrieved14 June2023.
- ^Penmaen Burrows Church (ID PRN00287w)in the 'SMR' forGlamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust (GGAT)
- ^Penmaen Burrows Chambered Tomb (ID PRN00250w)in the 'SMR' forGlamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust (GGAT)
- ^National Trust web page for Penmaen and Nicholaston Burrows.See alsointeractive maps of NT property ownership.
- ^"John Northcote Nash, Penmaen Burrows, 1951".mutualart.com.
- ^A Guide to Gower,published by the Gower Society,ISBN0-902767-23-2
- ^"Upper Killay Community Council, Swansea".www.gowercc.org.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 8 November 2009.Retrieved10 January2010.
- ^"An old fever hospital on the very edge of Gower is up for sale for far less than you might imagine".Wales On line. 22 February 2018.Retrieved18 March2020.
- ^UK Census(2011)."Local Area Report – Upper Killay Parish (W04000598)".Nomis.Office for National Statistics.Retrieved26 September2020.
- ^"Burry Holiday Cottages. Self-catering cottages in the Gower Peninsula, Swansea, South Wales".www.burrycottages.co.uk.Retrieved10 January2010.
- ^"Microsoft Word - Gower Ward Profile Dec-08.doc"(PDF).Retrieved27 February2014.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Microsoft Word - Newton Ward Profile Dec-08.doc"(PDF).Retrieved27 February2014.[permanent dead link]
- ^Historical informationatGENUKI
- ^"Llandewi Church: St. David's Church".Explore-gower.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 29 July 2012.Retrieved27 February2014.
- ^"Penmaen and Nicholaston. The villages of Penmaen and Nicholaston, The Gower Peninsula, South Wales".www.the-gower.com.Retrieved10 January2010.
- ^"Oldwalls Leisure Ltd. – Luxury Accommodation – Gower – Swansea – Location".www.oldwallsleisure.com. Archived fromthe originalon 5 April 2010.Retrieved10 January2010.
External links
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