Fforestfach
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(August 2017) |
| Fforestfach | |
|---|---|
  Fforestfach Location withinSwansea | |
| OS grid reference | SS613956 |
| Principal area | |
| Preserved county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SWANSEA |
| Postcode district | SA5 |
| Dialling code | 01792 |
| Police | South Wales |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
Fforestfachis a suburban district ofSwansea,Waleswhich developed during the Victorian era as part of the expansion of Swansea, and to service several collieries in the area. It lies within theCockett ward,between the districts ofWaunarlwyddandCwmbwrla,and contains the areas of Cadle and Ravenhill.
The area is residential combined withlight industryandretail park;and is close to theM4 motorwayand several dual carriageways.Corgi ToysandWalkers Crispshad factories in the area, but they have now ceased their operations here. Local amenities include the premises of the City of SwanseaGymnasticClub, and Ravenhill Park. The nearby places arePortmead,Gendros,WaunarlwyddandPenllergaer.
History
[edit]The village of Fforestfach developed around the crossroad, Fforestfach Cross, of theA483,Carmarthen Road, and theA4216road fromCockett.Carmarthen Road was the old turnpike or mail coach road from Swansea toCarmarthen.[1]
Bethlehem Chapel in the Cadle area, was originally built in 1840, although the present, Grade II listed building was built in 1866.[2]
Economy
[edit]
Fforestfach is home to an out of town shopping complex centred on Pontarddulais Road in the Cadle area to the west. The shopping area to the northeast of Pontarddulais Road has existed since the 1970s and is now called "Pontarddulais Road Retail Park".[3]In November 2006 a Park and Ride scheme was introduced to ferry shoppers intoSwansea city centre.
The area to the southwest of Carmarthen Road/Pontarddulais Road, called Parc Fforest-Fach, developed in the early 2000s. TheTescoExtra store at Parc Fforestfach had a gross floorspace of 112,000 sq ft (10,400 m2) in 2003 (and has since been expanded) making it the largest in Wales.[4][5][6]
Swansea West Business Park is the largest post-war industrial estate in Swansea.[7]It is the location of 140 businesses employing 1,500 people. There was once a greyhound stadium based at the site, which is now closed and earmarked for re-development.[citation needed]
Amenities
[edit]Local amenities include the premises of the City of SwanseaGymnasticClub, and Ravenhill Park. A chocolate factory on the business park, named "The Chocolate Factory", has guides and exhibits showing the process of making chocolate.[8]
Ravenhill Park was opened in 1931 after Lowe's farm was purchased for £4,170.[9]
The local primary school is the Cadle Primary School on Middle Road.[10]
Listed buildings
[edit]Grade IIlisted buildingsin Fforestfachinclude:
- Capel Bethlehem including attached Vestry Block on Carmarthen Road
- Carmarthen Road War Memorial
- Walker Snack Food Factory on Pontarddulais Road
Cockett Railway Station
[edit]Cockett railway stationnot currently open on theWest Wales Line.
Greyhound racing
[edit] |
Fforestfach had two greyhound stadiums. The first known as'White City'on Pen-llywn-eithen farm traded from 1929 until 1946 and the second was known as theSwansea Greyhound Stadiumon Ystrad Road and was open from 1949 until 2009.
References
[edit]- ^Glanmor Williams (1990).Swansea: an illustrated history.Christopher Davies. p. 115.ISBN9780715407141.
- ^"LISTED BUILDING Capel Bethlehem"(PDF).CITY AND COUNTY OF SWANSEA. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 20 June 2013.Retrieved9 January2013.
- ^"Scheme Info - Completely Retail".Completelyretail.co.uk.Retrieved12 August2017.
- ^Parc FforestfachArchived2009-04-28 at theWayback MachineLlanegwad-carmarthen.co.uk; accessed 12 August 2017.
- ^"IGD Retail Analysis - A new stage in the Tesco Extra" success storey "?".Igd.org.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 27 February 2012.Retrieved12 August2017.
- ^Parc Fforestfach,CompletelyRetail.co.uk; accessed 12 August 2017.
- ^City and County of Swansea - Strategic EmploymentArchived2008-12-10 at theWayback Machine,Swansea.gov.uk; accessed 12 August 2017.
- ^"TheChocFactory".Thechocfactory.Retrieved12 August2017.
- ^"Municipal Journal".The Municipal Journal and Public Works Engineer.40(2005–2030). Municipal Journal: 1059. 1931.
- ^"Cadle Primary School".Estyn.gov.uk.Retrieved9 January2013.