Rhossili
Rhossili
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|---|---|
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  Rhossili Location withinSwansea | |
| Population | 278 |
| Community |
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| Principal area | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Swansea |
| Postcode district | SA3 |
| Police | South Wales |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
| Gower |
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Rhossili(Welsh:Rhosili;) is both a small village and acommunityon the southwestern tip of theGower Peninsula[1]inWales.It is within the firstArea of Outstanding Natural Beautyin theUnited Kingdom.The village has acommunity counciland is part of theGower parliamentary constituency,and theGowerelectoral ward. At the 2011 census, the population was 278. The community includes the hamlet of Middleton.
The name derives from theWelsh wordrhosmeaning a moor and the personal nameSulein,hence "Sulein's moorland promontory".[clarification needed][2] Rhossili is a popular tourist destination: the views from the headland and the Down are panoramic; several pleasant walks begin, end, or pass through the village;Iron Ageremains are found on Rhossili Down. The 2.8-mile (4.5 km) wide sandy beach is backed withsand dunesand attractssurfersat theLlangennithend as well as along the entire stretch of beach.
Church
[edit]The presentNormanchurchis dedicated toSt Mary the Virgin.Inside there is a memorial toEdgar Evans,who was the first to perish on theTerra NovaExpeditionwithCaptain Scotton the return from theSouth Pole.
Rhossili Bay
[edit]Rhossili Bay curves along an arc running northwards from the village. The 2.8-mile (4.5 km) wide sandy beach is backed withsand dunes.Some locals refer to the beach as Llangennith Sands. Behind the beach just north of the village is Rhossili Down with the highest point on theGower Peninsula,the Beacon(193 metres), and a number ofprehistoricremains. It is between Rhossili Down and the beach that the Warren is found. In some of the fields on "The Vile" in Rhossili, the National Trust plant every year around 400,000 sunflowers. This is an extremely popular attraction for visitors to take selfies at during late July and early August, however there have been issues with some visitors picking the flowers.[3][4]
At the southern end of the Bay isWorm's Head,consisting of two tidal islands:Outer Head184 feet (56 m) andInner Head154 feet (47 m). At the north isBurry Holms.These islands are accessible only at low tide.
Rhossili Bay featured in theOpening Ceremonyof theLondon 2012 Olympic Games,a youth choir began a cappella performances of "Bread of Heaven"live on the beach which was broadcast at the Olympic Stadium.[5]The bay has been used as the setting of New Earth in the sci-fi showDoctor Whoand the bay including the Old Rectory was used inTorchwood: Miracle Day.In 2014, it was voted the UK's number one beach, third best in Europe, and 9th best in the world, byTripAdvisorusers.[6][7]
Fall Bay
[edit]Fall Bay is one of the most remote and hardest to reach beaches on Gower. The beach is never crowded due to its remoteness. There is no beach visible at high tide. The beach is very popular with surfers. At very low tide, it is possible to walk over from the beach toMewslade Bay.The beach is reachable via a path which passes Rhossili village hall. It continues over fields and many stiles and has a steep final descent. The cliff path leads east toMewslade Bay[8]or westwards towards the Worm's Head and Rhossili Bay.[citation needed]
Gallery
[edit]-
Rhossili beach in Autumn, 2010 -
Church of St Mary the Virgin -
The Devil's Bridge at Worm's Head -
Worm's Head -
Road to Worms Head Cottage, by John Crawford (fl. 1885), picture in the art collection of theNational Library of Wales
Notable residents
[edit]- Edgar Evans,[9]Antarctic explorer (a memorial tablet can be seen in the parish church)[10]
National Trust
[edit]TheNational Trustowns and protects much land on the Gower Peninsula. The Trust operates avisitor centrein Rhossili near the Warren, Rhossili Down, Worm's Head, Rhossili beach and coastal cliffs. Scenes fromTorchwood: Miracle Daywere filmed at theNational Trust'sOld Rectory cottage inRhossili Bay.[11][12][13]
Skinny dipping
[edit]On 19 June 2011, almost four hundred people attempted to break the world record for the largest number of peopleskinny dippingat one time in the sea at Rhossili.[14]
Further reading
[edit]- Musings of a Middleton Boy, An Autobiography of One Youngster's Life in Post-World War II Rural Wales, Growing Up on the Gower Coastby Cyril Jones, 2007 (ISBN9780595466580)(ISBN9780595705153)
- A Gower Family, The Lucases of Stouthall and Rhossili Rectory,by Robert Lucas, 2005 (ISBN1873295715)
- Rhossili, A Village Background ", by Robert Lucas, 2004 (ISBN0905928938)
- Rhossili: The Land, Landscape and People,by Leonard Beynon, 2008 (ISBN9780955170324)
- Edgar Evans of Gower (1876-1912), From Rhossili to the South Pole,by Gary Gregor, 2008 (ISBN9780902767430)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^A Guide to Gower,published by the Gower Society,ISBN0-902767-23-2
- ^Owen, Hywel Wyn; Morgan, Richard (2007).Dictionary of the Place-names of Wales(First ed.). Llandysul, Ceredigion: Gomer. p. 415.ISBN9781843239017.
- ^Williams, Nino (29 July 2019)."The sunflowers are back at Rhossili and they are looking stunning".walesonline.Retrieved26 August2019.
- ^"Call for people to stop picking beauty spot flowers".4 August 2019.Retrieved26 August2019.
- ^"London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony live".National Post. 27 July 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 9 December 2012.Retrieved24 June2020.
- ^"Wales beats Hawaii and Caribbean in beach poll".Travelmole. 18 March 2014.Retrieved19 June2013.
- ^"BBC News - Rhossili Bay, Gower, third best in Europe says TripAdvisor survey".Bbc.co.uk. 18 March 2014.Retrieved18 March2014.
- ^"Rhossili to Mewslade Bay".Wales Coast Path.Retrieved28 August2016.
- ^Evans Collection
- ^Rhossili Parish Church and the old Church in the Warrenby Robert Lucas, published by Rhossili Parochial Church Council, 2000.
- ^Foster, Chuck."Torchwood: News Roundup".The Doctor Who News Page.Retrieved27 January2011.
- ^Wright, Ben."Swansea-born Torchwood writer 'can't wait' to show off hometown in new BBC series".This Is South Wales.Retrieved26 January2011.
- ^Foster, Chuck."Torchwood: Week Three Filming".The Doctor Who News Page.Retrieved31 January2011.
- ^"Rhossili midsummer skinny dip organisers claim record".BBC News. 19 June 2011.
External links
[edit]
Media related toRhossiliat Wikimedia Commons
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