Gower Villages
Gower villages each have their own unique character and all are worth
a visit during a stay in the area. The nearest village to our camp site
is Llangennith. This, like most of the Gower Villages, has a friendly
pub which serves delicious food as well as a wide variety of refreshments.
Other villages on the peninsula include:
Bishopston
Bishopston is a large village with a population of around 2,000. A
monastic settlement in the Dark Ages, the site grew to become a flourishing
centre for market gardening in later centuries. The village takes its
name from the fact that it was once owned by the Bishop of Llandaff.
Like many places in the area, Bishopston also has a Welsh name - Llandeilo
Ferwallt, which translates to the slightly longer 'The church of St.
Teilo at the top of the wooded valley near the bubbling brook'.
Barland Quarry, located 1km north of Bishopston, is now disused, but
large amounts of limestone have been quarried here in the past. The
area is now used mainly by climbers and cavers.
On the nearby Barland Common, evidence of the old Barland Castle is
still visible. This was the first medieval earthwork castle excavated
in the whole of Glamorgan and is now visible as a broad ditch protecting
a level platform some 25 metres across. During its excavation, several
pieces of glazed pottery, fragments of a leather shoe and a bronze ornamental
buckle were discovered. The site, unfortunately, lies on private land.
Burry Green
Burry Green is a quiet, quintessential North Gower hamlet. Like its
name suggests, the village possesses quite a large green and consists
otherwise of a few houses, a chapel (once the main focal point for North
Gower Methodists) and numerous farmsteads.
There is a small pond on the green which has become quite notorious
for its maverick geese - who have been known to launch more than the
odd unprovoked attack on unsuspecting admirers (this author included).
Cheriton
Cheriton (formerly known as Cherry Town) is one of the smallest hamlets
on the Gower peninsula and takes its name from a time, now long ago,
when cherry trees grew in abundance in the area. Its diminutive size,
however, belies the village's rich history and varied natural habitat.
It also possesses St. Cadoc's Church (around which most of the hamlet's
history revolves), which is generally accepted as the most beautiful
of Gower's many medieval churches.
A particular favourite walk from Cheriton, chosen from the many available
here to the enthusiastic rambler, can be followed from the stone style
located at the rear of the cottage opposite the church. From this old
style, the footpath leads through the length of Cheriton Valley, following
the Burry Pill stream [pic] (where otters used to frequent in their
search for trout), and passes the remains of several ancient and sunken
roads in what truly is a most beautiful and rewarding walk to Stembridge.
Crofty
There are two alternative views as to where Crofty derives its name.
Whilst some believe it takes its title simply from the fact that the
village once possessed many crofts, others are of the opinion that it
originates from an early reference to the locale - "y groft wrth y ty"
(meaning "the small field near the house"). A settlement of at least
a couple of families is believed to have existed here since the 14th
Century but Crofty only really grew as a true village in the latter
half of the 19th century when the land here began to be mined for its
numerous veins of coal. The original mining cottages built around this
time still exist on the downward slope of hill from Zoar Chapel to the
Morlais River and give the village its rural feel despite the huge sprawl
of modern housing estates that have sprung up around it. Mining now
part of Crofty's long history, the village is now chiefly known for
being the chief site of the North Gower cockling industry.
At the rear of the new housing estates of Crofty, at the edge of Crofty
Industrial Estate [pic], is an interesting man-made feature known as
Salthouse Point. Now a relic of its former self, Salthouse Point was
an important part of the shipping history of North Gower. During World
War II, when the army used the Burry Estuary as a practice range, gun
towers and artillery buildings were constructed on the Point. These
have only recently been demolished. Now, the stone construction is an
important habitat for wildlife. The salthouse that gave this feature
its name is believed to have once stood at the end of the point.
Horton
Horton, though separated by a rather substantial strech of sand and
rock, has always been associated with the neighbouring and larger village
of Port Eynon. The occupants of these two villages have lived, worked
and been buried side by side for centuries. That said, there are key
differentiating aspects betweenthe histories of Port Eynon and Horton
that led both places to develop their own unique characters.
Less dependant on the sea for its early industry that its bigger sister,
Horton developed primarily as an agricultural community. Until the 1950's,
the village was somewhat reknowned for the belief that every household
there kept at least one pig and that these animals held the primary
source of interest and conversation for the locals of Horton.
There are two main theories as to the origins of the village name.
The first is taken from the old English words Horu and Tun - meaning
muddy place. The second, perhaps more credible theory, is that the name
derives from Hoarton - meaning a grey place. Given that Horton is both
built upon and is surrounded by limestone and the village well is still
known as the Hoar Well it is understandable how this latter theory is
held the more superior of the two.
The village follows a lane that drops some 200 feet in less than 0.25
miles from its height to sea level.
Ilston
Ilston is one of the oldest villages on the Gower Peninsula. It is
also one of the most tranquil. St. illtyd's Church, with its massive
Norman tower, is the beigest feature of the village. The hamlet is tucked
amidst a beautifully wooded valley, through which runs the gently meandering
stream known locally as the 'Killy-Willy'. Following this stream through
the wooded valley may sometimes reward the walker with a rare glimpse
of the beautiful Kingfisher whilst an investigation of the stream itself
reveals Minnows, Bull Heads and Eels of modest to large size.
From St. Illtyd's Church, noting the huge yew tree which is as old
as the church itself, an excellent walk can be undertaken which leads
all the way down through Parkmill to Three Cliffs Bay. This walk passes
the remains of Wales' first Baptist Chapel. The ruins are celebrated
by a commemorative plaque which was unveiled by Lloyd George in 1928.
Access to the village requires some tight navigation through some very
narrow country lanes, which can require a little give and take with
oncoming traffic, especially in summer months when the whole of the
peninsula can become quite clogged with traffic.
Kittle
Kittle is a small village offering access to Pwlldu and Bishopston
Valley. The Village's main interest to holiday makers in Gower is its
local amenities shop which can provide refreshment en route to more
popular destinations. The remains of Backinstone Chapel are also reached
via the village. The Gower Society records the village as having a population
of 569.
Llangennith
The remote village of Llangennith, little served by local transport
and now mainly the haunt of surfers, was once the liveliest and most
notorious village on the Gower Peninsula. Weaving, music-making, prize-fighting
and cock-fighting were all prevalent here and most people in the village
were connected to smuggling in some form or another. Always first on
the scene of any local shipwreck, especially on Rhossili Bay, the village
seemed to be in perpetual feud with their neighbours over any booty
that might have found itself wrecked along the shorelines here.
Life in such a remote area as Llangennith produced an independent,
perhaps arrogant people who considered themselves apart, not only from
the rest of the peninsula, but from the rest of Britain as well. During
World War I, when the government decided to introduce the daylight saving
measure of putting clocks forward an hour during summer months, the
villagers here had to hold a public meeting to vote whether they should
follow suit. The outcome was that they should, but only on a one month
trial.
Up until fairly recent history, Llangennith used to hold the 'Mapsant'
- a 3 day celebration commencing each July 5th, St. Cennydd's Day. Lighting
a huge bonfire, people from all over Gower would gather to dance around
its flames, singing and dancing and drinking 'white pot' - a local drink
of flour, milk, currants and other ingredients boiled together in commemoration
of the milk that nurtured St. Cennydd from his 'titty bell'.
Near the village, some 600 metres from the church, stands the ruined
medieval village of Coety Green. Now abandoned and overgrown, the remains
of at least 6 houses can be seen scattered around the green.
The Gower Nightingale, Phil Tanner, the famed singer who spent many
an hour outside the King's Head public house practicing his art, is
buried in the churchyard as well as St. Cennydd himself, whose remains
are believed to lay somewhere beneath the church foundations.
The northern half of Rhossili Bay is referred to locally as the Llangennith
Sands and is popular with campers and surfers alike. Offering a fabulous
view over Rhossili, south to Worm's Head and north to Burry Holmes,
this is the best area on the whole of Gower for both surfing and wind-surfing,
and is the first place to pick up the swell of the Atlantic
Ocean before it drives through the Bristol Channel to the rest of the
Gower beaches. The remains of the paddle steamer "City of Bristol" is
a feature here - its metal carcass a continued memorial to the many
who lost their lives aboard when the ship grounded here in 1840.
Llanmadoc
A small and quiet village, Llanmadoc once supported both a bustling
weaving and farming community. Still resoundingly picturesque, Llanmadoc
of yesteryear must really have been a stunningly beautiful place in
which to wander and take in the scenery. Perhaps a little of how the
village once appeared can still be appreciated by visiting St. Fagan's
Museum of Welsh Rural Life, near Cardiff, as they removed both a wool
factory and a farmstead of the time from here to painstakingly reconstruct
it brick by brick for posterity on their grounds.
Climbing the ridge of Llanmadoc Hill - which affords excellent views
over the neighbouring hamlets of both Llanmadoc and Cheriton, as well
as holding a gorgeous panoramic sweep towards all four corners of the
Gower Peninsula - the strange earthwork construction known at the Bulwark
can easily be identified. This was an Iron Age hillfort enclosure (see
Castles) and is the second largest construction of its kind in Gower
(the largest being that of Cilifor, in Llanrhidian). Originally designed
to hold cattle and other livestock, the site was later adapted and fortified
to protect the entire community at times of war. Two further such earthwork
constructions can be visited at the height of another of Llanmadoc's
numerous hills, that of Harding's Down. Llanmadoc Hill itself also hold
at least 14 Bronze age cairns . Although many now lie broken and/or
overgrown, the Great Cairn still makes for quite an impressive sight.
Llanmorlais
Llanmorlais is a village settlement, spreading inland from the Burry
Estuary, and usually associated with Crofty. It is now home to the dwindling
cockling industry that is more familiarly linked with Penclawdd. Formerly
known as Glasmorleys and Glanmorlais, the village started life as a
small row of cottages along the Morlais stream. With the opening of
numerous coal pits, however, it was not long before the village grew
into quite a sizeable population.
Llanmorlais was the terminus of the North Gower Railway that ran from
here to Gowerton. Remains of the railway bed can still be traced in
the area but it is now largely overgrown. The area had a petrol station/village
shop until the close of the 20th Century. This was located at the Post
Office letter box which marks the start of the footpath to Crofty Park
(children's playground located on the estuary). The village has a small
Baptist chapel - Tirzah, located towards the centre of the locale.
Llanrhidian
Llanrhidian is one of Gower's larger parishes and up until the beginning
of the 20th century was famous for its large weaving industry. The remains
of one of its larger woollen factories, Staver Hagar, can be seen at
the end of the lane that stretches down to the marsh lands of the Burry
Estuary. The looms here were dismantled in 1904.
One of the more distinctive features of Llanrhidian are its two standing
stones - both positioned on the village green outside Llanrhidian Church.
The upper of these stones can easily be identified as the remains of
a Celtic Cross and a closer inspection will reveal traces of iron rods
embedded both at the bottom and at the top of the stone. It is believed
that this stone was once used as a village pillory.
The lower standing stone is of limestone and its history in Llanrhidian
is clearly recorded in the Parish register as being raised to its present
position on 8th April 1884. The 10-20 volunteers who undertook this
arduous task were each rewarded with a pint of beer in the Welcome to
Town public house across from the green.
The Welcome to Town was also the meeting place for the Gower United
Association for the Prosecution of Felons' annual dinner. This group
of land owners and farmers were responsible for the rewards offered
for the apprehension of local criminals. It disbanded in 892 after a
very quiet last 34 years of service - its last active case being that
of sheep stealing in 1856. The public house, now a restaurant, is reputed
to be haunted by the figure of a coachman, some of whom believe had
dealings with this society. He has been sighted on numerous occasions
occupying a table near the front window of this quiet establishment.
In an earlier century, at the foot of Llanrhidian, in one of the many
gulleys and channels that scour the marshland here, the sea vessel Scanderoon
Galley became grounded. The vessel carried a cargo of gold and, although
much of this was rescued at the time, it is believed that the silt here
still contains a veritable treasure trove of gold.
Of further interest in Llanrhidian is the now disused mill house which
can be found by following the lane down past The Dolphin public house
(now closed). Although no longer in operation, Nether Mill's millpond
still possesses much charm and its (broken) millstone can still be viewed
outside the building's eastern entrance.
Mumbles
Mumbles is a busy seaside resort that skirts the corner of coastline
that divides Swansea Bay from Gower. A tourist's haven, the area features:
- the magnificent Norman remains of Oystermouth Castle
- a Victorian pier, brimming with modern café and amusement
amenities
- two small and sheltered beaches - Bracelet Bay and Limeslade
- extensive shopping facilities, ranging from high-class boutiques
to craft galleries and gift shops
- sports and leisure activities, including fishing, waterskiing, sailing,
windsurfing, cycling, golf, bowls and tennis
- evening entertainment, from restaurants to ice-cream parlours and
wine bars to many, many pubs (the area contains an over 1.5 kilometre
long stretch of public houses along the seafront of Oystermouth, known
locally as "The Mumbles Mile"
- a full-range of exciting annual events, carnivals and sporting competitions
- commanding views eastwards over the coastal stretches of Swansea,
Neath, Port Talbot and Porthcawl and, during particularly clear conditions,
southwards to the coast of Devon.
The road, which hugged the sea all the way from Swansea, now veers
sharply from the coast at Limeslade, but for those who wish to explore
the finer delights this coastline has to offer the walker, a well maintained
footpath continues from this point westward all the way to the spectacular
land's end of Worm's Head.
An interesting feature in Mumbles is the Prince's Fountain, constructed
to celebrate the marriage of King Edward VII (then prince of Wales)
to Princess Alexandra of Denmarkon on March 10th 1863. With the village
having no real water supplies in those days, the fountain became a very
important feature of Mumbles.
Oxwich
Probably taking its name from the Scandinavian axwick,
meaning water creek, Oxwich is a small seaside village skirting the
western fringe of a 4km sweep of sandy bay. Once a port, exporting limestone
quarried from the headland of Oxwich Point, the village is now a quiet
hamlet, only really coming alive during the summer months when hordes
of tourists flock to the area's numerous holiday and caravan parks.
Despite these new features, Oxwich retains it anachronistic character
- a result of the village's location lying a good distance from any
main road or thoroughfare. The medieval church and castle still dominate
here as do the fine cottages that once housed the local quarry men.
One cottage inparticular has gained fame for its connections with the
preacher John Wesley [pic1] [pic2]. With much of its countryside now
being protected by its classification as a National Nature Reserve,
it is hoped that the timeless appeal offered by the village will continue
to delight many generations to come.
Oxwich Bay is backed by a combination of sand dunes, salt marsh, woodland
and cliffs, themselves backed by the imposing Old Red Sandstone hill
of Cefn Bryn - the backbone of Gower.
The area is a naturalist's haven, containing a variety of flora and
fauna rarely found in the U.K. Unfortunately, one species was completely
eradicated by the wreck of an oil tanker in 1945, its spillage ridding
the area entirely of the cockles that used to be gathered daily from
the shore. For more information on the natural history of Oxwich, there
is an excellent Information Centre located at the rear of the bay's
main carpark.
Penclawdd
An ever-sprawling village clinging to the southern fringe of the Loughor
Estuary, Penclawdd has a history perhaps richer than any other on the
Gower Peninsula. Famous for its association with cockling, an industry
which predominates today in the more westward village of Llanmorlais,
the village was once a port of some importance and its rather scarred
looking landscape has endured the ecological ravages of the coal mining
and copper-smelting industries.
The village today, however, is a much quieter place and affords the
visitor with fine views over the windswept northern coast of Gower and
over the estuary towards Llanelli and the county of Dyfed.
Penmaen
Dominated by Three Cliffs Nursing Home, a former workhouse, Penmaen
(meaning Stone Top) is little more than a small scattering of houses
along the main A4118 South Gower Road. Backed by the sharply rising
eastern slope of Cefn Bryn, it is a decorative village and, despite
its small size, is one of the richest archaeological sites on the whole
of the peninsula. It also offers some superb views over towards Pennard
Castle and Three Cliffs Bay.
Penmaen Burrows, located behind the village on the cliff top 200 feet
above Tor Bay, can appear a sparse wilderness of coarse grass and sand,
yet to the observant eye it contains important traces of Gower's ancient
heritage. To begin with there are the traces of a large artificial rabbit
warren. Known as the Pillow Mound, this was built when rabbits were
first introduced to Britain by Norman Invaders. Such warrens provided
the villagers with an important source of food and this is a fine relic
of early Norman farming in the area. Today, the site appears as a long,
low mound with accompanying shallow ditches.
Penmaen Church, dedicated to St John the Baptist, dates from 14th century
but is not the area's original church. The earlier church, like most
of the village's historic interest, was located on the Burrows and was
only discovered in 1861 after a fragment of painted glass was discovered
on a sand dune there. Excavated, the site revealed the remains of 9
skeletons, six of whom appeared to have been hastily buried in a single
grave. This has increased speculation that the area was vacated due
to the presence of the Plague. An incense burner, shaped in the image
of Jerusalem, was also found during the excavation and can now be seen
at Swansea Museum. A stone walled depression in the dunes is all that
remains of the church now but the building's Nave and Chancel can both
still be made out. Surrounding this early church, now also buried beneath
the sand dunes, are the remains of a very ancient village. Known as
Steadworlango, this village is believed to have to have been a Viking
settlement. Scant physical evidence now remains of the site.
Penmaen Old Castle, located on the cliff overlooking Tor Bay, is a
Norman defensive earthwork (of motte and bailey design) dating from
the 12th century. An excavation in 1960 revealed the remains of both
a stone and a timber building as well as evidence of a tower which had
been damaged by a great fire. Today, the site consists of a huge circular
bank of stone that is fronted by a deep ditch. Penmaen Old Castle is
the most accessible of Gower's ringworks.
Penmaen Megalithic Tomb, also known Pen-y-Crug, is a large communal
tomb of what is believed to be the first community to settle on the
peninsula some 5,500 years ago. The tomb was excavated in 1893 when
human and animal bones were found amongst various items of pottery.
Located high in the great spur of rock that rises from Tor Bay to the
raised heights of Penmaen Burrows are a small series of chambered passages
that lead deep into the cliff. Known as Leather's Hole, the bones of
both Mammoth and Rhinoceros have been discovered here. Given that this
cave is believed to have never possessed easy access, these bones must
have been carried into this cave by scavenging wolves and hyenas.
Pennard (Southgate)
Pennard, or Penard as some people title the locale, is the name generally
given to the geographical area that includes the large village of Southgate
(population 2000), and over 3 kilometres of National Trust cliffland
stretching from Pwlldu to Three Cliffs. Included in its boundary are
the medieval remains of a castle, and excavated Romano-British fort,
remnants of a village that was entirely abandoned in the early 16th
Century and some of the finest bone caves on the whole of the Gower
Peninsula.
The entire area here, as might well be expected with such a history,
is also rich in folklore and legends and is as famous for its tales
of fairies and ghosts and smuggling as it is for its fascinating archeological
finds and monuments. Its natural history, also, is as varied and splendid
as any other spot in Gower and boasts the fact that it is one of only
two sites in the whole of Britain where the Yellow Whitlow Grass, Draba
aizoides, grows wildly. The other site, also on the Gower Peninsula,
is at Mewslade.
The first points of interest in Pennard are located on the cliff top
overlooking Three Cliffs and Oxwich. The predominate feature here is
the gently rolling grassland of the large golf course, which must offer
the best scenery of any golf club in the country. Luckily, there are
several public footpaths that cross this immaculately kept course and,
keeping to these, the ruins of both the abandoned medieval village and
Pennard Castle are easily reached.
The original village and church were founded here but both had to be
deserted in the early 16th Century because of the gradual encroachment
of sand that had begun as early as the beginning of the 14th Century.
Unfortunately, there is only scant evidence of this early village remaining
today. Taking the approach across the golf course towards the picturesque
cliff top ruin of Pennard Castle, a low, rather ramshackled wall is
all that remains of the early church of St. Mary. Much of this building
was removed to be
incorporated into the new church when the village as a whole was relocated
further inland. This, and the holy well located beneath the castle,
which is said to have curative properties, are the sole remains of what
was a large and flourishing village community.
Rounding the cliff top, past Pennard Castle and the majestic sweep
of Three Cliffs valley and bay, the spectacular stretch of limestone
at Pennard Cliffs is reached. Within its length of 3.22km are a whole
string of significant bone caves, with two of them in particular probably
being the finest example of these archeological sites on the entire
peninsula.
For those not wishing to undertake the sometimes steep clamber down
the cliffs to explore these wonderful caves, Pennard Cliffs offer an
excellent cliff top walk with fine views over the Bristol Channel. Culminating
on the cliffs of Pwlldu Head, some 85 metres above the sea, are the
earth remains of High Pennard Promontory Fort.
Excavated in 1939 by Audrey Williams, the site yielded many interesting
discoveries. The site resides within 0.4 hectares of land and was occupied
in the late 1st and 2nd Centuries AD during the time of the Roman occupation
of Britain. The excavation centered on the inner rampart of the fort
where the remains of a timber gateway and guard hut were uncovered at
the entrance of the site. A gully, cut into the rock, was also discovered
and was found to have been used to channel water down into a pit where
it was collected as drinking water. Other finds at the site included
animal bones, shellfish remains, pottery and fragments of glass and
a clay spindle-whorl that indicates that weaving took place here. This
item can now be viewed at Swansea Museum.
Whilst looking over the Bristol Channel, it is interesting to note that
somewhere beneath the waves here is the grave of a World War II German
bomber - seen to hit here on the night of August 27th 1940, after taking
a direct hit from heavy anti-aircraft fire. It's crew of
four escaped alive and were later picked up by a naval patrol vessel.
With a tour of Pennard Cliffs complete, a rewarding walk can be undertaken
further inland towards Pennard Church and the farms of Great and Little
Highway, once the centre of Gower's great smuggling history.
Penrice
Penrice is almost a hidden village, tucked in the centre of a narrow,
plunging and meandering woodland lane. Little changed since the 18th
Century, the village population stands at around 50. Very quiet and
peaceful, it is difficult to imagine that this tiny hamlet was once
the centre of Gower commerce a few centuries ago.
Penrice once held as many as four annual fairs on its village green
as well as two weekly markets. Very rumbustuous and popular affairs,
these had to be later relocated to nearby Reynoldston when they outgrew
the green. The small stone that still lays embedded in the green is
known as the 'crying stone' as it was from this spot that the opening
of the markets and fairs were announced. The stone's original function
was to support the village cross but this disappeared sometime in the
18th Century.
Although small, there are several noteworthy features of the village.
St. Andrew's Church is a very picturesque building that is often over
run with local sheep and wildfowl. There is also an intriguing gravestone
near the entrance to the church that is known as the 'murder stone'.
The inscription on this stone is now worn with the passage of time but
is well worth a moment's deciphering as it recalls a true Gower mystery!
A large, if somewhat overgrown, Norman fortress earthwork can be seen
in the nearby Mounty Bank. This is a ringwork construction some 30 metres
wide, its raised oval platform protected by a deep encircling ditch.
Unfortunately the site is enclosed with private property. The remains
of a 16th cornmill, however, can be explored in Mill Wood. The mill
even retains three of its large millstones. For those with an interest
in war time history, a visit to the area's well preserved air raid shelter
will provide an interesting point of exploration. The shelter has recently
been recommended for protection as a monument of national importance.
Penrice Castle, located on the private land of Penrice Estate, is the
largest of the peninsula's Norman Castles. Although it cannot be explored,
there is a footpath that runs directly past this outstanding building.
This footpath dissects Penrice Estate and offers an otherwise forbidden
glimpse of the Penrice mansion, (pictured above) and the fabulous artificial
lake, now a well known heronry.
Penrice mansion was build circa 1775 by Thomas Mansel Talbot. The imposing
building was designed by the architect Anthony Keck, but is said to
contain much of Talbot's original ideas. The mansion, constructed of
Bath stone, took over six years to complete and has four storeys. Christopher
Methuen-Campbell demolished the mansion's Victorian wing in 1967/8 (an
1890's extension added by Emily Talbot) but the original concept of
the building's design still remains very much intact. The present day
owner and incumbant of Penrice Castle is Thomas Methuen-Campbell.
The large, formal estate is planted with some magnificent architectural
plants, much of which was planted from the Margam Estate and leaves
the rambler wishing that the estate as a whole could be opened to the
public.
There is also a fine granary, which is in a good state of preservation.
Port Eynon
The seaside village of Port Eynon takes its name from the Welsh Prince,
Einon ap Owain Hywel Dda, who invaded the peninsula in 970 a.d. The
village grew extensively through the 19th Century as people flocked
to the area to make a living from port Eynon's rich oyster beds, fishing
opportunities and quarrying work.
The Bristol Channel was once famed for having the richest oyster beds
in the whole of the U.K. and Port Eynon was one of the industry's capitals
in the 19th Century. This brought a lot of ships into port Eynon and
explains the prefix 'Port' in the village's name. The height of this
industry at port Eynon was the 1830's and 1840's but Oyster dredging
continued here until 1879. With the depletion of the oyster beds, however,
many families dependant on the industry for a living left the village
to move to Mumbles and Oystermouth - where Oyster fishing continued
well into the following century.
Today, this picturesque - though very tourist-orientated - village
is far quieter - though the hundreds of campers who holiday here each
summer disguise the usual calm that settles over the village for the
majority of the year.
Reynoldston
Reynoldston, named after an early 12th Century Norman Lord - Reginald
de Braose - is Gower's most central village. Dominated by the grand
sweeping landscape of Cefn Bryn, the village itself has existed since
as early as the 6th Century a.d. and was a popular place of residence
given its rich source of springs and wells that provided year round
fresh drinking water.
Of particular note in the village are St. George's Church, the ancient
public house of the king Arthur Hotel and Stouthall.
Rhossili
Positioned at the root of the Downs, halfway between the villages of
Rhossili and Llangennith, on an ancient raised shoreline plateau, is
the Old Rectory, an isolated cottage complete, if legend is to be held
true, with ghosts and other apparitions that go bump in the night.
At the most westerly end of the bay and breaking entirely from it at
high tide, is the grassy promontory of Worm's Head, the Gower Peninsula's
very own 'Land's End'. Lying like a serpent sliding out from the mainland
into the icy depths of the Atlantic, the islet is one of the most curious
natural features along the length of the entire Welsh coastline.
Inland, perhaps the most distinctive feature of Rhossili village is
its complete lack of trees. With the salty spray of the ocean and the
prevailing winds that soar from the Atlantic and scour and tear at all
it meets, the only tree that has stood here within living memory was
that of an ancient and giant ash. And that only managed to survive by
growing on its side and flat to the ground.
On such days of inclemency, when the elements conspire against an exploration
down the long 200 foot descent to the beach or up to the dizzying heights
of Rhossili Downs, the unbounded pleasure the Rhossili landscape can
relay to the senses, can be appreciated from the welcoming warmth and
comfort of a traditional hotel.
Scurlage
Situated at the main junction of Rhossili and Port Eynon on the B4247
is the village of Scurlage. It was during the 14th century that Sir
Herbert Scurlage, who was related by marriage to the Mansel family,
built a fortified Manor House known as Scurlage Castle or 'Scorlayges
Kaestel' approximately a quarter a mile away from the village. It was
common practice in these times for those families wealthy enough to
own quantities of land to need to fortify their grounds and protect
them with force - the Gower castles of Oxwich, Landimore and Weobley
are similar constructions. However, Scurlage Castle has not survived
the ravages of time and, today, is nothing more than the site of a farm.
During World War II, the village became host to an American Army camp
- the Forces being attracted to the region by its proximity to the beaches
of Oxwich, Port Eynon and Rhossili. These were all seen as being perfect
for troops to stage practice landings as they closely resembled the
beaches of Normandy. To this day, the lane from Scurlage down to Oxwich
(off the A4118) is still referred to by many locals as American Road.
After the invasion of Normandy in 1944, the camp was used to secure
Italian prisoners of war.
Modern day Scurlage is home to a large housing estate, a sports club,
a strawberry farm, a public house and a medical centre.
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