Swansea Market- a great alternative to the High Street

Nowadays, we are reminded more and more that we should be eating food that is farmed and produced locally.

In an age where supermarkets are taking over, it is vital to support local traders in order to preserve not only jobs, but community spirit.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Swansea Market is still increasingly popular with locals today as it was 100 years ago, in despite of the amount of chain shops and supermarkets that threaten its existence.

Map of the market by Alicia Nugent

The centre of the hustle and bustle by Alicia Nugent

Gwyneth Morgan has lived in Swansea all of her life and regularly visits the market for many reasons: “I’ve always shopped in Swansea Market because of the layout of the place and because of the selection of food that is there- a lot of it is fresh and locally farmed”.

She added: “The stalls are nice and clean and the ambience is very good. “The market people are very helpful and very solicitous and always ready to help you.”

Freshly caught fish by Alicia Nugent

The swansea speciality- cockles and laverbread by Alicia Nugent

Swansea Market has a rich history which can be pinpointed back to almost a thousand years ago, when traders would sell livestock and products around the castle walls.

Over time, the market moved and expanded until in found its permanent home in Oxford street, until it was bombed in World War 2.

Gwyneth remembers the impact that this had on the market: “I remember it being bombed during the Second World War.

“That was devastating for Swansea because it was the main hub of gossip and meeting friends and lots of things like that.”

She also remembers how it differed from how it is nowadays: “There were big arches there at one time, and there were cockle women at the gates selling cockles in baskets and laverbread and eggs, things like that and it wasn’t covered, just sheltered with little awnings.”

Flower stand by Alicia Nugent

Shoppers browse the stalls by Alicia Nugent

As well as selling traditional, local welsh food products, the market is home to many other stalls selling anything from clothes to haberdashery, to books to pet supplies.

The current covered market building has been open since 1961, after it was rebuilt after the war, and still continues to be a busy and popular shopping destination for shoppers from all over south Wales.

See below for full interview about Swansea Market with Gwyneth Morgan:

What does Swansea have to offer?

St David’s Day 2014 has seen the launch of a new set of television adverts from Visit Wales, encouraging people to choose the country as the destination of a short break or holiday.  Accompanied by a Welsh lullaby sung by Cerys Matthews, the advert showcases picturesque images of some of the best things that Wales has to offer, including Caernarfon Castle in Snowdonia, biking in Gethin Woodlands in the South Wales Valleys and dolphin spotting on the coast of Ceredigion.

But imagine if the tourist board were making an advert about Swansea. What do we have to offer potential tourists to the city?  According to research conducted by Swansea Council, in 2012, Swansea received over 4.1million visitors to the area, many of which are from other places in the UK and others as far afield as America and Australia.

 

Here are just a few of the city’s best offerings based on what tourists and residents have said:

Swansea Bay By Alicia Nugent

 

Rhossili Beach

Rhossili beach on the Gower coast is so impressive that it has not only been voted the number one beach in the UK, it has been voted the ninth best beach in the whole WORLD according to a poll conducted by TripAdvisor.  If that doesn’t warrant a visit, what does!?

Charlotte Williams who studied at Swansea University, loves visiting Rhossilli and the other beaches in Gower as “the coastal paths are especially pretty in the summer”.  Hayley Parker, also a former student  agrees, and said “I love being outdoors and near the sea, so I really enjoy going to Rhossili.”

Along with the rest of the Gower coast, Rhossili was declared an outstanding area of natural beauty back in 1956 and is extremely popular with surfers and water sports enthusiasts.  The beach is also home to a shipwreck dating back to 1887, which is still visible during low tide. Although most people would associate visiting a beach with summer time, a visit on a crisp winter’s day  is equally as appealing provided you wrap up warm!

 

The LC

Described as ‘South Wales’ premier attraction, the LC is a leisure centre situated in the centre of Swansea and is home to Wales’ biggest indoor water park.  The centre which is an ideal rainy-day destination, was re-opened in 2008 by the Queen after it received a £32 million makeover.  The LC has a variety of different pools and slides and even features the ‘Boardrider’- a continuous wave simulator which enables thrill-seekers to body board or practise their surfing.

The LC indoor waterpark By Alicia Nugent

Birthplace of Dylan Thomas- 5 Cwmdonkin Drive

The house where Dylan Thomas was born, is nestled amongst the back streets of The Uplands and has been restored to what it would have originally looked like when the poet lived there.  You can organise a tour of the house and even hire it to be used as accommodation whilst you are in the city. In addition, regular events are held in the house and you can even have an ‘evening dinner’ catered for in the comfort of Dylan’s very own dining room.

‘A man of words’ – The birth place of Dylan Thomas’ By Alicia Nugent

Dylan Thomas’ house in Uplands, Swansea By Alicia Nugent

 

The National Waterfront Museum

The National Waterfront Museum blends historical artefacts with new cutting edge technology to tell the story of industry and innovation in Wales during the past 300 years.

Part of the museum is dedicated to the types of transport and machinery that were used throughout the last three decades.  Many of the items exhibited were actually invented and pioneered in Wales, whilst other items on display were developed elsewhere in the world but contributed greatly to Welsh industry.

In addition to the permanent articles on display, there are also temporary exhibitions and events organised throughout the year.

National Waterfront Museum By Alicia Nugent

Wind street

Something for the youngsters, or at least the young at heart!  This is where you will find the majority of the city centres’ bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants. The street comes alive at night, especially during the weekend and on a Wednesday which is extremely popular with students.

Catrin Williams, a student from Swansea said:  “I always have a good night when I go to Wind Street as there are so many bars and clubs to choose from.  There is always a great atmosphere.”

Some of the establishments on Wind Street have had many different uses over the years and it is not until you pay a visit during the day that you can appreciate the grandness and beauty of some of the buildings.

Above:A quieter Wind Street during the day Below: a gallery of other places of interest in Swansea. By Alicia Nugent

Joe’s Ice cream parlour By Alicia Nugent

Swansea Museum By Alicia Nugent

The Meredian Tower By Alicia Nugent

Oystermouth Castle By Alicia Nugent

Swansea Marina By Alicia Nugent

Click here for a detailed map of where you can find all of the above places.  

Memories of Swansea ‘shared’ online

Swansea residents have been taking a keen interest in their in their local culture and heritage through the emergence of online forums on social media pages, which look back the city’s achievements- which include having the world’s first passenger railway system and being the birthplace of poet and playwright Dylan Thomas.

A Facebook page called ‘So You Think you Know Swansea’ has sprung up and asks users to post both old and new photos, and to discuss and share memories of the city.

The site which has gained thousands of members in next to no time, has often proven itself to be a source of local news and gossip, with members going slightly off topic and indulging in speculation about incidents and news stories, which at times, have yet to even reach the news desk of the press.

Sitting pretty: One of the old trams used on the Mumbles Railway in its new home in The Tram Shed, which is part of Swansea Museum. Photo by Alicia Nugent

Louise John, 49, a member of the group, joined in order to find out more about the heritage of the city where she lives.

She said: “For me, the site has been a real eye-opener about what a rich history we have here in Swansea.

“I find it fascinating to look at old photos that get posted on the page because normally so many people comment and share their personal memories that are related to the image.”

History forum pages are not exclusive to Swansea, with copycat groups popping up across the country.  An increase in the number of local history books that have been recently published also reflects the interests of those who use the forums, as in addition to theses and academic journals, there are a large number of pictorial books full of images and ‘reminisces’.

Literature: An example of some of the books available about Swansea. Photo by Alicia Nugent

Whilst these factors make it look like there is an increase in people immersing themselves in their local history, a representative of The British Association for Local History (BALH) said that the interest “is far from new”.

She added that local history “has long been fostered by local societies, the Workers Education Association and schools of continuing education or lifelong learning, formerly known as University Extra-Mural Departments’”.

History societies have been existed in Swansea since the nineteenth century with the membership of most still going strong today.  These groups often produce a professionally-published journal or a newsletter, enabling the results of their research to reach a wider audience.

In recent years, The Heritage Lottery fund has also allowed an increase in the number of local projects such as digital archives, heritage centres and exhibitions.  In turn, more and more resources have become available for those wanting to find out more about the place where they come from.

Although there are the resources mentioned above and so many more such as photo galleries and museums, not all members of the public have the time to dedicate to research.  Until then, Facebook groups are proving to be the perfect way for many to dip in and out of history within the comfort of their own homes and will hopefully encourage the younger generation to become more involved in local history.

Many thanks to the West Glamorgan Archives and the British Association for Local History.