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ARTS, CULTURE & TOURISM
Castle Avenue, The Mumbles
Swansea SA3 4BA
OYSTERMOUTH CASTLE
Oystermouth Castle is a Norman stone castle
overlooking Swansea Bay on the east side of the
Gower Peninsula, close to the village of Mumbles.
The first castle, which was founded by William
de Londres of Ogmore Castle soon after 1106
following the capture of Gower by the Normans,
has witnessed a turbulent past. In 1116 the Welsh
of Deheubarth retook the Gower Peninsula and
forced William to flee his castle, which was put
to the torch. There are 600 castles in Wales, but
there aren’t many which come with a better view
than this one, overlooking the bay. Over recent
years the castle has undergone conservation work
to ensure the structure is safe and sustainable
for the foreseeable future. Now the public can
explore parts of the castle that have been hidden
away for centuries and learn about the site’s
exciting history, which has included no shortage
of bloodshed and turmoil.
SWANSEA MUSEUM
Victoria Road, The Maritime Quarter
Swansea, SA1 1SN
01792 653763
SWANSEA MUSEUM
Swansea Museum is a real treasure house of
the ordinary and the extraordinary from past and
present. The museum actually occupies four
locations: there is the museum itself on Oystermouth
Road, the tram shed in Dylan Thomas Square in
the marina, the Museum Stores in Landore and the
floating exhibits in the dock by the tram shed. The
oldest museum in Wales, it was completed in 1841.
The grade II listed building was commissioned by the
Royal Institution of South Wales, a group of art and
science enthusiasts, having been designed to house
the RISW’s array of collections as well as provide
research and learning facilities. Swansea Museum
now provides free access to six galleries with a
variety of exhibits from an ancient mummy’s tomb to
temporary exhibitions on current issues and modern
interests. Coupled with the marina section, which is
open during the summer, Swansea Museum makes
for a fascinating and enlightening family day out.
OYSTERMOUTH CASTLE
