2. Introduction
I wanted to do this project because Morriston has special memories for
me. We didn’t need expensive toys to keep us happy we just used our
imagination.
I did a survey on Morriston to see if anyone had any knowledge about
the area, I was very surprised, at how little people knew about
Morriston.
Knowledge of Morriston
A Lot
Some Things
Nothing
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Morris Castle (also known as Castle Graig) a ruined
building that is situated off Trewyddfa Road .It has been known as
Morris Castle, Llewellyn Castle and Castle Graig.
It was built between 1768 and 1774 on behalf of Sir John Morris to
house the families of workers at his industrial copperworks it was
known as a modern day housing flats...
The building originally consisted of four interconnected towers, each
four stories tall.
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3. The towers were connected by blocks which were three stories tall,
surrounding a central courtyard. A fierce storm on 25th January 1990
destroyed a large section of the ruin it lost its east wall in a hurricane; a
gust reduced one of the towers to rubble. Today, the structure is
derelict, with only partial remains of two towers still standing, although
several features of the building can still be seen, including the
fireplaces, chimneys, and some of the windows.
History of Morriston
Morriston is famous for John Morris
who came from Shropshire to
Swansea in 1726.
Sir John Morris, 1st Baronet (15 July
1745 – 25 June 1819) He was the son
of Robert Morris a farmer from
Shropshire. Morris came to Swansea
to start a copper works. He built the
initial streets of Morris Town which is now known as Morriston.
In 1806 became a Baronet, of Clasemont in the County of Glamorgan.
It is known for its coal, copper tin-plate, slate, brick.
Morriston Churches
The Tabernacle and St John’s were both built by John Humphrey's are
Grade I listed buildings.
The Philadelphia and Seion both are Grade II listed buildings.
St David Sacred Heart
Salvation Army Pentremalwed
St John’s (grade I listed) Tabernacle (grade I listed)
Libernus Philadelphia (grade II listed)
Horeb Chapel Seion (grade II listed)
Soar Gospel Tent
Bethanial Carmel Chapel
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4. Copperworks
The copperworks was founded in 1810 it was designed by John Vivian.
It was one of the largest copper exports in the UK in the the middle of
the 19th century and also produced navel brass, ferro bronzes, lead
ingots, spelter, silver, gold, sulphuric acid, zinc chloride and
superphospate.
Canals and Railways
Photo by Gareth Mills
In the late 1950’s, there was a train line that went from Swansea via
Landore to Morriston. It also had a canal that was pulled by horse
power.
The train and canal line were side by side. The train line was disused
in 1963. The canal was filled in around mid 1970’s.
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5. When I was young I lived in Morris Street which had a bridge going
over the train track and canal it was dangerous, because some small
children would fall into the canal (see picture on next page down) It
was filled in about mid 1970’s.
We used to collect train numbers over the wall by the train track and
canal, all the trains were steam engine ones and we waved to the
passengers aboard.
We used to play in an old scrap yard, which we called “The 600”. This
was a shortened nickname that we called the site, after the scrap yard
company, The 600 Group. We also used rooftops of vans that were
cut out from old cars, vans and ambulances. We turned the rooftops
upside down, put milk crates as seats and planks of wood for oars to
make canoe have to sail down the canal. We had hours of fun!
Along the River Tawe there was a sandy inlet which we called
Cockleshell Island. Many a hot summer’s days were spent there,
swimming in the river and picnics in the cove.
One time when we were younger, my brother came home from school
and told me about a haunted house in Wychtree Street two streets
away from where I lived. We went along to have a look, myself, Ros
my friend, my brother Michael and my cousin Alan. The middle room of
this big house had a piano and a large chest of drawers.
Every day my brother would go to school and tell his mates about this
haunted house. Ros and I would go and hide inside the drawers and
wait.
We waited for my brother and his friends to play the piano, as they did
with my fingers I would slide the drawer above me to open it.
All the kids would run out of the house screaming. When they returned
to school the next day and they would tell everyone about this house is
haunted.
Every day more and more people would visit the house, this went on
for about six months as the crowds, got bigger and bigger, the
neighbours complained to the police and the house was boarded.
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6. Even my parents and auntie knew what we were up to. To this day it is
still always talked about and one of the best things in our memories!
Photo by Gareth Mills
If you look at the bridge part going over the canal you can see how
dangerous it was for small children to fall into the canal.
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7. Morriston
orristonians
Famous Morristonians
John Morris was responsible for Morris Castle 1768-1774.
Morriston is famous for The Morriston Orpheus Choir- The choir was
formed in 1935. They performed at the London Palladium with Harry
Secombe in1957. .
John Morris (Copperworks & Castle Graig)
William Richard Arnold - Welsh rugby.
Anthony Clement – Welsh rugby.
Cliff Bowen – Welsh rugby.
Richard and Paul Moriaty – Welsh rugby.
Shane Williams – Welsh Rugby. International 2008.
James Thomas – Welsh International & Swansea AFC.
Hayley Tullet – International athlete.
Ceri Phillips – Actor and stand up.
Jeremy Rees – Welsh broadcaster.
Dewi Morris – Welsh comedian, actor and television personality
D. Z. Phillips – Philosopher of Religion.
Desmond Barrit – Actor and Choir he was given the Laurence Olivier
Award best known for his stage work Royal Shakespeare Company,
Chichester Festival Theatre and the Grand Theatre, Swansea.
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8. Lan Manor
William Thomas of Lan
Manor, otherwise known
as ‘Thomas the Lan’,
became the Major of
Swansea in 1877. He
was widely regarded for
his services to public life
in the mid and late
1800s
My uncle lived in Lan
Manor in the 60’s. My
father was a builder and
did a lot of building work
for my uncle. They lived
at the back of the house.
The front part was used
as letting rooms. This
part of the house had a
big sweeping stairway
and rooms at the top
had views of Morriston
with Tabernacle Chapel
standing out in the
background.
Photo by Alberta Stevens
I have a lot of fond
memories of staying there on week-ends. I did not know the history
behind Lan Manor until I was doing some research for my project.
Lan Manor was at the top of a very steep hill in the past. We had a
very bad winter in 1963 we had a very bad winter and the snow was
over my head. We could not get down the hill to go home so five of us
sat on a tin sheet panel and slid down the hill.
Today there is a smaller, not so steep hill there.
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9. Old Tram Lines
During the 1900’s they had a tram that came along Woodfield Street
around St John’s Church down Martin Street going all the way to
Swansea’s High Street.
Photo by Alberta Stevens
Memories
We used to have a milkman who delivered our milk on a horse and cart
until he retired. His name was Cecil and his dairy was in Glantawe
Street.
My grandmother was from Slate Street.
I remember the Regal Cinema on Woodfield Street. I saw many films
there. This cinema is where my mum met my dad.
It was demolished in 1963. Woolworth’s and Boot’s are there now.
Woolworth’s was at the other end of Woodfield Street, near St John’s
church until it was demolished to make way for the new one.
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10. While I was doing my research for this project I found another cinema
in Morriston. It was called the Gem and was on Sway Road, opposite
The Lamb and Flag by the Police Station. It is a tyre and car repairs
shop now.
The fire station was in Martin Street then. It is now at the bottom of
Chemical Road.
My grandmother’s brother (Ozzie Hopkins) was a teacher at
Pentrepoeth Senior School, later he became a Deputy Head Master
until he retired in the 1960’s. I’m not sure what he taught, it may have
been Geography because I remember him helping Mr Harris the P.E.
teacher with the Rugby classes.
He lived on Clasemont Road until he died in the 60’s. Also my uncle
Jimmy was also a teacher there he took Geography there until 1970
when it closed. His wife Christine (Ozzie’s daughter) was also a
teacher, I think they moved to Ireland, where Christine continued her
teaching.
Sources
Desmond Barrit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Swansea Docks-Swansea Canal page 2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Castle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=famous+
people+from+morriston+swansea&sourceid=Mozilla-search
Photographs credited to Alberta Stevens and
Morriston Camera Club
Photographs credited to Gareth Mills.
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