Europe, British Isles, South East Wales, Gower Peninsula Glamorganshire
Gower Peninsula Glamorganshire is in Glamorganshire.
Europe, British Isles, South East Wales, Gower Peninsula Glamorganshire, Arthur's Stone Burial Chamber [Map]
Arthur's Stone Burial Chamber is also in Prehistoric Wales Neolithic Burials.
Arthur's Stone [Map] is a Neolithic Burial Chamber. Also known as Maen Ceti.
Wales Illustrated North Wales. Arthur's Stone Burial Chamber [Map].
Archaeologia Volume 23 1831 Appendix. "Arthur's Stone [Map]," a Cromlech in the district of Gower. January 27, 1831. Extract of a Letter from Alfred John Kempe, Esq. F.S.A. to Henry Ellis, Esq. Secretary.
Europe, British Isles, South East Wales, Gower Peninsula Glamorganshire, Goat's Hole aka Paviland Cave [Map]
Around 30,000BC. A male dyed in red ochre was buried at the Goat's Hole aka Paviland Cave [Map]. As a consequence of his being believed to have been a woman he became known as the Red Lady of Paviland.
At the time of the burial the cave would have been around 110km from the sea.
The burial has been subjects to Radio Carbon dating several times:
In the 1960s Kenneth Oakley published a radiocarbon determination of 18,460 ± 340 BP.
Results published in 1989 and 1995 suggest that the individual from the cave lived about 26,000 years ago (26,350 ± 550 BP, OxA-1815).
A 2007 examination by Thomas Higham of Oxford University and Roger Jacobi of the British Museum suggested a dating of 29,000 years ago. A recalibration of the results in 2009 suggest an age of 33,000 years. See Jacobi, R. M and Higham, T. F. G: "The 'Red Lady' ages gracefully: New Ultrafiltration AMS determinations from Paviland", Journal of Human Evolution, 2008.
In Jan 1823 William Buckland, Professor of Geology at Oxford University, discovered the remains of the Red Lady of Paviland Burial whilst conducting an archaeological dig at Goat's Hole aka Paviland Cave [Map].
Reliquiæ Diluvianæ. The seventh and last case that has occurred in this country is that of another discovery recently made on the coast of Glamorganshire, fifteen miles west of Swansea, between Oxwich Bay and the Worms Head, on the property of C. M. Talbot, Esq. It consists of two large caves facing the sea, in the front of a lofty cliff of limestone, which rises more than 100 feet perpendicularly above the mouth of the caves, and below them slopes at an angle of about 40° to the water's , edge, presenting a bluff and rugged shore to the waves, which are very violent along this north coast of the estuary of the Severn. These caves are altogether invisible from the land side, and are accessible only at low water, except by dangerous climbing along the face of a nearly precipitous cliff, composed entirely of compact mountain limestone, which dips north at an angle of about 45°. One of them only (called Goats Hole [Map]) had been noticed when I arrived there, and I shall describe it first, before I proceed to speak of the other. Its existence had been long known to the farmers of the adjacent lands, as well as the fact of its containing large bones, but it had been no farther attended to till last summer, when it was explored by the surgeon and curate of the nearest village, Port Inon, who discovered in it two molar teeth of elephant, and a portion of a large curved tusk, which latter they buried again in the earth, where it remained till it was extracted a second time, on a further examination of the cave in the and of December last by L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. and Miss Talbot, and removed to Penrice Castle, together with a large part of the skull to which it had belonged, and several baskets full of other teeth and bones. On the news of this further discovery being communicated to me, I went immediately from Derbyshire to Wales, and found the position of the cave to be such as I have above described; and its floor at the mouth to be from 30 to 40 feet above high-water mark, so that the waves of the highest storms occasionally dash into it, and have produced three or four deep rock basins in its very threshold, by the rolling on their axis of large stones, which still lie at the bottom of these basins (see Plate XXI. h h.); around their edge, and in the outer part of the cave itself, are strewed a considerable number of sea pebbles, resting on the native limestone rock. The floor of the cave ascends rapidly from its mouth inwards to the furthest extremity (see Plate XXI. and description), so that the pebbles have not been drifted in beyond twenty feet, or about one-third of its whole length; in the remaining two-thirds no disturbance by the waters of the present sea appears ever to have taken place, and within this point at which the pebbles cease, the floor is covered with a mass of diluvial loam of a reddish yellow colour, abundantly mixed with angular fragments of limestone and broken calcareous spar, and interspersed with recent sea-shells, and with teeth and bones of the following animals, viz. elephant, rhinoceros, bear, hyaena, wolf, fox, horse, ox, deer of two or three species, water-rats, sheep, birds, and man. I found also fragments of charcoal, and a small flint, the edges of which had been chipped off', as if by striking a light. I subjoin a list of the most remarkable of the animal remains, most of which are preserved in the collection at Penrice Castle, and the Museum at Oxford.
Elephant. Head broken into numerous fragments, the sockets of the tusks being nearly entire, and six inches in diameter, and very long.
One large portion of tusk, nearly two feet long, and five inches and a half in diameter.
One large portion of diseased tusk, and many very small fragments of decayed ivory.
Two molar teeth entire, fragments of two others.
Part of the epiphysis of the humerus.
Large fragments of the ribs.
Splinters of large cylindrical bones of the legs.
Rhinoceros. A tooth resembling the incisor of the upper jaw.
One fragment of upper molar tooth.
One large bone of the carpus.
Two phalangal bones of the toe.
Horse. Many teeth and fragments of bones.
Hog. One upper incisor, apparently modern.
Bear. Many molar teeth, two large canine ditto.
One fragment of lower jaw, and the anterior portion or chin part of two other lower jaws firmly anchelosed, and exhibiting the sockets of the incisor teeth and of both tusks; the latter are more than three inches deep, and equal in size to the largest from the caves of Germany.
One humerus, of the same large size, nearly entire.
Many vertebrae, equally large.
Two ossa calcis, and many large bones of the metacarpus and metatarsus.
Hyaena. Lower extremity of the left humerus.
Fox. Lower extremity of the femur.
Wolf. One lower jaw.
One os calcis.
Several metacarpal bones.
Ox. Many teeth.
Two lumbar vertebrae.
One femur, and many entire bones of the foot, and fragments of larger bones.
Deer. One skull, large as the red deer, but of a different species.
Fragments of various horns, some small, others a little palmated, one approaching to that of the roe.
Many teeth, and fragments of bones.
Bat. One skeleton, nearly entire, of a small water-rat, or
Large field-mouse, probably postdiluvian.
Birds. Single bones of small birds, all recent.
Man. Portion of a female skeleton, clearly postdiluvian.
Fragments of many recent bones of ox and sheep, apparently the remains of human food.
Reliquiæ Diluvianæ. Vertical section of the cave of Goat Hole at Paviland [Map], in the sea cliff 15 miles west of Swansea, in Glamorganshire.
Note A. Mouth of the cave, at the base of a nearly vertical cliff, facing the sea, and accessible only at low water, except by dangerous climbing.
Note B. Inner extremity of the cave, where it becomes so small, that a dog only can go further, and apparently ending at a short distance within B.
Note C. Body of the cave. Its length from A. to B. is about 60 feet, the breadth from C. to D. (in the plan, fig. 2,) is about 20, the height of the cave from 25 to 30 feet.
Note D. (In the section) irregular chimney-like aperture, ascending from the roof of the cave, and terminating in the nearly perpendicular cliff at K.; it is too small for the entire carcase of an elephant to have passed down through it.
Note E. Bottom of the cave, to which the sea water never reaches; this part is covered over with a loose mass of argillaceous loam and fragments of limestone, of diluvial origin, about six feet deep, which has been much disturbed by ancient diggings, and through which are dispersed the bones and teeth. The elephant's head, and human skeleton, are marked in the spot in which they were actually found.
Note F. Mass of the same materials as E., but less disturbed, and overhanging E. with a small cliff, five feet high, in which were found two elephant's teeth. This mass, though less disturbed than E., has been dug over before, and extends into the small hole within B.; it contains dispersed through it, particularly near B., recent sea shells and pebbles: at this place also it is firmly united by stalagmite, which rarely occurs in any other part of the cave.
G. Loose sea pebbles, strewed in small quantity over the floor of the cave near its mouth, and washed up only by the waves of the highest storms.
H. Rock basins, three feet deep, produced by friction of the large pebbles, which still lie in them.
I. Naked limestone of the floor of the cave, forming the line within which the waves appear never to enter, and separating the sea pebbles without, from the diluvial loam and angular fragments that form the loose breccia within it.
K. Upper termination of the chimney-shaped aperture in the face of the naked cliff.
Europe, British Isles, South East Wales, Gower Peninsula Glamorganshire, Loughor [Map]
Loughor [Map], aka Leucarum, is where the Roman Road Via Julia crossed the River Loughor.
The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through Wales: Book 1 Chapter 9. Thence we proceeded towards the river Lochor,86 through the plains in which Howel, son of Meredyth of Brecheinoc, after the decease of king Henry I., gained a signal victory over the English. Having first crossed the river Lochor, and afterwards the water called Wendraeth,87 we arrived at the castle of Cydweli [Map].88 In this district, after the death of king Henry, whilst Gruffydd son of Rhys, the prince of South Wales, was engaged in soliciting assistance from North Wales, his wife Gwenliana (like the queen of the Amazons, and a second Penthesilea) led an army into these parts [1136 Battle of Kidwelly]; but she was defeated by Maurice de Londres, lord of that country, and Geoffrey, the bishop's constable.89 Morgan, one of her sons, whom she had arrogantly brought with her in that expedition, was slain, and the other, Malgo, taken prisoner; and she, with many of her followers, was put to death. During the reign of king Henry I., when Wales enjoyed a state of tranquillity, the above-mentioned Maurice had a forest in that neighbourhood, well stocked with wild animals, and especially deer, and was extremely tenacious of his venison. His wife (for women are often very expert in deceiving men) made use of this curious stratagem. Her husband possessed, on the side of the wood next the sea, some extensive pastures, and large flocks of sheep. Having made all the shepherds and chief people in her house accomplices and favourers of her design, and taking advantage of the simple courtesy of her husband, she thus addressed him: "It is wonderful that being lord over beasts, you have ceased to exercise dominion over them; and by not making use of your deer, do not now rule over them, but are subservient to them; and behold how great an abuse arises from too much patience; for they attack our sheep with such an unheard-of rage, and unusual voracity, that from many they are become few; from being innumerable, only numerous." To make her story more probable, she caused some wool to be inserted between the intestines of two stags which had been embowelled; and her husband, thus artfully deceived, sacrificed his deer to the rapacity of his dogs.
Note 86. Lochor, or Llwchwr [Map], was the Leucarum mentioned in the Itineraries, and the fifth Roman station on the Via Julia. This small village is situated on a tide-river bearing the same name, which divides the counties of Glamorgan and Caermarthen, and over which there is a ferry. "Lochor river partith Kidwelli from West Gowerlande." - Leland, Itin. tom. v. p. 23. [The ferry is no more. The river is crossed by a fine railway bridge.]
Note 87. Wendraeth, or Gwen-draeth, from gwen, white, and traeth, the sandy beach of the sea. There are two rivers of this name, Gwendraeth fawr [Map], and Gwendraeth fychan, the great and the little Gwendraeth, of which Leland thus speaks: "Vendraeth Vawr and Vendraith Vehan risith both in Eskenning commote: the lesse an eight milys of from Kydwelli, the other about a ten, and hath but a little nesche of sand betwixt the places wher thei go into the se, about a mile beneth the towne of Kidwely."
Note 88. Cydweli [Map] was probably so called from cyd, a junction, and wyl, a flow, or gushing out, being situated near the junction of the rivers Gwendraeth fawr and fychan; but Leland gives its name a very singular derivation, and worthy of our credulous and superstitious author Giraldus. "Kidwely, otherwise Cathweli, i.e. Catti lectus, quia Cattus olim solebat ibi lectum in quercu facere:- There is a little towne now but newly made betwene Vendraith Vawr and Vendraith Vehan. Vendraith Vawr is half a mile of." - Leland, Itin. tom. v. p. 22.
Note 89. The scene of the battle [1136 Battle of Kidwelly] fought between Gwenllian and Maurice de Londres is to this day called Maes Gwenllian [Map], the plain or field of Gwenllian; and there is a tower in the castle of Cydweli still called Tyr Gwenllian. [Maes Gwenllian [Map] is now a small farm, one of whose fields is said to have been the scene of the battle.]
Around 1800 John Vivian of Truro (age 50) moved from Truro in Cornwall to Swansea in South Wales and assumed the post of managing partner in the copper works at Penclawdd and Loughor [Map] owned by the Cheadle Brasswire Company of Staffordshire.
Archaeologia Volume 23 1831 Appendix. In the adjoining parish to Llanridian, in which Arthur's stone is placed, is the Leucarum [Map]g of Antoninus, now Lywchwr or Lloughor [Map], a corporate town decayed to two straggling hamlets. Here is a ferry over the river Burry or Lloughor, into Caermarthenshire. On a steep mount near the river, is the small square keep of a castle of the Norman Lords of Gower. The Roman locality of Lloughor was decidedly evinced to me by an altar, which I saw placed as a stile before a cottage garden, in the easternmost hamlet. I was informed, that tradition said it had been brought from the church. This seemed pointedly to corroborate the assertion of Bede, that the Pagan temples of our island, cleansed of their idolatrous images, were converted into Christian churches.h
Note g. Leuchra, Mr. Logan says, signifies in the Gaelic, ' reedy, abounding with rushes.' Lloughor (pronounced Luccur) stands on a marsh. The Leuchar, which Mr. Logan speaks of. Appendix to Archaeologia, vol. XXII. p.410, is situated on an extensive moss. It is evident that in calling their station Leucarum the Romans merely added a Latin termination to a British word.
Note h. See Bede's Ecclesiastical History, Book I. chapter 30. "I knew an instance of a great quantity of the bones of fowls being found buried in the body of a parochial church. What were these but the relics of heathen sacrifice? Socrates, before his death, directed a cock to be sacrificed to Esculapius."
Archaeologia Cambrensis 1856 Page 99. Arthur's Stone, in Gower, or Maen Ketti2, Arthur's Stone, between Hay and Hereford, and Arthur's Table, in Caermarthenshire, are three names of cromlechau. They happen to be in the line of country traversed by . King Arthur and his knights, in the celebrated hunt of the Twrch Trwyth. This boar, Trwyth, according to the legend, had formerly been a British prince, but he was transformed into a boar as a punishment for his sins. And Lady Charlotte Guest, in an interesting note to " Kilhwch and Olwen," suggests that these cromlechau received their names from that legendary hunt, which extended from Porth Cleis and Milford, past the Preseleu mountains, thence to Loughor [Map], up the vale of Towy, and down the vale of Wye, to its junction with the Severn, where the Twrch entered the water, crossed over, and went to Cornwall. She appears to be quite correct in that suggestion.
Note 2. It may be interesting to note, that this is one of several local names derived from an Irish saint, named Cetti, or Ketti; the others being Kilgetty, near Tenby, and Sketty, near Swansea. Similar names occur in Ireland; and the Drum-Keat of our day, appears in Adamnan as Dorsum Cetti. There are many instances in South Wales of the occurrence of the Erse or Gaelic Kil, a church, the equivalent of the Cymric Llan, in the names of churches. Kilgerran (Pembroke), Kilkennyn (Cardigan), Kilrheiddyn, Kilbebyll, Kil sanos, near Merthyr, are instances of this kind, and proofs of the Gaelic occupation of the districts in which they occur.
Europe, British Isles, South East Wales, Gower Peninsula Glamorganshire, Swansea
In 1510 Margaret Herbert was born to Richard Herbert (age 68) and Margaret Cradock at Swansea.
On 02 Sep 1570 George Herbert (age 75) died at Swansea.
On 18 Oct 1674 Richard "Beau King of Bath" Nash was born to Richard Nash in Swansea.
Europe, British Isles, South East Wales, Gower Peninsula Glamorganshire, Gwyr Island Swansea
Around 1495 George Herbert was born to Richard Herbert (age 53) and Margaret Cradock at Gwyr Island Swansea.
Around 1532 John Herbert was born to George Herbert (age 37) and Elizabeth Berkeley (age 22) at Gwyr Island Swansea.
Europe, British Isles, South East Wales, Gower Peninsula Glamorganshire, Swansea, Singleton Abbey
On 06 Jul 1821 Henry Vivian 1st Baron Swansea was born to John Henry Vivian (age 35) and Sarah Jones at Singleton Abbey.
Europe, British Isles, South East Wales, Gower Peninsula Glamorganshire, Swansea, Sketty
Europe, British Isles, South East Wales, Gower Peninsula Glamorganshire, Swansea, Sketty, St Paul's Church
On 28 Nov 1894 Henry Vivian 1st Baron Swansea (age 73) died. Probate was granted to his sons Henry Hussey Vivian and Odo Richard Vivian valuing his estate at £163,707 1s 9d. He was buried at St Paul's Church, Sketty. His son Ernest Ambrose Vivian 2nd Baron Swansea (age 46) succeeded 2nd Baron Swansea of Singleton in Glamorganshire, 2nd Baronet Vivian of Singleton in Swansea in Glamorganshire.
Swansea Castle
The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through Wales: Book 1 Chapter 8. Entering the province called Goer,84 we spent the night at the castle of Sweynsei [Map],85 which in Welsh is called Abertawe, or the fall of the river Tawe into the sea. The next morning, the people being assembled after mass, and many having been induced to take the cross, an aged man of that district, named Cador, thus addressed the archbishop: "My lord, if I now enjoyed my former strength, and the vigour of youth, no alms should ransom me, no desire of inactivity restrain me, from engaging in the laudable undertaking you preach; but since my weak age and the injuries of time deprive me of this desirable benefit (for approaching years bring with them many comforts, which those that are passed take away), if I cannot, owing to the infirmity of my body, attain a full merit, yet suffer me, by giving a tenth of all I possess, to attain a half." Then falling down at the feet of the archbishop, he deposited in his hands, for the service of the cross, the tenth of his estate, weeping bitterly, and intreating from him the remission of one half of the enjoined penance. After a short time he returned, and thus continued: "My lord, if the will directs the action, and is itself, for the most part, considered as the act, and as I have a full and firm inclination to undertake this journey, I request a remission of the remaining part of the penance, and in addition to my former gift, I will equal the sum from the residue of my tenths." The archbishop, smiling at his devout ingenuity, embraced him with admiration.
Note 84. Gower, the western district of Glamorganshire, appears to have been first conquered by Henry de Newburg, earl of Warwick, soon after Robert, duke of Gloucester, had made the conquest of the other part of Glamorganshire.
Note 85. Sweynsei, Swansea, or Abertawe [Map], situated at the confluence of the river Tawe with the Severn sea, is a town of considerable commerce, and much frequented during the summer months as a bathing-place. The old castle, now made use of as a prison, is so surrounded by houses in the middle of the town, that a stranger might visit Swansea without knowing that such a building existed. The Welsh Chronicle informs us, that it was built by Henry de Beaumont, earl of Warwick, and that in the year 1113 it was attacked by Gruffydd ap Rhys, but without success. This castle became afterwards a part of the possessions of the see of St. David's, and was rebuilt by bishop Gower. [The old castle is no longer used as a prison, but as the office of the "Cambria Daily Leader." It is significant that Swansea is still known to Welshmen, as in the days of Giraldus, as "Abertawe."]
The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through Wales: Book 1 Chapter 8. Continuing our journey,82 not far from Margan, where the alternate vicissitudes of a sandy shore and the tide commence, we forded over the river Avon, having been considerably delayed by the ebbing of the sea; and under the guidance of Morgan, eldest son of Caradoc, proceeded along the sea-shore towards the river Neth, which, on account of its quicksands, is the most dangerous and inaccessible river in South Wales. A pack-horse belonging to the author, which had proceeded by the lower way near the sea, although in the midst of many others, was the only one which sunk down into the abyss, but he was at last, with great difficulty, extricated, and not without some damage done to the baggage and books. Yet, although we had Morgan, the prince of that country, as our conductor, we did not reach the river without great peril, and some severe falls; for the alarm occasioned by this unusual kind of road, made us hasten our steps over the quicksands, in opposition to the advice of our guide, and fear quickened our pace; whereas, through these difficult passages, as we there learned, the mode of proceeding should be with moderate speed. But as the fords of that river experience a change by every monthly tide, and cannot be found after violent rains and floods, we did not attempt the ford, but passed the river in a boat, leaving the monastery of Neth [Map]83 on our right hand, approaching again to the district of St. David's, and leaving the diocese of Landaf (which we had entered at Abergevenny) behind us.
Note 82. In continuing their journey from Neath to Swansea, our travellers directed their course by the sea-coast to the river Avon, which they forded, and, continuing their road along the sands, were probably ferried over the river Neath, at a place now known by the name of Breton Ferry [Map], leaving the monastery of Neath at some distance to the right: from thence traversing another tract of sands, and crossing the river Tawe, they arrived at the castle of Swansea [Map], where they passed the night.
Note 83. The monastery of Neath [Map] was situated on the banks of a river bearing the same name, about a mile to the westward of the town and castle. It was founded in 1112, by Richard de Grainville, or Greenefeld, and Constance, his wife, for the safety of the souls of Robert, earl of Gloucester, Maude, his wife, and William, his son. Richard de Grainville was one of the twelve Norman knights who accompanied Robert Fitz-Hamon, and assisted him in the conquest of Glamorganshire. In the time of Leland this abbey was in a high state of preservation, for he says, "Neth abbay of white monkes, a mile above Neth town, standing in the ripe of Neth, semid to me the fairest abbay of al Wales." - Leland, Itin. tom. v. p. 14. The remains of the abbey and of the adjoining priory-house are considerable; but this ancient retirement of the grey and white monks is now occupied by the inhabitants of the neighbouring copper-works.