Llansamlet
Llansamlet is a suburban district of Swansea, Wales falling into the Llansamlet ward. The area is centered around the A48 road (named Samlet Road and Clase Road in the area) and the M4 Motorway.
Similar to many other places in Wales where the name begins with Llan, Llansamlet is named after a saint - Saint Samlet. There is a Saint Samlet's Church in the area on Church Road.
History
Historically, the region was part of the Principality of Deheubarth until the Norman invasions between 1067-1101. From 1135 the Normans wrested the region from the Prince of Deheubarth and formed the basis for the Marcher Lordship of Kilvey of comital rank. After the Laws in Wales Act 1535 abolished Marcher lordships, the region was incorporated into the county of Glamorgan. The parish of Llansamlet became part of the borough of Swansea in two boundary changes in 1835 and 1918.[1]
Llansamlet was an important coal mining area from at least the 14th century. Initially coal was mined for export but with the coming of the copper industry in the 18th century much of the ouptut was used for smelting purposes. In 1770 the principal mineral properties were acquired by Chauncy Townsend and they remained in his family until his great-grandson, Charles Henry Smith, relinquished them in 1870. By this time all the best seams had been worked out and output was in decline. Coal-working finally ceased in the first half of the 20th century. Much of the former mining area is now occupied by the Swansea Enterprise Park.
One of the few surviving remains of the coal industry is Scott's Pit, a fine Cornish-style pumping engine house. Its construction can be dated to about 1823/4. John Scott, the owner of the colliery, was a London solicitor who had taken a lease of the property in 1816: he was unable to operate the pit profitably and pulled out in 1828.[2] The pit then reverted to Charles Henry Smith. It continued in use, sometimes for coal winning, sometimes for pumping, until 1930. It was restored in the 1970s. It is often stated that the pit was sunk in the 1770s by a Captain John Scott, but there is no truth in this: it probably derives from a garbled oral tradition.[3]
Modern Llansamlet
Today the area consists of an urban belt centered around the A48 road and M4 motorway where new housing was built in the early millennium decade. At the west of the area lies the Swansea Enterprise Park and Swansea Vale development area. The north of the area is mainly rural, consisting of farmland. The suburb has a large open moorland to the south where a large Asda store was once located. New housing has been developed in the moorland area over the last decade.
Transport
Road transport links include the A48 trunk road to the M4 motorway (Junction 44). It has its own railway station to the east, served by the Arriva Trains Wales Swanline service between Cardiff and Swansea.
Notable residents
- Jack Kelsey, Welsh international goalkeeper
- Ruth Madoc, star of the TV show Hi-de-Hi! grew up here.
- Dai Parker, Wales and British Lion rugby player, brother of Tom Parker, Welsh international rugby union captain
References
- ^ West Glamorgan Archive Service Borough/County Borough/City of Swansea records
- ^ Early References to Coal Mining History
- ^ Paul Reynolds, 'Scott's Pit: new evidence from the north of England', South West Wales Industrial Archaeology Society, Bulletin 74 (February 1999), pp 11-19,