Loughor
| Loughor | |
| Welsh: Casllwchwr | |
 |
|
  Loughor |
|
| Population | 4,991 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | SS573980 |
| Principal area | Swansea |
| Ceremonial county | West Glamorgan |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SWANSEA |
| Postcode district | SA4 |
| Dialling code | 01792 |
| Police | South Wales |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament | Gower |
Coordinates: 51°39′45″N 4°03′53″W / 51.66261°N 4.06461°W
Loughor (/ˈlʌxər/[1]) (Welsh: Casllwchwr) is a town in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales. It lies on the estuary of the River Loughor. The town has a community council called Llwchwr. In 2014, it was rated one of the most attractive postcode areas to live in Wales. [2]
History
The town was home to the Roman fort of Leucarum, over which the Norman Loughor Castle was built in 1106. Loughor developed around the castle.
The town has an Independent Lifeboat station situated near the road bridge which has been in existence since 1969. The current Lifeboat is a state of the art Ribcraft 5.85 metre Rhib.
It later grew as a port, while in the early twentieth century large tin and steel works were the main industries. Around 1800, John Vivian (1750–1826) of Truro, Cornwall, had become managing partner in the copper works at Penclawdd and Loughor then owned by the Cheadle Brasswire Company of Staffordshire. The Vivian family eventually ran large copper mining, copper smelting and trading businesses in and around Swansea (Vivian & Sons) and, throughout the 19th century, did much to develop Swansea into a city.
Loughor town can be divided into two areas defined by the present day electoral wards Lower Loughor and Upper Loughor which have separate histories. Lower Loughor lies nearer the sea and set on low ground whilst Upper Loughor lies on higher ground. Loughor initially developed around the Norman castle in what is now the Lower Loughor ward. Upper Loughor began as a distinct settlement, initially around what is now the Glebe Road area. Upper Loughor Town was well established as a separate town by the mid 19th Century. Loughor is now mostly a commuter town for Swansea and Llanelli via the Loughor bridge and has merged with the neighbouring town of Gorseinon.
Local schools in the town include Tre Uchaf Primary School and Casllwchwr Primary School. Sited opposite the Tre Uchaf Primary is one of the sites of Gower College Swansea.
The local rugby union team of the town is Loughor RFC.
James Henry Govier (1910- 1974) the British painter, etcher and engraver of the Swansea School, produced a number of images of Loughor, he lived at Gorseinon and has work in the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery at Swansea, the National Museum of Wales, the National Library of Wales, and in several other national collections. See Gorseinon and Oakley for more details.
People
References
- ↑ G.M. Miller, BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names (Oxford UP, 1971), p. 92.
- ↑ "UK's 'most desirable' postcodes revealed". BBC News.
Sources
- Swansea Art Gallery Catalogue 1936.
- The Gower Journal.
- Who's Who in Art.
- Dictionary of British Artists 1900-1950, by Grant M Waters 1975.