The Gower Peninsula (Welsh: Gŵyr) is a peninsula on the south coast of Wales. Welsh ( cy Cymraeg or cy y Gymraeg, kəmˈrɑːɨɡ and {{IPA|[ə ɡəmˈrɑːɨɡ]}}, is a member of the Brythonic branch of Celtic A peninsula is a piece of land that is nearly surrounded by Water but connected to Mainland via an Isthmus. It was the first area in the United Kingdom to be designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in 1956. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB is an area of countryside with significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It is part of the ancient lordship of Gower, and is often referred to colloquially as 'Gower'. Gower was an ancient marcher lordship of Deheubarth in south-west Wales. It is administered by the unitary authority of the City and County of Swansea council. See also Independent city A unitary authority is a type of Local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all Local government functions Political makeup Elections take place every four years The last election was 1 May 2008.
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Geography and History
Situated in South Wales, about 70 square miles in area, Gower is known for its coastline, popular with walkers and outdoor enthusiasts, especially surfers. South Wales (De Cymru is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south and Mid Wales and West Wales The coast is defined as the part of the land adjoining or near the Ocean. Walking (also called ambulation) is the main form of Animal Locomotion on land, distinguished from Running and crawling Gower has many caves, including Paviland Cave and Minchin Hole Cave. The peninsula is bounded by the Loughor estuary to the north and Swansea Bay to the east. A peninsula is a piece of land that is nearly surrounded by Water but connected to Mainland via an Isthmus. The River Loughor (Afon Llwchwr in Carmarthenshire, Wales has its source at an underground lake at the Black Mountain. Swansea Bay ( Welsh: Bae Abertawe) is an bay on the Bristol Channel on the South Wales coast Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers 188 sq km including most of the peninsula west of Crofty, Three Crosses, Upper Killay, Blackpill and Bishopston. An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB is an area of countryside with significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland Crofty is a village in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling in the Penclawdd ward of Swansea. Three Crosses (Y Crwys is a village at the north-eastern end of the Gower peninsula, Swansea, Wales. Upper Killay is the name of a Village and a Community in Swansea, south Wales. Blackpill (or Black Pill) is a suburban area of Swansea, south Wales. The village of Bishopston (Llandeilo Ferwallt is located in the Gower peninsula within the Bishopston ward of Swansea, about 5 miles (8Km south west of [1] The highest point on the Gower peninsula is The Beacon at Rhossili Down at 193m/633ft on Rhossili Bay.
The former Lordship of Gower covered a wider area bounded by the rivers Loughor, Amman, Twrch and Tawe. Gower was an ancient marcher lordship of Deheubarth in south-west Wales. Loughor (Casllwchwr is a Town in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Amman (ɑˈmɑːn sometimes spelled Ammann ( Arabic عمان ʿAmmān) is the Capital city of the Hashemite Kingdom The River Tawe ( Afon Tawe in Welsh) is a river in south Wales. The Act of Union (1535) transferred the Lordship of Gower to the historic county of Glamorgan, and the south-western part became the Hundred of Swansea. The Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 (Y Deddfau Uno 1535 a 1542 were a series of parliamentary measures by which the legal system of Wales was annexed to England and The historic counties of Wales are ancient subdivisions of Wales. Glamorgan or Glamorganshire (Morgannwg is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. The Gower peninsula was later administered as the Gower Rural District of Glamorgan. In 1974 the rural district was merged with the county borough of Swansea to form the Swansea district. County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (excluding Scotland) to refer to a Borough or a City The Swansea district was one of the four local government districts of West Glamorgan, Wales from 1974 to 1996 [2] Since 1996, Gower has been part of the City and County of Swansea. Swansea ( Abertawe "mouth of the Tawe " is a city and county in Wales.
Following the Norman occupation of Glamorgan, the lordship of Gŵyr or Gower passed into English hands, and the southern part became one of the most anglicised regions of Wales. The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. Glamorgan or Glamorganshire (Morgannwg is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Anglicisation or anglicization (see -ise vs -ize) is a process of conversion of verbal or written elements of any other language into a more comprehensible English Villages in the north-east of the peninsula such as Penclawdd and Gowerton remained strongly Welsh-speaking until the middle of the 20th century. Penclawdd (Pen-clawdd is a Village which is situated in the north of the Gower peninsula in Swansea, Wales. The village of Gowerton (Tregŵyr is situated about 4 miles north west of Swansea city centre. Welsh ( cy Cymraeg or cy y Gymraeg, kəmˈrɑːɨɡ and {{IPA|[ə ɡəmˈrɑːɨɡ]}}, is a member of the Brythonic branch of Celtic
The interior of Gower consists mainly of farmland and common land. A farm is an area of land including various structures devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food ( Produce, Grains, or Livestock Common land (a common) is a piece of land owned by one person but over which other people can exercise certain traditional rights such as allowing their livestock to graze The population resides mainly in small villages. A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet, but smaller than a Town or City. The southern coast of the peninsula consists of a series of small, rocky or sandy bays like Langland and Three Cliffs, and a few larger beaches like Port Eynon, Rhossili and Oxwich Bay. Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment Langland Bay is a popular coastal holiday resort near Mumbles, Swansea, Wales. Three Cliffs Bay ( otherwise Three Cliff Bay, is a bay on the south coast of the Gower peninsula in the City and County of Swansea, Wales Port Eynon is a Village and community in the city and county of Swansea, Wales. Rhossili ( is a small Village and Community on the southwestern tip of the Gower peninsula near Swansea in Wales. Oxwich Bay is a Bay on the south of the Gower peninsula, Wales. On the north side of the peninsula there are fewer beaches, this section of the coast includes the famous cockle-beds of Penclawdd. Penclawdd (Pen-clawdd is a Village which is situated in the north of the Gower peninsula in Swansea, Wales. There are six castles on the Gower peninsula: Bovehill Castle (also known as Landimore Castle), Oystermouth Castle, Oxwich Castle, Pennard Castle, Penrice Castle and Weobley Castle. A castle is a defensive structure seen as one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages. Oystermouth Castle is a Norman stone castle located overlooking present day Swansea Bay on the east side of the Gower peninsula near the Welsh Oxwich Castle occupies a position on a wooded headland overlooking Oxwich Bay on the Gower peninsula, Wales, UK. The village of Pennard is located about 7 miles south west of Swansea city centre in the Gower peninsula. Penrice Castle is a Castle near Penrice on the Gower peninsula in south Wales. Weobley Castle is a Fortified manor house on the Gower peninsula, Wales, UK in the care of Cadw.
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The Gower Golf Club at Three Crosses hosts the annual West Wales Open, a two-day tournament on Wales' professional golf tour, the Dragon Tour. Agriculture remains important to the area but tourism plays an increasing role in the local economy. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Gower is part of the Swansea Travel to Work Area[3] and should be considered part of the wider Swansea economy. A Travel to Work Area or TTWA is a statistical tool used by UK Government agencies and Local authorities, especially by the Department for Work and The City and County of Swansea is an Urban centre of regional importance with a largely Rural hinterland in Gower.
The village of Mumbles set the scene for a six part drama ‘Ennals Point’ featuring Welsh actor Philip Madoc. Philip Madoc (born 5 July 1934 in Merthyr Tydfil) is a Welsh actor who has had many Television and Film roles The series focused on the local lifeboat crew and first aired in January 1982. To those living locally, the continuity leaps were often amusing - departing a house in the village the actors would find themselves immediately in an area 6 miles distant. A film, Gower Boy, made by artist Gee Vaucher and musician Huw Warren, described as a "gentle, contemplative exploration of the Gower peninsula in Wales", debuted at the 14th Raindance Film Festival in October 2006 [1]. Gee Vaucher was born in 1945 in Dagenham, East London. Her work with Anarcho-punk band Crass was seminal to the 'protest art' of the Huw Warren is a Jazz pianist and composer A graduate of Goldsmiths College and Guildhall School of Music, he is known for his work with June Tabor The Raindance Film Festival is the UK's largest independent Film festival. October events and holidays Children's Book Week ( England) - First Week of October National Day ( China People's Republic The village of Rhossili appeared as a location in the 2006 Doctor Who episode "New Earth". Rhossili ( is a small Village and Community on the southwestern tip of the Gower peninsula near Swansea in Wales. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. " New Earth " is an episode of the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who which was first broadcast on In the episode, Worm's Head could be seen.
Archaeology
Gower is home to menhirs or standing stones from the Bronze Age. A menhir is a large upright Standing stone. Menhirs may be found singly as Monoliths or as part of a group of similar stones The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for Of the nine stones, eight remain today. One of the most famous of the stones is Arthur's stone near Cefn Bryn. Cefn Bryn (Ridge Hill is a 5 mile long Old Red Sandstone Ridge in the heart of the Gower peninsula in Wales.
Also at Paviland Cave in South Gower, a human skeleton (named the Red Lady of Paviland, though he is actually a male) was discovered by Victorian archaeologists, and has since been dated to an age of about 25,000 years. The Red Lady of Paviland is a fairly complete Upper Paleolithic -era human male skeleton dyed in Red ochre, discovered in 1823 by Rev In Biology, the skeleton is a strong and often a rigid framework that supports the body of an animal holding it upright and giving it shape and strength (Also skeletal The Red Lady of Paviland is a fairly complete Upper Paleolithic -era human male skeleton dyed in Red ochre, discovered in 1823 by Rev Culture The Victorian fascination with novelty resulted in a deep interest in the relationship between modernity and cultural continuities Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos
Villages
The villages in Gower include:
Beaches
This is a list of the larger beaches. The village of Bishopston (Llandeilo Ferwallt is located in the Gower peninsula within the Bishopston ward of Swansea, about 5 miles (8Km south west of Burry Green is a village in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling in the Gower ward of Swansea. Caswell is a village in the Gower peninsula, Swansea, south Wales. Cheriton is a Village in the county of Swansea, south Wales, in the Gower peninsula. Crofty is a village in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling in the Penclawdd ward of Swansea. The village of Gowerton (Tregŵyr is situated about 4 miles north west of Swansea city centre. Horton is a rural village in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling in the Gower ward of Swansea. Ilston (Llanilltud Gwyr is the name of a Village and a local government community in Swansea, southwest Wales. Kittle is a village in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling in the Pennard ward of Swansea. Knelston is a village in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling in the Gower ward of Swansea. Landimore is a village in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling in the Gower ward of Swansea. Langland is a village the City and County of Swansea, Wales falling in the Newton and Oystermouth wards Llandewi is a small village in the City and County of Swansea and historic county of Glamorgan located approximately 2 miles south west of Reynoldston and Llangennith (Llangenydd is a village in the City and County of Swansea, south Wales, in the Gower peninsula. Llanmadoc is a village in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, lying in north west of the Gower peninsula. Llanmorlais is a village in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling in the Penclawdd ward of Swansea. Llanrhidian is a village in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling in the Gower ward of Swansea. Llethryd (or Llethrid) is a rural village in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling in the Gower ward of Swansea. Middleton is a village near Rhossili in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling in the Gower ward of Swansea. Mumbles (otherwise The Mumbles &ndash Welsh Y Mwmbwls) is a large village with adjacent headland stretching into Swansea Bay. Murton is a village in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling in the Bishopston ward of Swansea. Newton is the name of an electoral ward and a Village in the City of and County of Swansea, Wales, UK. Nicholaston is a rural village in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling in the Gower ward of Swansea. Oldwalls is a rural village in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling within the Gower ward of Swansea. Overton is a small rural village near Port Eynon in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling in the Gower ward of Swansea. Oxwich ( is a Village in the principal area of Swansea, Wales. Oxwich Green is a village on the Gower peninsula, Wales falling in the Gower ward of Swansea. Parkmill is a small village in the Gower peninsula, south Wales. Penclawdd (Pen-clawdd is a Village which is situated in the north of the Gower peninsula in Swansea, Wales. The village of Pennard is located about 7 miles south west of Swansea city centre in the Gower peninsula. Penmaen may refer to Penmaen Caerphilly Penmaen Swansea Penrice is the name of a Village and a Community in Swansea, south Wales. Pitton is a rural village on the Gower peninsula, Wales falling within the Gower ward. Pitton Green is a rural village in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling within the Gower ward of Swansea. Port Eynon is a Village and community in the city and county of Swansea, Wales. Reynoldston is the name of a rural Village and a community in the City and County of Swansea, Wales. Rhossili ( is a small Village and Community on the southwestern tip of the Gower peninsula near Swansea in Wales. Slade is a small Village situated north-west of Oxwich Bay on the Gower peninsula, South Wales. Scurlage is a village in the Gower peninsula, in Swansea, Wales. Southgate is a village in the Gower peninsula, Wales falling within the Pennard ward of Swansea. Three Crosses (Y Crwys is a village at the north-eastern end of the Gower peninsula, Swansea, Wales. Upper Killay is the name of a Village and a Community in Swansea, south Wales. Blue Flag beaches are marked with a *:[2]
- Swansea Bay
- Mumbles Beach
- Bracelet Bay*
- Limeslade
- Rotherslade
- Langland Bay*
- Caswell Bay*
- Brandy Cove
- Pwlldu Bay
- Foxhole Bay
- Pobbles Bay
- Three Cliffs Bay
- Tor Bay
- Oxwich Bay
- Slade Bay
- Horton Bay
- Port Eynon Bay*
- Mewslade Bay
- Fall Bay
- Rhossili Bay (Llangennith Sands)
- Burry Holms
- Blue Pool Bay
- Llanmadoc Beach
- Broughton Bay
- Whiteford Sands
Beach awards
Gower's beaches have won awards for their high standards. A Blue Flag beach is a maritime or freshwater Recreational Beach that has met stringent quality standards during the whole of the previous bathing season Swansea Bay ( Welsh: Bae Abertawe) is an bay on the Bristol Channel on the South Wales coast Mumbles Beach is a very small sheltered area of sand and rock pools sandwiched between Swansea Bay beach and Bracelet Bay in the south eastern corner of the Gower Bracelet Bay is a bay on the south side of the Gower peninsula, Wales, just to the southwest of Swansea Bay. Limeslade Bay is a small cove just to the west of Bracelet Bay in the south east corner of the Gower peninsula, Wales. Rotherslade is a small stretch of sandy beach at the eastern end of Langland Bay in the south Gower peninsula, Wales. Langland Bay is a popular coastal holiday resort near Mumbles, Swansea, Wales. Caswell Bay is a popular UK holiday resort in the south east of the Gower peninsula, Swansea, Wales. Brandy Cove is a very small beach in the Gower peninsula, south Wales, that is much less accessible than Caswell Bay immediately to the east Pwlldu Bay (or Pwll Du Bay) is a small beach on the south Gower peninsula coast in south Wales. Three Cliffs Bay ( otherwise Three Cliff Bay, is a bay on the south coast of the Gower peninsula in the City and County of Swansea, Wales Three Cliffs Bay ( otherwise Three Cliff Bay, is a bay on the south coast of the Gower peninsula in the City and County of Swansea, Wales Three Cliffs Bay ( otherwise Three Cliff Bay, is a bay on the south coast of the Gower peninsula in the City and County of Swansea, Wales Oxwich Bay is a Bay on the south of the Gower peninsula, Wales. Slade Bay is a sandy beach near the village of Slade, south Wales. Horton Bay is a Beach located on the south of the Gower peninsula near Port Eynon Bay in Wales. Port Eynon is a Village and community in the city and county of Swansea, Wales. Mewslade Bay is a sandy Beach in the south of the Gower peninsula, Wales. Rhossili ( is a small Village and Community on the southwestern tip of the Gower peninsula near Swansea in Wales. Rhossili ( is a small Village and Community on the southwestern tip of the Gower peninsula near Swansea in Wales. Burry Holms ( is a small Tidal island located at the northern end of the Gower peninsula, Wales. Blue Pool Bay beach is situated near Burry Holms on the Gower peninsula, Wales. Broughton Bay is a beach of the Gower peninsula, south Wales, located at the north western tip Whiteford Sands is a two mile expanse of beach on the northern side of the Gower peninsula, south Wales. [3]
Blue Flag Beach Award 2005
The beaches that have the Blue Flag beach Award in Gower are:
- Bracelet Bay
- Caswell Bay
- Langland Bay
- Port Eynon Bay
Green Coast Award 2005
The aim of the Green Coast Award is: ‘To acknowledge those beaches which meet Guideline water quality and are prized for their natural, unspoiled environment. A Blue Flag beach is a maritime or freshwater Recreational Beach that has met stringent quality standards during the whole of the previous bathing season ” The beaches that have this award on the Gower peninsula are [4]:
Seaside Awards 2006
Only the beaches that have good water quality, that are clean and well-managed, receive the Seaside Award. Rhossili ( is a small Village and Community on the southwestern tip of the Gower peninsula near Swansea in Wales. Mewslade Bay is a sandy Beach in the south of the Gower peninsula, Wales. Three Cliffs Bay ( otherwise Three Cliff Bay, is a bay on the south coast of the Gower peninsula in the City and County of Swansea, Wales Pwlldu Bay (or Pwll Du Bay) is a small beach on the south Gower peninsula coast in south Wales. Limeslade Bay is a small cove just to the west of Bracelet Bay in the south east corner of the Gower peninsula, Wales. The Gower beaches that have received this award are [5]:
See also
References
External links
Bracelet Bay is a bay on the south side of the Gower peninsula, Wales, just to the southwest of Swansea Bay. Caswell Bay is a popular UK holiday resort in the south east of the Gower peninsula, Swansea, Wales. Port Eynon is a Village and community in the city and county of Swansea, Wales. Langland Bay is a popular coastal holiday resort near Mumbles, Swansea, Wales. Limeslade Bay is a small cove just to the west of Bracelet Bay in the south east corner of the Gower peninsula, Wales. The Gower (Gŵyr electoral ward covers the remote western part of the Gower peninsula in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, UK Gower is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Open Directory Project ( ODP) also known as dmoz (from directoryDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic