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Swansea Leasing

Did You Know?

The only building in Swansea was an open shelter on pillars, built in the 1640s. Otherwise, it was a higgledy-piggledy assortment of stalls in the streets around there. St Mary Street was known as Butter Street, and between 1813 and 1821 Robert Anderson was employed to stretch a chain across it on market days, probably to check marauding cattle. It moved to Oxford Street in 1820.

Between 1852 and 1919 five big docks were built, but before that ships just loaded at quays along the river - think Fowey or Looe in Cornwall. In origin, Swansea was more a riverbank town than a 'seaside town' - the shore was always some distance away from the centre.

Earliest records of Swansea trade in the 16th Century show Devon and Somerset ports were of prime significance, and the Rector of Coychurch in Bridgend wrote in 1696 that those in the south of the peninsula 'did pronounce their words something like the West of England.

By the late 18th century, with the population of upper High Street growing quickly, residents formed societies including the Friendly Club at the Full Moon, and the Amicable Club at the Lamb, whose names probably refer to pubs. A Full Moon pub in upper High Street still exists.

Swansea was once called Sweins ey, which roughly translates as Swein’s island. It is not certain who Swein was, but legend has it that he was a Norseman who built a fort in Swansea in 100AD and used it as a base to raid the rest of Wales.

In 1823 the first ever human fossil was discovered near Swansea in the Gower Peninsula. The Red Lady of Paviland (who is actually a man) dates back over 33,000 years and was dyed by the red ochre in the surrounding rocks.

Famous people from the city include poet Dylan Thomas, entertainer Sir Harry Secombe, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, politician Michael Heseltine, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, footballers John Charles, Ivor Allchurch and John Hartson, actress Joanna Page.

Swansea, the second largest city in Wales, with its legendary nightlife centred on Wind Street and the recently developed SA1 area, is a must for any visitor. Swansea is known for being the birthplace of poet Dylan Thomas, and home of the Swans, who were until very recently in the Premier League.