The Gower Peninsula (Welsh: Penrhyn Gŵyr) is a peninsula on the south west coast of Wales, on the north side of the Bristol Channel in the southwest of the historic county of Glamorgan. Referred to colloquially as 'Gower', this was the first area in the United Kingdom to be designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956. Gower was part of the ancient lordship of Gower, and today it is part of the City and County of Swansea.
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Geography
Situated in south west Wales, about 70 square miles (180 km2) in area, Gower is known for its coastline, popular with walkers and outdoor enthusiasts, especially surfers. 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. Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers 188 km² including most of the peninsula west of Crofty, Three Crosses, Upper Killay, Blackpill and Bishopston.[1] The highest point on the Gower peninsula is The Beacon at Rhossili Down at 193m/633ft overlooking Rhossili Bay.[2]
The interior of Gower consists mainly of farmland and common land. The population resides mainly in small villages, though suburban development has made a number of communities in eastern Gower part of the Swansea Urban Area.[3] 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. On the north side of the peninsula there are fewer beaches, this section of the coast includes the famous cockle-beds of Penclawdd. 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.
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History
Following the Norman invasion of Wales, the commote of Gŵyr passed into English hands, the southern part eventually becoming heavily anglicised. Rhys Gryg of Deheubarth occupied the peninsula in 1215, but in 1220 he ceded the area to the English, apparently on the orders of his overlord, Llywelyn ap Iorwerth. Thereafter Gower remained largely beyond the reach of Llywelyn's successors as prince of Wales, though the peninsula suffered at the hands of Rhys ap Maredudd during his revolt of 1287-8.
The Act of Union (1535) made the Lordship of Gower part of the historic county of Glamorgan, and the south-western section became the Hundred of Swansea.
In modern times, the Gower peninsula was administered as a Rural District of Glamorgan, which merged with the county borough of Swansea in 1974 to form the Swansea district.[4] Since 1996, Gower has been part of the City and County of Swansea.
Economy
Agriculture remains important to the area but tourism plays an increasing role in the local economy. The peninsula has a Championship status golf course at Fairwood Park just off Fairwood Common, having twice held the Welsh PGA Championships in the 1990s. Meanwhile, the Gower Golf Club at Three Crosses hosts the West Wales Open, a two-day tournament on Wales' professional golf tour, the Dragon Tour. Gower is part of the Swansea Travel to Work Area[5] (see Economy of Swansea).
Representation in the media
The village of Mumbles set the scene for a six part drama ‘Ennals Point’ featuring Welsh actor Philip Madoc. 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 (9.7 km) 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]. The village of Rhossili appeared as a location in the 2006 Doctor Who episode "New Earth". In the episode, Worm's Head could be seen.
Archaeology
Gower is home to menhirs or standing stones from the Bronze Age. Of the nine stones, eight remain today. One of the most famous of the stones is Arthur's stone near Cefn Bryn.
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, dated as 25,000 years old.
Villages
The villages in Gower include:
Beaches
This is a list of the larger beaches. Blue Flag beaches are marked with a *:[6]
- 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
- Broughton Bay
- Whiteford Sands
Beach awards
Gower's beaches have won awards for their high standards.[7]
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.” The beaches that have this award on the Gower peninsula are:[8]
Seaside Awards 2006
Only the beaches that have good water quality, that are clean and well-managed, receive the Seaside Award. The Gower beaches that have received this award are: [9]
See also
References
- ^ The City and County of Swansea
- ^ Enjoy Gower - Gower Beaches
- ^ Gower (2008). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 22, 2008, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online
- ^ Archives Network Wales
- ^ National Statistics Online
- ^ Keep Wales Tidy - Tourism - Welsh Award Beaches 2007
- ^ Keep Wales Tidy - Tourism - Blue Flags
- ^ Keep Wales Tidy - Tourism - Green Coast Award Beaches 2005
- ^ Keep Wales Tidy - Tourism - Seaside Award Beaches 2006
External links
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