Читать книгу Walking on the Gower. 30 walks exploring the AONB peninsula in South Wales онлайн

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In the 13th century the de Braoses were lords of Gower and held the castle, and towards the end of the century Oystermouth rather than Swansea became their principal residence. Rhys ap Maredudd attacked and burnt Swansea and captured Oystermouth in 1287. Extensive repairs and extensions to the castle were made for the visit of Edward I on 10 and 11 December 1284. The de Braoses rebuilt the castle in stone, and most of what remains today is from that period.

The bench in front of the castle is a great vantage point from which to take in all the features of the village. The Mumbles is thought to have been named by the Romans after the two islands that complete the sweep of the bay, their resemblance to breasts giving rise to mamma in Latin and mammelles in French. Archaeological finds show that the area was being cultivated over 3000 years ago. Two well-finished axe-heads have been found at Newton and Mumbles Hill and the remains of a mosaic floor of a Roman villa were uncovered in 1860 during excavations for an extension to All Saints Church.