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Croeso i Abertawe ! (Welcome to Swansea !) |
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For us, the place to be on 8 September, 2001 was St. Paul's Church, Sketty, Swansea, Wales. That's where our wedding day began at 1.30p.m. This page follows the route from St.Paul's across west Swansea to our reception in Bracelet Bay (pictured above). In 2000, the church celebrated its 150th anniversary. It was built by John Henry Vivian, a Victorian entrepreneur, and a leading figure in the Industrial Revolution. At one time, he transformed Swansea into "Copperopolis", also known as "Copper Kingdom". The city become one of the world's most powerful ports, exporting 68% of the world's requirement of copper to Cape Horn and beyond - at a time when the metal was the the most important type of its day. |
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After the wedding service at St. Pauls, and en-route to the reception venue, Pete and Heidi paused at West Cross for some photographs. This area hugs the Swansea Bay crescent and is midway to Mumbles at the westerly point of the bay. West Cross is lined with tall trees and was Heidi's first view of Swansea - after Pete e-mailed his picture of the scene to her in the early days of their friendship. It's a magical place. The West Cross Inn is a favourite haunt of Catherine Zeta Jones, the Swansea-born movie star, and it was a stop for the famous Mumbles Train (1807-1960), which is recognised as the World's first passenger railway service. In spite of work commitments in the U.S., it's little wonder that Catherine (and indeed, husband Michael Douglas) can't keep away from West Cross! Other local "haunts" for the Hollywood couple includes city-centred Swansea Maritime Quarter and its bayside marinas, the home of Hanson's - Catherine's favourite seafood restaurant! |
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A few miles further along the Swansea Bay foreshore brings you into Mumbles itself, bearing the haulmarks of a timeless Victorian fishing village. In the early 19th Century Mumbles was Britain's largest producer of oysters. Mumbles is famous for its pier - built as a terminus for the Mumbles Train - and its virtually complete 12th Century castle guarding Swansea Bay from a hillside above. Here you'll be swamped with seafood restaurants, ice cream parlours and the Mumbles "mile" of pubs. If you can survive one drink in each and every pub (as Dylan Thomas often tried!) you've risen to an infamous challenge! At the western flank of Swansea Bay lies Mumbles lighthouse, built in 1794 on the outer of three rocks which step up from the bay. The red-roofed old lifeboat house is attached to the pier and runs parallel to "the Mumbles" rocks which hosts the lighthouse. At one time illuminated by fire, the lighthouse has been solar powered since 1969. This westerly face of Swansea Bay is considered the gateway to Swansea county's glorious Gower Peninsular - the U.K.'s first official "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty".
On the westerly side of the Mumbles lighthouse, via a narrow winding route cut through limestone cliffs, lies Bracelet Bay, where our reception venue, "Castellamare" looks out over the Mumbles rocks. As well as a function room, the establishment is also a popular Italian restaurant, replete with clay-bake open fire used to bake the pizzas! A small fountain leads down to intimate Bracelet Bay, rocky in character, a fascinating geological contrast with its much larger and predominantly sandy neighbour, Swansea Bay. Just on the hill above Castellamare is H.M. Coastguard, below which is another small rocky bay - Limeslade. Mumbles Pier is within a short walking distance of Castellamare. |
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| FOR MORE please click here for Pete's site - Swansea - the Golden Coastal City ! |
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© 2002, Pete Rogers, Leaky Dragon Media |
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Clyne Park,
with splendid Swansea Bay views, the former estate of the powerful Vivian dynasty
Our church - St. Paul's,
on the edge of Singleton Park, Sketty, Swansea
the view
across Swansea Bay from West Cross
