WW2 Pillbox on Kenfig Sands

 Visit Date 05-2022: . About 28,000 pillboxes and other hardened field fortifications were constructed in Britain in 1940 as part of the British anti-invasion preparations for World War II. About 6,500 of these structures still survive. Along the beach at Kenfig sands is the remains of one of these abandoned structures.A pillbox is a type of brick, block, or concrete dug-in guard-post, normally...

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East Usk Lighthouse (and West)

 Visit Date- 04-2022:. The East Usk Lighthouse was constructed in 1893 by Trinity House. it stands guard at the eastern entrance to the River Usk in the Severn Estuary at Newport in South Wales.Historically, the tidal reaches of the Usk have been used as a major shipping port for much of the last millennium, mostly because of its wide and deep mouth, and good navigable access from the Severn...

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Loughor Castle.

 Visit Date May 2022..Loughor Castle is situated in a strategic location on the north of the Gower coast and the site has a long history.Its history starts in around 75 AD when the Romans built a fort on the site then known as Leucarum, which took its name from the Celtic name for the River Loughor (in Welsh, Llwchwr; Leucara, in Latin).It was used as a military fort intermittently until the...

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Swansea Jack.

Visit Date 05-2022. .Today's blog was inspired after my walk took me along the seafront at Swansea when I came upon a monument to one of Swansea's greatest lifesavers and perhaps a story not known to many.I suspect that if you were to ask anybody in Wales to name the most famous dog (Movies excluded) I suspect they would answer Gelert.The reason for this is that the story is of a dog that is buried...

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Monknash Rocket House

Visit Date: April 2022. For today's blog, I am visiting another South Wales coastal bay at Monknash in the Vale of Glamorgan.Monknash bay or beach is at the coastal end of a small valley called Cwm Nash.The reason I have visited here this time is not for the breathtaking coast and cliff but for this small building high on the cliffs.This is a Coastguard Rocket Station.This is an early example of...

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The Monks Bath (Ffynnon Gyffyr)

 Visit Date September 2020. Todays post it the final part of three linked posts from the area of Margam is South Wales.Known locally as "The Monks Bath" this ancient building has the name Ffynnon Gyffyr which seems a little vague. It is also known as the Spring well or the Medicinal Well.The date of construction is thought to stretch back to the 12 or 13th century.It is very close to the...

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Capel Mair ar y Bryn

 Visit Date: September and November 2020 . Capel Mair ar y Bryn (The chapel of St Mary on the hill) has been known by many other names over the years such as the Cryke Chaple, Hen Egwlys and just plain Capel Mair, the place of worship, established circa 1470 was built by the monks of Margam and dedicated to St Mary, for the benefit of local peasants who did not have the right to worship...

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