Victorian Voices
by Carol Powell
The 1880 Official Guide to Swansea and District, described Mumbles as 'A higgledy-piggledy collection of poor cottages, respectable terraces, commodious villas, hotels, public houses and shops which occupy the inner side of the excellent roadway that follows the curves of the bay . . . and behind these, a labyrinth of small streets.'
Here, echoing down the years, are the impressions of some of its inhabitants told in their own words.
Victorian Mumbles, when the tide rose up as far as the main road.
Lewis Rees ‘I was a month old when I went to live on Mumbles Hill and that was in ’46 (1846). Very small place it was then . . . the horse buses drove in from Swansea . . . Chaps names of Williams, Barder, and Rees had them and they stopped at the Ship and Castle, the Mermaid and the George. There was a bugler on one — John Williams . . . whose father kept the White Rose. Mr. Dickson started the horse trams, which ran as far as Clement’s Lane and then he started to build on toward the Head. It was no good though and ‘fore long it all went. Aye, he abandoned it to the sea and the rails were lying along the beach for years. The Mumbles Road used to be narrow and pretty . . . I remember Studt used to bring his show down . . . we boys used to push his roundabout around and have rides for nothing . . . he had a horse to do it after, then a handle. Billy Samuels used to put his boxing booth near the Antelope.'
'I look down on some scattered groups of houses, which face her Majesty's high road.'
E.H., described the view of Mumbles from his window in 1859. 'I look down on some scattered groups of houses, which face her Majesty's high road. On its daily run, the Mumbles omnibuses with their strange medley of travellers, crushed together . . . women care-worn and industrious with their baskets; ladies with their flounces, flowers and veils, at enmity with said baskets; hardy seamen, usually kindliest mannered of the passengers; . . . Other traffic includes the elegant carriages, gigs and phætons, the oyster carts and drays'.
Local Doctor, Dr Jumeaux, in his report to the Oystermouth Local Board in April 1880, wrote, 'Without doubt this must be one of the healthiest places in Great Britain.' This,despite sporadic outbreaks of measles, scarlet fever and whooping cough.
Oystermouth Board School pupils visiting Oystermouth Castle
Luke Bessent, Headmaster of Oystermouth Board School, 11 February 1895 'Halfpenny dinners have been given to all children who care to stay . . . cocoa and cake or soup and bread . . . paid for by voluntary subscriptions. '
Mr William Williams of 'The Cliff' recorded his thoughts in 1899, 'The churchyard used to be the meeting place and playground of the villagers . . . a popular pastime was a ball played against the tower wall . . . but the present time is probably the most important in the history of the place, because it is a time of transition . . . The village is passing away; a town is being born.'
Echoes of Victorian Mumbles by Carol Powell.
In the 1870s, unnamed Mumbles people, a man, two women and some children gathered on a sandbank off Southend