The changing Mumbles shoreline
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prior to the 1890's a high tide would have reached the edge of the road opposite the Marine Hotel and the Methodist Church, but following the extension of the railway, below, the Horsepool 'Harbour' was gone forever and the tide only reaches the edge of today's promenade.
Mumbles Horsepool Harbour from Clements Quarry, c.1870.
Horsepool Harbour, Skiffs and The Antelope Public House, with the tide out, before 1883
The Horsepool, in the centre of the above left photograph, was a naturally formed 'harbour' in Mumbles' which by the mid 1800s, had been in use for at least 200 years.
Since 17C, many Mumbles fishermen would lay up their craft all along the shore as far out as Southend (called Outalong by locals) and in stormy weather, at the Horsepool, a natural haven.
Horsepool Harbour, Skiffs and The Antelope Public House, with the tide in.
Mumbles, when the tide reached the Methodist Church, before 1890. From Stuart Bishop.
Also a fine view of Clements Quarry.
There are some interesting fossils in Clement's Quarry (Quarry car-park) which are unique to the area, notably Spirifer oystermouthensis, a brachiopod and Zaphenta oystermouthensis, a cornet-shaped coral.
The third Methodist Church on the shoreline, in the centre, before 1890
The Marine Hotel, formerly Horsepool House, pre 1890
As to the origin of the name HORSEPOOL, no one knows for sure. One suggestion was 'Hawse Pole' i.e. a river marker or 'Hoecepol' the point of entry from where taxes could be levied. Another was a 'pool for horses'- very unlikely in this case, as for 100s of years it was a salt-water harbour.
Building the extension of the railway across the Horsepool 'Harbour'
The breakwater, or quay seen from The Dunns, Oystermouth.
A closer view of the breakwater, or quay, constructed next to Village Lane slipway, so as to shelter the Oyster Skiffs.
BEFORE
Oystermouth Tithe Map, with The Horsepool Harbour.
AFTER
The railway extension across The Horsepool Harbour, OS . WG Archive.
The extension to Mumbles Head is complete and the ballast bank is filled in, c.1900
The shoreline was completely altered by the extension of the railway to Southend and there are buildings on the reclaimed land, post 1910
On the reclaimed land are The Kursaal Entertainment Hall, Fairground including Figure of Eight, Cornwall Place, part of Devon Terrace, Tom Owen's Promenade Pavilion and part of Promenade Terrace.
Mumbles and The Dunns, From Clement's Quarry, post 1915
View from Clement's Quarry, November 2006
New houses and shops have appeared in the foreground of today's view. The Shops on the seaward side of The Dunns were demolished in 1971. In 1960 the Mumbles Train ceased running after 156 years and the promenade which follows the track is now for walkers and cyclists. The Quarry is now a carpark and recycling centre.
The Bowling Green and 'New' Cinema well as All Saints' Church
This aerial view includes: All Saints' Church, bowling green, tennis courts, The New Cinema, The Royal British Legion Hut, The rear of 'Kemps' The Draper and opposite, Claremont Villas, Fern Cottages. Dated by The Mumbles Steam Railway, shown between 1922 & 1928.
Southend Park Shelter, c. 2000
Park Shelter, c. 2000
A modern view of Promenade Terrace, Patricks With Rooms and Rockhill House, Pond Steps, Southend. February 2016
The wooden breakwater or groyne, seen in the centre of this 1926 photo, is now gone.
The fishermen complained about the loss of their natural harbour, so the railway company offered to build them a wooden breakwater or groyne as protection for their boats. It soon fell into disrepair because the local council refused to maintain it and a large part was swept away in a gale in September 1904.
Regatta day at Southend in the 1920s. The photo was taken from the bridge opposite The George Hotel.
Many of photos in our archive were taken from this bridge over the railway at Southend, which was demolished when the railway was closed
On 2 March 1929, a gleaming new fleet of brown & cream (later changing to red) electric trains superseded the steam locomotives.
The Mumbles Train passing the Bristol Chanel Yacht Club (BCYC) at Southend, from Ronal Studden, 1933.
The years leading up to the Great War were undoubtedly the hey-day of the line with immense numbers of holiday-makers and day-trippers visiting the village.
The open-top bus on route to Limeslade Bay, 1982
The new Knab Rock car park and slipway
Knab Rock slipway, between 1984 and 1993
Knab Rock slipway during yachting event, pre 1993
There have also been many changes at Mumbles Pier since it opened in May 1898.
The remains of Oyster skiffs (boats)
The wrecked remains of several oyster skiffs (boats), which lie near the sea wall and are a small, but constant reminder of a proud and hard-working band of men, who once worked in this thriving centre of our past sea-going community.
A new Coastal Protection Scheme, was begun in 2023
The Swansea Council scheme will help protect homes, businesses and people from flooding and the risk of rising sea levels. Some of the existing defences are in a poor condition, with a risk of flooding. The flood risk level is expected to increase in the future due to predicted sea level rises. The project will see more than a kilometre of new sea defences built between Southend and Oystermouth Square, Mumbles.
Knights Brown was appointed as the contractor to undertake the work, which is commenced in January 2023 and is proposed to be completed over approximately 80 weeks. Project Overview, along with numerous photos and various plans concening the scheme, can be found on the Knights Brown website (this takes you away from this page).
The project will combine improved coastal defences with improvements to the Promenade right next to the main seawall.
Coastal Protection Scheme, 19 April 2023
Coastal Protection Scheme, 19 April 2023
Coastal Protection Scheme, 19 April 2023
Coastal Protection Scheme, 19 April 2023
A collection of photographs An Amble Along The Dunns