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The Windmill at Caswell
The Windmill and western Pump-house
The Windmill and western Pump-house
Towards the upper left is the clifftop Windmill, with the pump-house it assisted in powering situated at sea level. (The concrete foundations of the pumphouse still remain). At the right is Redcliffe House (now the Redcliffe Apartments). Photo: Photo is undated, but the windmill was constructed in 1883.
Underneath the site of the clifftop Windmill, the concrete foundations of the pump-house are marked with a red arrow. At the right is a glimpse of the Redcliffe Apartments, (built on the site of Redcliffe House). Photo: A History of Mumbles, November 2024.
An exposed Pipe is found at Caswell Bay, November 2024
once part of Mumbles water supply
An exposed Pipe is found at Caswell Bay, November 2024
once part of Mumbles water supply
The concrete base of the coal powered western pump-house still remains at beach level. Photo: Pierre Donahue
Looking east, a closer look inside of the pipe, now occupied by marine growth. Photo: Pierre Donahue, 18th November 2024.
An overall view of the exposed pipe, looking west towards the foundations of the old Pump-house. underneath the site of the clifftop Windmill. Photo: Pierre Donahue, 18th November 2024.
The exposed pipe, looking west towards the foundations of the old Pump-house. Photo: Pierre Donahue.
The reverse view, Looking east, the pipe travels towards the site of the eastern pump-house (complete details below). Photo: Pierre Donahue
Why did this pipe cross the beach?
Why did this pipe cross the beach?
The windmill, constructed in 1883, can be seen on the upper left of this photo, which gives us an overview showing both sides of Caswell Bay, the Windmill and Redcliffe House and the site of the Caswell Bay Hotel.
The western coal powered pump-house is at beach level on on the left, which pumped spring water across the beach to the first of the eastern pump-houses on the right (powered with oil or gas at various times) which pumped the water up to the reservoir in Newton, which supplied water to the district.
Before the Windmill was constructed
Before the Windmill was constructed
There is NO Windmill, on the top of Redcliffe Hill, in this photo of the headland, taken around 1880 by William Harvey Barton. The western pump-house seen here in great detail situated at beach level, had several floors and contained the coal powered pumping engine mentioned in the records. A sturdy track for the supply of the coal fuel, can be seen, leading down from Caswell Road.
The conclusion is that the Windmill was built as an auxiliary to the coal powered pump, so as to save money. Why pay for coal power, when wind power is free?
The Windmill is added at the top of the cliff, after 1883
Caswell Bay Windmill and the first of the two eastern Pump House, c1890
The editors opinion is that the western building, on the concrete foundations which still remain, was swept away by the sea during a great storm.
There could be other opinions and if you have information to add, please contact the editor >
The pump-houses at the entrance to the bay were also under attack from the sea, as shown in later photos. As storm also reduced to its foundations. one of the two eastern pump-houses by 1910. This was later rebuilt and was powered by 'oil and gas' at various times.
One of two eastern pump-houses was wrecked.
The windmill overlooks Caswell Bay
A lady at the site in the 1930s
The windmill continued to stand on the hill until the middle of July 1930 when smoke was seen rising from the structure. With the help of a troupe of scouts the fire was extinguished but only one of its four supports remained intact.
As it was now a danger to the public it was destroyed by placing charges of dynamite at the base of the windmill. It was blown up and the remains fell onto the beach below. The Daily Post suggested that the fire had been started maliciously by mischief makers.
The Caswell Bay Windmill and the two eastern pump-houses, pre 1930.
The Base Plates which held one of the legs of the windmill to the ground.
What we know about the Windmill, by Wendy Cope
What we know about the Windmill, by Wendy Cope
In 1883 a windmill was erected on the hill above Caswell Bay. In conjunction with a series of ropes it was used to pump water from a well at the foot of the cliff to a small reservoir at Summerland Lane. It was part of a scheme to provide a public water supply for Mumbles instigated by a small, local, private company whose number included Sir John Jones Jenkins, later Lord Glantawe, who lived at The Grange, West Cross, Roger Beck, who lived in Newton, and a Miss Morgan. Coming from a limestone source the water was hard but was otherwise praised.
An undated newspaper extract.
In 1890 the windmill’s ownership passed to the Oystermouth Waterworks Company which built a pump-house powered by steam at the beach (the foundations still remain) which pumped the water up to the reservoir to keep it full. The windmill supplemented the steam powered pumps which had to be used when the wind was not enough and at other times too fierce.
The Windmill was badly damaged by a gale in the winter of 1887/8, but it was kept as an auxiliary to the steam engine. Later, the pumping engine was powered by oil and then by gas. By 1900 the windmill had ceased to be used but it remained a landmark for captains of coastal vessels travelling up the Bristol Channel.
As the local population increased it became more difficult to keep the reservoir full and supply everybody’s need for water. Due to failures of supply many Mumbles houses had their own tanks to store water against such shortages.
About 1908 the Oystermouth Urban Council took over the water undertaking and by 1915 it had come to an agreement with Swansea Corporation for them to feed the reservoir. However, after the First World War when Oystermouth ceased to be independent and became part of Swansea, the water supply was guaranteed.
The two pump-houses are seen here, but only the right hand building survives.
During the 1920s the disused pump house at the entrance to Caswell beach was converted into a café and shortly after the windmill was destroyed, the present reservoir at Picket Mead was constructed. The pump house was later used as a deck chair store and by life guards.
Today it is used by a surfing school, to store their boards.
The site of the windmill is marked with a cross and the foundations for the old pump-house (revealed in Barton's photo) can be seen at beach level, 2010
The windmill.
This photo was taken from an album by Bristol photographer William Henry Barton (1833-1912) a well-known photographer based in Bristol, who travelled all over Britain taking photographs.
The original photo, William Henry Barton (1833-1912)
In the summer of 1885, Mr Barton stayed in Tenby and it is possible that he also came to Mumbles as an album of his landscape photographs of Mumbles & Gower was published around that time. [A copy of the album was generously donated to Oystermouth Historical Association].
For copyright reasons, we are unable to reproduce here a watercolour by an unknown artist, dated 1885, which reveals a similar scene as the William Harvey Barton photo above.
Redcliffe House, replaced by later Apartments
Redcliffe House, replaced by later Apartments
Redcliffe House, c1900, which has been demolished
Redcliffe Apartments, 2007. Constructed as a Hotel, it was converted into flats in 1972.
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