Mumbles Coastguard-
Through the Years
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Mumbles Lighthouse and the old Coastguard lookout at Tutt Head, Bracelet Bay, overlooking Bracelet and Limeslade Bays >
Mumbles Coastguard Station
Mumbles Coastguard Station
Mumbles Coastguard Station 'Lookout Hut' on Tutt Head, 4h March 1895. was taken by Henry Hugh Parlby, a Chemist and Photographer. Photo: Stuart Bishop collection.
This photo, also taken at Tutt Head, by Henry Parlby includes Fairy, his dog, along with telegraph poles in the background.4, March 1895. Photo: Stuart Bishop collection.
Records show that from as early as 1840, (although 1850 is also quoted) the first coastguard lookout was situated on Mumbles Hill, near the present day Trig Point, and had a commanding view of the Swansea Bay and most of the channel to Oxwich Point. Along with a mast, for signalling to ships in the bay, there was half an overturned boat so as to give shelter to those on duty.
A City of Swansea publication (Ref below), states, 'Improvements were made to this structure later and in 1910 the building on this site was dismantled and re-constructed on Tutt Head where the coastguard station is today.
Mumbles Coastguard Station 'Lookout Hut' on Tutt Head, (with Mumbles Hill in the background) was photographed by Henry Hugh Parlby, a Chemist and Photographer, on 4th March 1895.
Records also show that a hut was replaced on Tutt Head in 1921, by a timbered building.
Tutt Head before the Coastguard
Tutt Head before the Coastguard
This slide was taken before 1895, when there were no coastguard buildings on Tutt Head. In the foreground there is a glimpse of the roof of the popular old 'Refreshment Sheds' and a view of Bracelet Bay (The sheds were later damaged in 1910 in a storm as well as in the 1950s, when it was closed). A view of the Tea Room is shown later.
With the Coastguard Station
With the Coastguard Station
Taken around a hundred years later, this photo shows us a glimpse of the latest HM Coastguard Station, at Tutt Head, The Mumbles, built in the l970s, as well as the Castellammare Restaurant (before the appearance of the Lighthouse Restaurant). The site of the 'Refreshment Sheds' is now a fine sheltered seating area, with a great view of the bay as well as Mumbles Lighthouse.
The 'Lookout' on Tutt Hill, always known as the 'Tut' was a constant watch station and a Lloyds signal station. This meant that the coastguards were on duty on six-hour shifts day and night and would transmit orders from Lloyds to ships coming into the bay, either by flag hoist by day or morse lamp by night.
As the Merchant Ships moved past the Mumbles Head was a joy and these movements were reported daily to Lloyds of London, the Coastguards receiving two and a halve pence per ship reported. It was nothing to see between ten and twenty ships anchored off The Mumbles Roads either awaiting orders or the tide to go into Swansea docks. In about 1936 when the Mumbles lighthouse light went automatic the Coastguard in the lookout on Tutt Hill operated the light house fog-horn by remote control.
Details from - 'My Life at Mumbles Coastguard Station by John Jeffers'
Webborn Refreshment Sheds
Mumbles Lighthouse and the old Coastguard Station at Tutt Head, Bracelet Bay, overlooking Bracelet and Limeslade Bays >
A general view of the Bracelet Bay car park, later in the 1950s, including the old Coastguard Hut and wartime Signal Room. The Engine Room at the end of the car park powered the WW2 naval searchlights, which guarded the sea.
The inside of the old Coastguard Hut at Tutt Head, in the early 1970s, overlooking the Signal Room,. Photo: John Pile.
The Coastguard Station at Tutt Head, after 1980.
A closer look at Tutt Head, reveals The WRENS wartime accommodation as well as the two Searchlight Emplacements, later demolished, Photo: 1950s.
The ‘new’ Coastguard Station Lookout. Constructed in the 1973..
The Station was extended in 1979 and closed in 2015. Later used as offices and stores. The theft of lead from the roof complicated closure plans
The earliest 'Lookout' situated on Mumbles Hill
The earliest 'Lookout' situated on Mumbles Hill
A glimpse of a flagpole can just be made out on the hill. This was the site of the first Mumbles Coastguard lookout. In the foreground is The Old Mermaid Hotel, Southend Mumbles, c.1870.
The earliest lookout was situated on Mumbles Hill, near the present day Trig Point, and had a commanding view of the Swansea Bay and most of the channel to Oxwich Point. Along with a mast, for signalling to ships in the bay, there was half an overturned boat so as to give shelter to those on duty.
The view is now obstructed at the Trig (Triangulation) Point pillar on Mumbles Hill, used to make earlier maps.
Limeslade Bay and the roadway to HM Coastguard Station, at Tutt Head, The Mumbles, with Mumbles Hill
Bracelet Bay and Tutt Head old Coastguard Station. The car park and the road iare overwhelmed with cars this photo, taken in the 1950s,. Overlooking Bracelet and Limeslade Bays >
A closer look at the various Coastguard buildings on Tutt Head in the 1950s, reveals the 'WRENS' wartime accommodation on the site of the later restaurant, as well as two Searchlight Emplacements on the shoreline on the right, later demolished. Photo: 1950s.
closerThe WW2 WRENS Hut, when being used as accommodation for those who were bombed out in The Swansea Blitz. Later the site of Castellammare Restaurant (Now The Lighthouse Bistro). Photo C.1950.
The base of a WW2 Naval searchlight emplacement, one of two at The Tutt. With Mumbles Lighthouse Island in the background, which also had two similar emplacements. More: The Guns of Mumbles Lighthouse Island >
The base of one of the two Naval searchlight emplacements at The Tutt, Bracelet Bay. More: The Guns of Mumbles Lighthouse Island >
The general view, in front of the Coastguard lookout, Tutt Head, overlooking Limeslade Bay, includes Mike Richards, with his parents and sister in the 1950s. Photo: Mike Richards.
The closer views shows a machine gun pillbox in the background, used for defence of the area, during WW2. This is shown being demolished in the next photo in this post. A second Pillbox can be glimpsed on the left of the earlier photo and both are recorded on the hand drawn wartime map. Photo: Mike Richards
Later Developments
Later Developments
Castellamare Restaurant, Bracelet Bay, Mumbles, (later The Lighthouse Bistro nd Cafe ) with HM Coastguard Station, at Tutt Head, The Mumbles, 1984.
Castellamare Restaurant, Bracelet Bay, Mumbles, (later The Lighthouse Bistro nd Cafe ) at Tutt Head, with HM Coastguard Station, at Tutt Head, The Mumble
Coastguard Lifesaving Apparatus Crew (LSA) 1919.
Mumbles LSA at Practice, 1919.
Coastguard Cottages, a modern view
A modern google satellite view of the former Coastguard Station cottages
Mumbles Coastguard Lookout on the hill
Mumbles Coastguard Lookout on the hill
This postwar photo reveals the Engine House, which powered the two searchlights on Tutt Head. A Port War Signal Station during WW2.
There were two searchlight emplacements on Tutt Head, positioned so that they could sweep the surface of the water with their lights. These have been demolished, and only the bases remain.
Inside the Engine House were Lister generators used to power searchlights. This example is situated on Mumbles Lighthouse Island.
This Cliff top searchlight emplacement is one of two still in place in front of Mumbles Lighthouse. and Fort.
In front of the Coastguard lookout, Tutt Head, Limeslade Bay, Mike Richards, with his parents and sister, 1950s. Photo: Mike Richards.
A closer view of the pilbox in the background, used for area defence, during WW2, which was shown being demolished earlier. A second Pillbox can be glimpsed on the left of the earlier photo and both are recorded on the hand drawn wartime map. The building dominating the Tutt is the wartime Signal Room and the Coastguard Hut is glimpsed on the left. Photo: Mike Richards.
WW2 plan showing the defences, with additions in Red.
A group of the WRNS at Tutt Head, on the left is Joan S (Jones), ‘Visual Signaller WRNS’.
More: I served in the WRNS at Tutt Head >
and : The Guns of Mumbles Head >
More: I served in the WRNS at Tutt Head >
and : The Guns of Mumbles Head >
The old Coastguard Station at Tutt Head, taken from Mumbles Hill, including the wartime Signal Room.
Postwar view of Coastguard Station at Tutt Head, Mumbles. A similar view of the Tutt is shown below.
Barometer
Barometer
In November 2003, there was a Barometer situated in the wall outside The Bristol Chanel Yacht Club, Southend, with a Post Box alongside.
Barometer: measures atmospheric pressure, used in forecasting the weather.
Ronald Studden posted this photo of a Lookout, which may have been sited overlooking Clement's Quarry, Mumbles.
More information welcomed.
Coastguard cottages, Westbourne Place .
Everyday Life on Mumbles Coastguard Station 1930 & 1940s
by Bet Ogbourne & Pat Symmons
The old coastguard houses at Westbourne Place , about 1930
My Life at umbles Coastguard Station
by John Jeffers
I served in the WRNS at Mumbles Coastguard Station
Mrs Joan Jones served in the WRNS at The Naval Signal Station at The Tutt, Bracelet Bay, Mumbles.
Mumbles Hill, A Ramble Through Time
by Carol Powell M.A.
Cricket, Tea and Tragedy on the Mixon Sands
by Carol Powell M.A.
A collection of three Memories:- Peter Dover-Wade said, 'I remember well the night of the storm and that on hearing of the tragedy, my friend and I, both sixteen ...'
Congratulations to HM Coastguard which marked its 200th anniversary on Saturday 15 January 2022
Congratulations to HM Coastguard which marked its 200th anniversary on Saturday 15 January 2022
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