The Mumbles Railway at Oystermouth Square

More: Photo Collections

Before Oystermouth Square

In the centre of this photo, there is a fine view Clements Quarry and in front of this is the old sea wall, which bordered the Castle Hill Turminus of the Mumbles Railway, now the Dairy Car Park. Photo: post 1880.

Today, when you pass Mumbles Methodist Church, on the right of this photo, you will note that it is about one hundred yards from the sea wall. But, until 1892, the sea came up as far as the road in front. Photo: post 1880.

Now and Then

On 23 May 1892, work had already began on the project which will extend the railway from Castle Hill Terminus to Mumbles Head and open in May 1898. The railway carriages and shelter are situated at the current terminus. On the left is the old sea wall, which today borders the Dairy Car Park.

A modern view of the area, showing the completed sea wall.

The steps to the beach replaced the 'tunnel' which went under the railway line, to allow carriage access to the nets in the bay.

Now and Then

Oystermouth, before the Railway extention to the Headland, c1892

The timbers are ready for work on the sea wall to begin. In the background it can be seen that the sea came up as far as the Mumbles Road.

This area is now named 'Oystermouth Square.' In August 2015, Tivoli Amusements is recorded before its change to The Oyster Wharf development.

The project begins to cross the beach, which would eventually reclaim land which changed the coastline.

The work is making steady progress. The building in the background is on the site of today's Dairy car park.

Now and Then

A steam train at the new Oystermouth Station, is met byseveral horse & carriages, c1895

A hundred year later, a similar station building is being used by Mumbles Tourist Information. In the background, the Tivoli Cinema is now a venue for playing slot machines and other entertainments.

The Mumbles Railway-the route from Oystermouth to Mumbles Pier

Where did the railway go?

Bater & Son, Coal Merchants, was situated at 'Station Square' also seen below.

Around 1900, Jenkins, Ironmongers and General Stores was situated at the entrance of Oystermouth Station.

A site later taken over by Fortes Ice-Cream Parlour in 1936

The photo above is from the same viewpoint

Any memories?

They are giving away free ice-cream at Forte's by Grafton Maggs

'Our generation was expert on ice cream in the thirties and with some justification as the days of the great mass producers had not arrived.'

Now and Then

Once this building was part of the Victorian Waiting Room, it was later used as a Tourist Information Centre. Note the two of the rusty poles, which once carried the overhead electricity power cables for the trains.

Oystermouth Station, around 1959. The short post with the number TWO was to show the driver where to stop the front of the train if he had two carriages. Part of this carriage, number 7, now resides in the Tram Shed, next to the Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

After the photo above was taken the building was converted, once again, into a Cafe (which soon closed).

'The Square Cafe', 'The Tivoli' & Boots The Chemist, April 2012. The red cross shows the site of the old British Legion Hut at the square.

Fortes Ice-Cream Parlour, a bus in the Square and 'The Tiv' Tivoli Entertainments, c1965

Going to the Tiv by Grafton Maggs

'Another favourite pastime in the 1930s was ‘Going to the pictures.’ It was a special occasion with an excitement far exceeding that of a visit to the impersonal, sterile cinemas catering for today ...'