The Mumbles Railway-
Route from Oystermouth to Mumbles Head
The Mumbles Railway
Oystermouth to Mumbles Head
A larger map of the Railway is at the end of the article -
LOT 1 includes: all of:-
Lot A -Today this includes the site of Boots The Chemist (Oystermouth Square) along to the boundary between the site of the Bowling Green and the lane at the rear of Cornwall Place.
[Part of Lot A - the site of the Tennis Courts and Bowling Green, were reserved for public use and maintained by the City and County of Swansea.]
Lot B -Today this includes the site of Cornwall Place and Devon Place.
Lot C -Today is the site of the Catholic Church and Promenade Terrace.
LOT 2 -Today is the site of the Bristol Channel Yacht Club
Note: Correct as edited in December 2023.
Another view of the steam train at Oystermouth Station
Extra photos and details of the Station and later Square
The breakwater is in the centre of this photo taken from Clements Quarry, c.1903
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.
The Village Lane Breakwater and Slipway at Southend >
The quay or breakwater at Southend, built by the Railway Company, around 1895, in front of Village Lane, to shelter the Oyster Skiffs, but was not maintained by the council after sustaining damage in a storm and slowly allowed to rot away over many years.
A closer view of the quay, pier or breakwater and the Oyster Skiffs
The wooden breakwater or groyne, seen in the centre of this 1926 photo, is now almost gone.
The foreshore at Southend, which contains the remains of many skiffs (boats).
The remains of an Oyster skiff (boat)
The wrecked remains of several oyster skiffs (boats), which lie near the shore at Mumbles 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.
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 Clements Quarry is now a carpark and recycling centre.
This is the start of the Mumbles History Trail >
OHA also have many leaflets and - Publications >
Which may be ordered at any meeting
Regatta day at Southend in the 1920s. The photo was taken from the bridge opposite The George Hotel.
A steam train journeys to Mumbles Pier.
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.
On 2 March 1929, a gleaming new fleet of red electric trains superseded the steam locomotives.
Many of photos in our archive were taken from this bridge over the railway at Southend, which was demolished when the railway was closed in January 1960.
The open-top bus en route to Limeslade Bay, 1982
The new Knab Rock car park and slipway
Construction work underway on the Knab Rock slipway, August 1983
The new Knab Rock development, 20 July 1984
Verdi's Restaurant was opened in July 1993 at Knab Rock, photo July 2006
There have also been many changes at Mumbles Pier since it opened in May 1898.
The Mumbles Railway a history
