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Introduction I wanted to do this project because Morriston has special memories for me. We didn’t need expensive toys to keep us happy we just used our imagination.

I did a survey on Morriston to see if anyone had any knowledge about the area, I was very surprised, at how little people knew about Morriston.

Knowledge of Morriston

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Nothing

Some Things

A Lot

Morris Castle (also known as Castle Graig) a ruined

building that is situated off Trewyddfa Road .It has been known as Morris Castle, Llewellyn Castle and Castle Graig.

It was built between 1768 and 1774 on behalf of Sir John Morris to house the families of workers at his industrial copperworks it was known as a modern day housing flats...

The building originally consisted of four interconnected towers, each four stories tall.

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The towers were connected by blocks which were three stories tall, surrounding a central courtyard. A fierce storm on 25th January 1990 destroyed a large section of the ruin it lost its east wall in a hurricane; a gust reduced one of the towers to rubble. Today, the structure is derelict, with only partial remains of two towers still standing, although several features of the building can still be seen, including the fireplaces, chimneys, and some of the windows.

HHHHistory of Morristonistory of Morristonistory of Morristonistory of Morriston Morriston is famous for John Morris who came from Shropshire to Swansea in 1726.

Sir John Morris, 1st Baronet (15 July 1745 – 25 June 1819) He was the son of Robert Morris a farmer from Shropshire. Morris came to Swansea to start a copper works. He built the

initial streets of Morris Town which is now known as Morriston.

In 1806 became a Baronet, of Clasemont in the County of Glamorgan.

It is known for its coal, copper tin-plate, slate, brick.

Morriston Morriston Morriston Morriston ChurchesChurchesChurchesChurches The Tabernacle and St John’s were both built by John Humphrey's are Grade I listed buildings.

The Philadelphia and Seion both are Grade II listed buildings.

St David Sacred Heart Salvation Army Pentremalwed St John’s (grade I listed) Tabernacle (grade I listed) Libernus Philadelphia (grade II listed) Horeb Chapel Seion (grade II listed) Soar Gospel Tent Bethanial Carmel Chapel

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CopperworksCopperworksCopperworksCopperworks The copperworks was founded in 1810 it was designed by John Vivian. It was one of the largest copper exports in the UK in the the middle of the 19th century and also produced navel brass, ferro bronzes, lead ingots, spelter, silver, gold, sulphuric acid, zinc chloride and superphospate.

Canals and RailwaysCanals and RailwaysCanals and RailwaysCanals and Railways

Photo by Gareth Mills

In the late 1950’s, there was a train line that went from Swansea via Landore to Morriston. It also had a canal that was pulled by horse power.

The train and canal line were side by side. The train line was disused in 1963. The canal was filled in around mid 1970’s.

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When I was young I lived in Morris Street which had a bridge going over the train track and canal it was dangerous, because some small children would fall into the canal (see picture on next page down) It was filled in about mid 1970’s.

We used to collect train numbers over the wall by the train track and canal, all the trains were steam engine ones and we waved to the passengers aboard.

We used to play in an old scrap yard, which we called “The 600”. This was a shortened nickname that we called the site, after the scrap yard company, The 600 Group. We also used rooftops of vans that were cut out from old cars, vans and ambulances. We turned the rooftops upside down, put milk crates as seats and planks of wood for oars to make canoe have to sail down the canal. We had hours of fun!

Along the River Tawe there was a sandy inlet which we called Cockleshell Island. Many a hot summer’s days were spent there, swimming in the river and picnics in the cove.

One time when we were younger, my brother came home from school and told me about a haunted house in Wychtree Street two streets away from where I lived. We went along to have a look, myself, Ros my friend, my brother Michael and my cousin Alan. The middle room of this big house had a piano and a large chest of drawers.

Every day my brother would go to school and tell his mates about this haunted house. Ros and I would go and hide inside the drawers and wait.

We waited for my brother and his friends to play the piano, as they did with my fingers I would slide the drawer above me to open it.

All the kids would run out of the house screaming. When they returned to school the next day and they would tell everyone about this house is haunted.

Every day more and more people would visit the house, this went on for about six months as the crowds, got bigger and bigger, the neighbours complained to the police and the house was boarded.

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Even my parents and auntie knew what we were up to. To this day it is still always talked about and one of the best things in our memories!

Photo by Gareth Mills

If you look at the bridge part going over the canal you can see how dangerous it was for small children to fall into the canal.

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Famous MFamous MFamous MFamous Morristonorristonorristonorristoniansiansiansians John Morris was responsible for Morris Castle 1768-1774.

Morriston is famous for The Morriston Orpheus Choir- The choir was formed in 1935. They performed at the London Palladium with Harry Secombe in1957. .

John Morris (Copperworks & Castle Graig)

William Richard Arnold - Welsh rugby.

Anthony Clement – Welsh rugby.

Cliff Bowen – Welsh rugby.

Richard and Paul Moriaty – Welsh rugby.

Shane Williams – Welsh Rugby. International 2008.

James Thomas – Welsh International & Swansea AFC.

Hayley Tullet – International athlete.

Ceri Phillips – Actor and stand up.

Jeremy Rees – Welsh broadcaster.

Dewi Morris – Welsh comedian, actor and television personality

D. Z. Phillips – Philosopher of Religion.

Desmond Barrit – Actor and Choir he was given the Laurence Olivier Award best known for his stage work Royal Shakespeare Company, Chichester Festival Theatre and the Grand Theatre, Swansea.

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Lan Manor Lan Manor Lan Manor Lan Manor William Thomas of Lan Manor, otherwise known as ‘Thomas the Lan’, became the Major of Swansea in 1877. He was widely regarded for his services to public life in the mid and late 1800s My uncle lived in Lan Manor in the 60’s. My father was a builder and did a lot of building work for my uncle. They lived at the back of the house.

The front part was used as letting rooms. This part of the house had a big sweeping stairway and rooms at the top had views of Morriston with Tabernacle Chapel standing out in the background.

I have a lot of fond memories of staying there on week-ends. I did not know the history behind Lan Manor until I was doing some research for my project.

Lan Manor was at the top of a very steep hill in the past. We had a very bad winter in 1963 we had a very bad winter and the snow was over my head. We could not get down the hill to go home so five of us sat on a tin sheet panel and slid down the hill.

Today there is a smaller, not so steep hill there.

Photo by Alberta Stevens

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Old Tram LinesOld Tram LinesOld Tram LinesOld Tram Lines During the 1900’s they had a tram that came along Woodfield Street around St John’s Church down Martin Street going all the way to Swansea’s High Street.

Photo by Alberta Stevens MemoriesMemoriesMemoriesMemories We used to have a milkman who delivered our milk on a horse and cart until he retired. His name was Cecil and his dairy was in Glantawe Street.

My grandmother was from Slate Street.

I remember the Regal Cinema on Woodfield Street. I saw many films there. This cinema is where my mum met my dad.

It was demolished in 1963. Woolworth’s and Boot’s are there now. Woolworth’s was at the other end of Woodfield Street, near St John’s church until it was demolished to make way for the new one.

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While I was doing my research for this project I found another cinema in Morriston. It was called the Gem and was on Sway Road, opposite The Lamb and Flag by the Police Station. It is a tyre and car repairs shop now.

The fire station was in Martin Street then. It is now at the bottom of Chemical Road.

My grandmother’s brother (Ozzie Hopkins) was a teacher at Pentrepoeth Senior School, later he became a Deputy Head Master until he retired in the 1960’s. I’m not sure what he taught, it may have been Geography because I remember him helping Mr Harris the P.E. teacher with the Rugby classes.

He lived on Clasemont Road until he died in the 60’s. Also my uncle Jimmy was also a teacher there he took Geography there until 1970 when it closed. His wife Christine (Ozzie’s daughter) was also a teacher, I think they moved to Ireland, where Christine continued her teaching.

Sources Desmond Barrit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Swansea Docks-Swansea Canal page 2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Castle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=famous+people+from+morriston+swansea&sourceid=Mozilla-search Photographs credited to Alberta Stevens and Morriston Camera Club Photographs credited to Gareth Mills.