Tag Archives: Hafod

Hotel idea for Swansea’s Hafod copperworks site

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-38329971

Plans to regenerate Swansea’s former Hafod copperworks site could also include a hotel and leisure complex.

Heritage Lottery funding has already been granted to set up a distillery and visitor centre to attract up to 50,000 visitors per year.

But a hotel complex has been earmarked by Swansea council which would also be used by sports fans attending matches at the nearby Liberty Stadium .

Council leader Rob Stewart said there was an “opportunity” for the scheme.

The copperworks dominated the world copper market for 150 years, but has lain derelict since 1980.

CU@Swansea, a partnership between the council and Swansea University, has been working since 2010 to preserve the buildings and heritage of the Grade II-listed works.

Along with those works, which form part of the Tawe corridor regeneration strategy, the Penderyn distillery would be the centrepiece of the project.

The hotel would be built on land which is used as a car park on match days for the Liberty.

Riverside homes, restaurants and water sports facilities make up the rest of the strategy.

Art at the Hafod, 16 November …

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‘Art @ the Hafod’ event is free and open to everyone, please book your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/art-the-hafod-the-spirit-of-place-tickets-18684462731

Please find below information on a fantastic event that will bring heritage and art together at the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks. The event is open to all ages and will consider the copperworks site and the broader surrounding areas including White Rock, Kilvey Hill and the river to celebrate the site, landscape and history.

So come and join us at a truly unique event that will offer opportunity to learn about the history of the site and to consider artistic interpretation of the site.

Swansea University
Research Institutefor Arts and Humanities

Festival of Humanities 2015

‘Being Human: Heritage, Health and Wellbeing

‘Art @ the Hafod –the spirit of place’
Monday 16 November 2015, 11.00am – 4pm

The historic Hafod-Morfa Copperworks was one of the primary centres of industry in South Wales and integral to community life in the Lower Swansea Valley. Participants of all ages will get a unique chance to respond to this site of rich heritage through observational drawings and painting.

With guidance from artist, Dan Llywelyn Hall, members of the group can expect to develop their observational skills and confidence with drawing and painting.

Venue: Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, Swansea.

TO FIND OUT MORE AND TO BOOK YOUR PLACE: http://beinghumanfestival.org/event/art-the-hafod-the-spirit-of-place/

As one of five UK festival hubs, we will explore wellbeing and heritage through public-facing activities (debate, poetry, performance, art and enterprise), made possible by a grant from the festival organisers, the School of Advanced Study, University of London, in partnership with the AHRC, British Academy and Wellcome Trust.

TO FIND OUT MORE AND TO BOOK YOUR PLACE AT THESE FREE EVENTS GO TO:

http://www.swansea.ac.uk/riah/riah-public-lecture-and-event-series-2015-16/festival-of-humanities-2015/

​Historic Swansea Bascule bridge will swing back into use …

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http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/8203-Historic-Swansea-Bascule-bridge-swing-use/story-26525090-detail/story.html

AN ICONIC wooden bridge which crosses Swansea’s River Tawe will be restored as part of a major transport improvement scheme in the city.

Swansea Council has been awarded £2.7 million from the Welsh Government annual transport grant settlement and will be ploughing the funding into a wide range of projects aimed at improving transport and road safety in the city.

Of the settlement £200,000 has been allocated towards restoring the grade II listed Bascule Bridge, located in Morfa area.

The unique wooden bridge, which dates back to the early 1900s, is in danger of collapse if not repaired. The bridge is currently out of use.

Situated in the shadows of the Liberty Stadium, the bridge is one of the few surviving relics of the area’s rich copper heritage. It had a water-powered lever system enabling a section of the bridge to be lifted to allow sailing ships to pass through.

Once restored, the bridge will be brought back into use as a cycleway and footpath, creating an important link on the National Cycle Network 43 and for local match-day connections to the Liberty Stadium.

A spokesman for Swansea Community Boat Trust, which runs trips from the marina up the River Tawe, welcomed the news as hitherto its barge was not allowed to pass the bridge due to safety reasons.

He said: “It would be very good news for us as we could then go at least as far as the Liberty Stadium and it would be great to get closer to the bridge itself as its an important piece of our heritage.”

Mark Thomas, cabinet member for environment and transportation, said it would be used for pedestrians and cyclists.”It’s expected that major cities throughout Europe can provide sufficient cycle path infrastructure to make cycling a viable mode of transport as well as an enjoyable pastime.”

Clean-up day at Hafod Morfa Copperworks, Sat 6th December …

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There will be a work day at the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks on Saturday 6th December from 10.30am until 12.30pm. We will meet by the new artwork and interpretation panels.

We will be cleaning up litter at the site with the help of Keep Wales Tidy and looking for objects of archaeological interest with the help of GGAT. We will record the location of any objects and photograph them with a view to possibly removing them to a safer place if appropriate to do so.

We also hope to be able to do some litter picking at the White Rock Heritage Park and the New Siloh Chapel depending on volunteer numbers.

It should be a fun and satisfying few hours and hope you will want to join us.

Keep Wales Tidy will provide tools, gloves and bags. I would suggest sturdy footwear, wet weather gear and your own gloves if you have them.

Please get in touch with me on the number below if you have any questions.

Best wishes,

Stuart Griffin
Hafod Copperworks Development Project
College of Arts and Humanities
Swansea University
Singleton Park
Swansea
SA2 8PP

01792 602617

Follow the Cu @ Swansea copper project at www.welshcopper.org.uk/en/

Find us on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Hafod-Morfa-Copperworks/381169952010109

See photos of the project on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/97373278@N07/sets/

Working Days Monday 9-5, Wednesday 9-5, Thursday 9-12.30.

Hafod-Morfa object search and litter pick, 6 December …

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There will be an object search and litter pick at the Hafod-Morfa site on Saturday 6th December, 10.30 until 12.30. Keep Wales Tidy are providing the management and equipment. Bring good footwear and gloves.

Several objects of interest have been found at Hafod-Morfa recently. When discovered they will be photographed in situ by GGAT before being moved and the local site examined.

If there is enough resource we can do some picking and searching at White Rock as well, otherwise we will organise a separate event. Siloh chapel is also on the radar for 6 December.

 

Friends of Hafod-Morfa Copperworks Meeting, Thursday 31st October

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The next Friends meeting will be on 31st October from 10-12 noon at the National Waterfront museum.

The meeting will focus on the proposals for interpretation and art for the site. We have focussed on eight human stories which will be represented through sculpted panels and audio recordings. We would like to hear suggestions for any other stories that you think need to be told at the site, either now or in future phases of the project. An interpretation plan has been completed which will be available through our website before the meeting.

We will also provide a general progress update and plan in some work days that some people have requested to get involved in keeping the vegetation under control.

We have a new Facebook page which has some stunning photographs taken of the site this summer by photographer James Davies. If you are on face book please come and find the page. More photos of the progress on the site can be seen on our flickr site detailed below.

Hafod-Morfa Copperworks Draft Interpretation Plan

The interpretation of the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks site represents the shared histories of many people in the Swansea area and so we think it is important that you get a chance to input your ideas into the development of the plan for the site.We have written eight stories about the lives of characters involved in the site and presented this in the interpretation plan. Perhaps there are others that you would like to see, either now or in the future. The plan also proposes some artwork. This has been designed with the help of children at HafodPrimary School.

We particularly welcome input on the following.

  1. Are the eight character stories as good as they can be (please see appendix 1 on page 30)
  2. Have you got any other stories that you might wish to contribute?
  3. What other words, information, images, statistics can we include in the sites features, see 9.3.4 on page 24 -27

You can view the interpretation plan here until 31st October and/or attend a presentation at 10am, 31st October 2013 at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea.

Pleaese send any comments or suggestions to the Project Officer, Stuart Griffin (S.M.Griffin@Swansea.ac.uk)

www.welshcopper.org.uk/en/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97373278@N07/sets/

Open house at Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, Saturday 14th September

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Hafod-Morfa Copperworks is running activities for the Swansea Open House weekend on 14th September for  the first time.  Guided walks of the site will be given at 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm and will focus on the history of the site. You will be able to find out about the current work and future plans.  A Fun Family Scavenger Hunt from 1-3pm. Drop in between these times. Aimed at children of all ages with their families,  the event will have an archaeological twist and involve families collecting photos and identifying buildings and features from maps rather than scavenging actual objects. All families will be entered into a prize draw for a voucher for a family meal at Frankie and Bennie’s. This event is co-ordinated by Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust (GGAT). Download the flier or visit www.welshcopper.org.uk.

Hafod Walks 6th September

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Stephen Hughes, Royal Commission Project Director, is leading walks on Friday 6th September at 11am and 2pm. Numbers are limited so booking is required by 24th August to Lyndon Morris, 01792 232282 or lyndonchris@btinternet.com. The walks start from St. John’s Church, Odo Street. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available before the walks.