Tag Archives: White Rock

A message from Swansea Canal Society’s new patron …

I was very surprised and pleased to be asked recently to lend my support to the Swansea Canal Society’s work as Patron, and am delighted to be able to offer some words of support for the inspiring work already underway and plans for the future.
The Great British public owe a great deal in the resurgence of the canal network to the efforts of small groups of enthusiasts and volunteers who began to campaign for, clean, dredge and rebuild decades ago. In recent partnership with the Canal and River Trust, many of our historic waterways have not only been interpreted to help local people connect with and understand the places where they live and work, but have provided a place of leisure, an environment for plant life, animals and birds in increasingly urbanised environments, and helped people to improve their physical and mental well-being.
It is my hope that the society will be able to gather the necessary support to move forward with their ambitious plans to restore and regenerate an area for which I have fond memories and much affection.

Liz McIvor
November, 2015

Some Facts about Liz:

Liz McIvor, is presenter and writer of the BBC4 series, ‘Canals: The Making of a Nation’.  Liz has also written the book which accompanies the series, which finished its six part run on October 6th. Both the book and series have been very well received and it has become BBC4’s top-rated show of the year (source: Broadcast Commissioning Forum). Alison Graham in the ‘Radio Times’ described Liz’s style as ‘direct, informative and engaging’.

Liz McIvor’s day job is as curator of social history and technology at Bradford Museums and Galleries. She attended the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth where she was awarded a First Class degree in History in 2000, specialising in social and economic history. She later attended University of London where she did a Masters in Museum Studies.

Liz has close connections to Swansea as she lived in Fforestfach in the early 2000’s, whilst working as a Curator and Historical Advisor in South Wales. She worked with miners and minority groups and studied Cambrian Archaeology. She even dug up the occasional Cambrian skeleton in the course of her studies!

The SCS is delighted to have Liz’s support. She is not only a first class writer and presenter but she loves Britain’s canals and has a deep knowledge of their social history. She is the ideal patron for us.

Kilvey Hill Community Volunteers this weekend

“Just a reminder about our special one-hour Task Day tomorrow, Sunday 22nd. We’re training and preparing for the Xmas Tree Event in 2 weeks’ time.

“Meet at 11 at Pentrechwyth Arch to walk up Goblin’s Garden, and lay a new bark path there. It’s important as many volunteers as possible learn which trees we are cutting and how to keep people safe, Looks like the Sun might be shining AND we can try out the SLACKLINE!

“Also FYI it’s the Green Fair all weekend at the Waterfornt Museum, always good. Google for more info.

“Hope to see you tomorrow. Marian”
marianfrancis89@yahoo.co.uk

Art at the Hafod, 16 November …

‘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/

Swansea Canal Heritage Trail …

To: Local groups and organisations and residents

One of our future projects is to create the Swansea Canal Heritage Trail which would extend from the north end of the Swansea Valley Nature Reserve (next to Swansea Valley Tyres) to the Twrch Aqueduct Ystalyfera.

This section, along the A4067, contains many historical features including a lock which is a Cadw Scheduled Structure. All these features are presently invisible to the general public. The trail would be designed for pedestrians and cyclists and would feature Information panels along its route.

The main purpose of the Heritage Trail would be ;
*To mark the existence of this stretch of the canal, by installation of information boards.
*provide safe pedestrian and cycle access, including a cycle track along the A4067.
*Set the Swansea Canal in context in the Swansea Valley:
~ Describe the detailed history of the construction shown on each board
~ Give the natural history of the area surrounding each board.

Working with the NeathPortTalbot Voluntary Services and many other bodies we are actively seeking funding for this project. One of the main criteria for funding is to demonstrate the support of local establishments and organisations, which is why we are contacting you. It is important to note that we are requesting your support but are NOT asking for any further contribution, financial or otherwise. All we ask is that you promote the Society and Heritage Trail to your friends and colleagues.
If you are willing to support us could you please sign the e.petition on

http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/swansea-canal-heritage-trail

Many Thanks,
Alan Williams Grants Officer Swansea Canal Society.
www.swanseacanalsociety.com

Lots of Hafod-Morfa Happenings in November …

Dear Friends

Please find attached news from The Hafod-Morfa Copperworks and a list of events coming up.

News

We aim to submit an application for funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund in December. We are hoping to secure funds to construct the next phase of the long term plan to develop a unique mixed use urban development  and an inspiring space to visit, work, live and learn in.  We want to ensure that we engage as many individuals and groups in the process and particularly in further research, projects and interpretation to bring the site’s past to life.  More detail about the content of the bid will be available at a meeting on the 9th November. In the meantime, we invite your input on four key questions;

Have we got the plan of community engagement in research and interpretation right?

How do we bring the Musgrave Engine back to life and can you help?

Do you have any general comments on the Purcell masterplan  that we should consider?

How should we generate income from tickets to run a visitor centre?

We will shortly be posting more information about these four questions in a private group on the VocalEyes website see here www.VocalEyes.org to be set up soon.  It is free and easy to register and join in a  series of conversations about the future of the city.  The website allows you to rate ideas, make comments, read the comments of others and propose actions and working groups. We hope to make more of this technology as we proceed with the HLF bid.

In the meantime, a report of the Connected Communities Exchange Event can be seen on our website. This reports on the day and proposes a wish-list of community research and activities that we would like to include in the HLF bid. http://www.hafodmorfacopperworks.com/report-of-the-connected-communities-exchange-event/

A video of the event can also be viewed. http://www.hafodmorfacopperworks.com/short-film-about-connected-communities-festival/

The masterplan can be viewed here http://jhurleydesign.com/copperworks-wp/wp-content/uploads/236x297_Hafod_Vision_Document_V7_DIGITAL.pdf

Events

Friends of Hafod-Morfa Copperworks Meeting, Monday 9th November at 6pm at the Landore Social Club

We will be discussing the HLF bid and the questions above.

Tidy-Up Session

A group of the Hafod-Morfa Friends will be meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Monday 2 November for an autumn tidy-up and litter pick of the site – we’d welcome additional Friends and supporters to join us. Supported by Keep Wiles Tidy.

Being Human Festival

Swansea University is delighted to be hosting a festival hub as part of Being Human 2015 http://beinghumanfestival.org/

Two events are based at Hafod-Morfa Copperworks;

Art at the Hafod- The Spirit of Place on Monday 16 November 11.00am-16.00pm offers a chance to respond to this site of rich heritage through observational drawings and painting with guidance from inspirational artist, Dan Llewelyn Hall – http://www.danllywelynhall.co.uk/home.htm

FREE admission. Book now:  http://beinghumanfestival.org/event/art-the-hafod-the-spirit-of-place/  or enquiries to e.canning@swansea.ac.uk

The Young Heritage Apprentice Thursday 12 November, 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm

‘The young heritage apprentice’, aimed at 14–18-years-olds, challenges school teams to develop a project associated with Cu @ Swansea, an ambitious heritage-led regeneration initiative focusing on the 12.5 acre site of the former Hafod-Morfa copperworks in the Lower Swansea Valley. It is led by Huw Bowen, professor of public history at Swansea University, in association with the City and County of Swansea. After visiting the site of the copperworks on 12 November, selected teams will present their ideas to a panel of judges on 19 November at the National Waterfront Museum. The day will culminate in an awards ceremony.

Free Admission | Application process applies by contacting k.spiller@swansea.ac.uk

Please contact me for more information about any of the above.

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.hafodmorfacopperworks.com

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, Friday 9-12.30.

 

Wildlife Trust November Work Party Programme …

Hope you will be so kind as to send this out to your mailing list again. We’ve done it slightly differently this time, in that upon interest/contact, volunteers receive full list of when and where the next months work parties will be e.g. November Programme, this way we have some idea of who/how many will turn up.

November Programme 2015

NovDec Programme poster 2015

Tara Daniels
West Glamorgan’s Wild Woodland Project Officer (WGWW)
07855009622 / 01656 724100 / t.daniels@welshwildlife.org

Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, The Nature Centre, Fountain Road, Tondu, Bridgend CF32 0EH
www.welshwildlife.org

 

Hafod-Morfa Site Tidy Up, 2 November …

Hafod-Morfa Site – Tidy Up – Monday 2 November at 4:00 p.m.

A currently small group of the Hafod-Morfa Friends will be meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Monday 2 November for an autumn tidy-up and litter pick of the site – but we’d welcome additional Friends and supporters to join us.

Hope to see you there – fingers crossed for a dry day!
ray.collier@btinternet.com

For updates – also see us on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/Hafod-Morfa-Copperworks-381169952010109/

and Twitter

https://twitter.com/copperhistories?lang=en-gb

White Rock talk at Swansea Railway Modellers Group, 27 October …

Please note this lecture is approaching fast: 7.00 for 7.30pm on Tuesday 27 October 2015 in the 1st Floor former Chapel at the Club’s premises at 300 Carmarthen Road.  Access to our premises is at the rear of the building as usual and plenty of off-road car parking is available.  The Lecture will be given by John Ashley with support from Rob Hulme and Tudor Price and will talk about the history of The White Rock Copper Works, a key component of Swansea’s industrial past. If you wish to know more please visit the Friends of White Rock website detailed above. Our railway club will serve tea, coffee and biscuits during the course of the evening.

This is expected to be a popular lecture given by those who really know their subject and you are strongly recommended to attend. If you are not a Club member please let me know so that adequate seating and refreshments can be made available. There will be no charge but you may leave a donation if you wish although this is not obligatory.

Noel Blows
Chairman
Swansea Railway Modellers Group

www.srmg.org.uk

 

ITV Wales at White Rock! …

James Crichton-Smith of ITV Wales will be filming at White Rock on Thursday 22 October, 10.30 to 12.30. The film will feature on ITV News Wales at 6. James will explore the site and talk to some of our volunteers.

The date of broadcast depends on what else is happening that day, so set your recorders!

This is the first time TV has been to White Rock since Time Team in 2008. Come along to watch the fun, and maybe join in the vegetation clearance or litter picking – we have something for everyone.

Swansea Bay Reborn, 18 November …

Swansea Bay Reborn

18th November 2015, 5.45pm – 8.00pm

Principal Lecture Theatre, The Great Hall, Swansea University Bay Campus, Swansea SA1 8QQ

The Institute of Welsh Affairs, in association with the Institute of Directors, is convening a forum to inform the people of Swansea and West Wales about the exciting projects currently in place to enhance the advancement of the area.

Swansea Bay was a vital and dynamic component in pioneering Britain’s Industrial Revolution; dominating in the smelting of copper, the mining of coal and the manufacture of tinplate, steel and other metals, all with global trading and financial links.
But since the decline in these industries, the area has suffered a clear loss of identity.

However, initiatives such as the Tidal Lagoon and the transformation of Swansea’s waterfront by two universities has given the Bay considerable signs of hope, and engendered a new confidence to be shared by the whole of West Wales.

To find out more the IWA has convened a panel who are able to share with the general public the potential economic benefits to the region as well as answering any questions posed.
Chaired by Mai Davies, the panel includes:

• Sir Terry Matthews
• Professor Iwan Davies, Pro Vice Chancellor, Swansea University
• Ioan Jenkins, Wales Development Director, Tidal Lagoon
• Anwen Robinson, SVP, Unit4
• Huw Jenkins/Leigh Dineen, SWANS
• Mal Pope, SWANS & Film and Media Industry

Tickets for this event are free, but please reserve your ticket by clicking https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/swansea-bay-reborn-tickets-1… .

If you have any queries about this event, please contact Laura Knight on 02920 484 387 or email laura@iwa.org.uk