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{{Infobox UK place
{{Infobox UK place
|country= Wales
| country = Wales
|static_image_name= A4240 Alexandra Road, Gorseinon - geograph.org.uk - 1480632.jpg
| static_image_name = A4240 Alexandra Road, Gorseinon - geograph.org.uk - 1480632.jpg
|constituency_welsh_assembly= [[Gower (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Gower]]
| constituency_welsh_assembly = [[Gower (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Gower]]
|official_name= Gorseinon
| official_name = Gorseinon
|unitary_wales= [[Swansea]]
| unitary_wales = [[Swansea]]
|lieutenancy_wales= [[West Glamorgan]]
| lieutenancy_wales = [[West Glamorgan]]
|constituency_westminster= [[Gower (UK Parliament constituency)|Gower]]
| constituency_westminster = [[Gower (UK Parliament constituency)|Gower]]
|post_town= SWANSEA
| post_town = SWANSEA
|postcode_district= SA4
| postcode_district = SA4
|postcode_area= SA
| postcode_area = SA
|dial_code= 01792
| dial_code = 01792
|os_grid_reference= SS585985
| os_grid_reference = SS585985
|coordinates= {{coord|51.66|-4.03|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{coord|51.66|-4.03|display=inline,title}}
|map_type=
| map_type =
|population=
| population =
|population_ref = Town: 8,696<ref>[http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011 ONS: Census 2011 Key Statistics]</ref><br/>Urban Area: 20,581
| population_ref = Town: 8,696<ref>[http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011 ONS: Census 2011 Key Statistics]</ref><br/>Urban Area: 20,581
}}
}}
'''Gorseinon''' is a town within the [[City and County of Swansea]], [[Wales]], near the [[Loughor estuary]]. It was a small village until the late 19th century when it grew around the [[coal mining]] and [[tinplate]] industries. It is situated in the north west of [[Swansea City Centre]], around {{convert|6|mi|km|0}} north west of the city centre. Gorseinon is a local government [[community (Wales)|community]] with an elected [[town council]].
'''Gorseinon''' is a town within the [[City and County of Swansea]], [[Wales]], near the [[Loughor estuary]]. It was a small village until the late 19th century when it grew around the [[coal mining]] and [[tinplate]] industries. It is situated in the north west of [[Swansea City Centre]], around {{convert|6|mi|km|0}} north west of the city centre. Gorseinon is a local government [[community (Wales)|community]] with an elected [[town council]].


The population of the Gorseinon town council area in the 2011 Census is 8,693. However, the [[Office for National Statistics|ONS]] defines an area called the Gorseinon Urban Area which comprises all of the continuous built up area in and around Gorseinon. This area includes Gorseinon, [[Loughor]], [[Garden Village, Swansea|Garden Village]] and Penllergaer<ref>[http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/keystats/sqmap.aspx?kv=1367344941&type=-1&title= Nomis: Map of Gorseinon Urban Area]</ref> and has a population of 20,581.
The population of the Gorseinon town council area in the 2011 Census is 8,693. However, the [[Office for National Statistics|ONS]] defines an area called the Gorseinon Urban Area which comprises all of the continuous built up area in and around Gorseinon. This area includes Gorseinon, [[Loughor]], [[Garden Village, Swansea|Garden Village]] and Penllergaer<ref>[http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/keystats/sqmap.aspx?kv=1367344941&type=-1&title= Nomis: Map of Gorseinon Urban Area]</ref> and has a population of 20,581.

== Etymology ==
The name Gorseinon means "Einon's marsh", from the [[Literary Welsh morphology#Initial consonant mutation|soft mutated]] form of Welsh ''{{lang|cy|cors}}'' "marsh"<ref>{{Cite web|title=Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru|url=https://geiriadur.ac.uk/gpc/gpc.html?bar}}</ref> and the male personal name ''{{lang|cy|Einon}}'', the identity of whom is uncertain.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mills|first=A. D.|title=A Dictionary of British Place-Names|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2003|isbn=9780198527589|location=Oxford|pages=}}</ref> Einon is the southern form of the name Einion. The initial soft mutation is irregular, and one would expect Corseinon. The short name of the village in Welsh is Y Gors (the marsh).<ref name="Y Cymro Coch">{{cite news |last1=Y Cymro Coch |title=At Alcanwyr Corseinion |work=[[Tarian y Gweithiwr]] |date=23 November 1882 |page=3 |language=cy |url=https://papuraunewydd.llyfrgell.cymru/view/3112319/3112322}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=A letter to a newspaper is not a reliable source |date=February 2022}} Here the soft mutation is entirely regular (occurring when a feminine noun follows the definite article), and it may have spurred the change of Corseinon to Gorseinon. A "standard" form of the name, Corseinion, is seen in an appeal to his fellow tinplate workers by Y Cymro Coch in 1882.<ref name="Y Cymro Coch"/>{{Better source needed|reason=A letter to a newspaper is not a reliable source |date=February 2022}}


==History==
==History==
{{Expand section|date=July 2013}}


==Religious development==
===Religious development===
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2013}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2013}}
In 1840 the population of Gorseinon was barely 250 people. There were then two churches in the area. One was [[St Teilo's Church, Llandeilo Tal-y-bont]], also known as the “Church on the Marsh” – this has now been rebuilt in the [[St Fagans National History Museum]] in Cardiff. The other church was Brynteg Chapel, the only [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|non-conformist]] chapel for miles, which was built in 1815 and still stands.
In 1840 the population of Gorseinon was barely 250 people. There were then two churches in the area. One was [[St Teilo's Church, Llandeilo Tal-y-bont]], also known as the “Church on the Marsh” – this has now been rebuilt in the [[St Fagans National History Museum]] in Cardiff. The other church was Brynteg Chapel, the only [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|non-conformist]] chapel for miles, which was built in 1815 and still stands.
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Several churches and chapels were built in the 1880s. The first church in the town was Holy Trinity Church, built in 1882 and extended in 1884. Seion Baptist Church opened in 1886, built on a riverbank at the bottom of Gorseinon, but by 1902 a new Seion was built in the High Street. The old Seion was taken over by the [[Methodist Church of Great Britain|English Methodist]]s, but this eventually became the Moose Hall. Bethel English Congregational Church (Evangelical) was built in 1894. West Street Bethel Chapel in Masons Road was built as an English Congregationalist church. Ebenezer, the Welsh Congregational Chapel opened in 1887, but by 1909 a new chapel was built near Seion Capel.
Several churches and chapels were built in the 1880s. The first church in the town was Holy Trinity Church, built in 1882 and extended in 1884. Seion Baptist Church opened in 1886, built on a riverbank at the bottom of Gorseinon, but by 1902 a new Seion was built in the High Street. The old Seion was taken over by the [[Methodist Church of Great Britain|English Methodist]]s, but this eventually became the Moose Hall. Bethel English Congregational Church (Evangelical) was built in 1894. West Street Bethel Chapel in Masons Road was built as an English Congregationalist church. Ebenezer, the Welsh Congregational Chapel opened in 1887, but by 1909 a new chapel was built near Seion Capel.


St. Catherine’s Church was built in 1913 and the [[Salvation Army]] church in 1910. A [[Roman Catholic]] church in Pontardulais Road was built in 1932 and a new church was built on Alexandra Road in the 1960s, designed by the architect Robert Robinson, a local Gower man. There is also a [[Christadelphian]] meeting hall in the town.
St. Catherine's Church was built in 1913 and the [[Salvation Army]] church in 1910. A [[Roman Catholic]] church in Pontardulais Road was built in 1932 and a new church was built on Alexandra Road in the 1960s, designed by the architect Robert Robinson, a local Gower man. There is also a [[Christadelphian]] meeting hall in the town.


==Agricultural and industrial development==
===Agricultural and industrial development===
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2013}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2013}}
Gors Eynon first appeared on an [[Ordnance Survey]] map in 1813, but by 1830 the name appeared in its modern spelling.
Gors Eynon first appeared on an [[Ordnance Survey]] map in 1813, but by 1830 the name appeared in its modern spelling.


The monks of Neath Abbey paid many visits to this locality, and evidence of this were several mills built on the banks of local rivers; Cadle Mill, on the Lliw, [[Pontlliw]], Melyn Mynach, and Loughor Mill.
The monks of Neath Abbey paid many visits to this locality, and evidence of this were several mills built on the banks of local rivers; Cadle Mill, on the Lliw, [[Pontlliw]], Melyn Mynach, and Loughor Mill.

There was one weaving mill and two flour mills on the river. These were worked by the monks to provide food and clothing for the Abbey, wool being brought here from [[Gower Peninsula|Gower]] sheeplands.
There was one weaving mill and two flour mills on the river. These were worked by the monks to provide food and clothing for the Abbey, wool being brought here from [[Gower Peninsula|Gower]] sheeplands.

By the end of the thirteenth century the monks at Melyn Mynach owned vast acreage devoted to sheep farming. They produced high quality wool at Cwrt Y Carnau, which was traded in [[Flanders]] and Italy.
By the end of the thirteenth century the monks at Melyn Mynach owned vast acreage devoted to sheep farming. They produced high quality wool at Cwrt Y Carnau, which was traded in [[Flanders]] and Italy.
With the arrival of the black death and bubonic plague in the fourteenth century, labour became scarce and the monks were forced to sell or rent to the local farmers. Eventually, during Henry VIII’s reign, the few monks that were left were pensioned off, as their land passed into crown hands.


Mr. John Pryce, a legal gentleman, who was originally from the area but had moved to London, returned to raise a family at Cwrt Y Carne. In 1575 he purchased the manor and land, and also the mill at Melyn Mynach. The whole estate totalled over {{convert|130|acre|km2}}. Pryce tried to squeeze every penny out of his tenant farmers and many disputes followed. The Pryce family prospered and by the early eighteenth Century, the name had changed to Price.
With the arrival of the black death and bubonic plague in the fourteenth century, labour became scarce and the monks were forced to sell or rent to the local farmers. Eventually, during Henry VIII's reign, the few monks that were left were pensioned off, as their land passed into crown hands.
John Pryce, a legal gentleman, who was originally from the area but had moved to London, returned to raise a family at Cwrt Y Carne. In 1575 he purchased the manor and land, and also the mill at Melyn Mynach. The whole estate totalled over {{convert|130|acre|km2}}. Pryce tried to squeeze every penny out of his tenant farmers and many disputes followed. The Pryce family prospered and by the early eighteenth Century, the name had changed to Price.


The last owner of the Melyn Mynach was the husband of a Price family member. He was called Nathaniel Cameron – Mayor of Swansea. He also owned the Mountain Colliery but sold the Mill after getting into financial difficulties to Mr. William Lewis, the founder of Gorseinon.
The last owner of the Melyn Mynach was the husband of a Price family member. He was called Nathaniel Cameron – Mayor of Swansea. He also owned the Mountain Colliery but sold the Mill after getting into financial difficulties to Mr. William Lewis, the founder of Gorseinon.


There were few industries but coal was plentiful. A drift was opened in 1846 and became known as “The Mountain Coal”. This coal was transported on a narrow gauge railway line to Loughor, where it was loaded onto barges and sent to Llanelli for transportation all around the world. The drift mine continued to be worked until 1900, when a shaft was sunk. Now known as the Mountain Colliery, it produced at its peak in excess of 200,000 tons of coal a year with a workforce in excess of 900. It was closed in 1969.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/GlamWest/Mountain.htm|title= Mountain|accessdate= 3 December 2015}}</ref>
There were few industries but coal was plentiful. A drift was opened in 1846 and became known as “The Mountain Coal”. This coal was transported on a narrow gauge railway line to Loughor, where it was loaded onto barges and sent to Llanelli for transportation all around the world. The drift mine continued to be worked until 1900, when a shaft was sunk. Now known as the Mountain Colliery, it produced at its peak in excess of 200,000 tons of coal a year with a workforce in excess of 900. It was closed in 1969.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/GlamWest/Mountain.htm|title= Mountain|access-date= 3 December 2015}}</ref>


In 1860 the [[London and North Western Railway|L.N.W.R.]] wanted to extend the line from [[Pontarddulais]] to Swansea. William Lewis, a young industrialist sold them the land and a station was erected in 1870 – this became known as Gorseinon Station. The Mountain Colliery laid a siding from the Colliery to the Station and coal was redirected to [[Swansea Docks]].
In 1860 the [[London and North Western Railway|L.N.W.R.]] wanted to extend the line from [[Pontarddulais]] to Swansea. William Lewis, a young industrialist, sold them the land and a station was erected in 1870 – this became known as Gorseinon Station. The Mountain Colliery laid a siding from the Colliery to the Station and coal was redirected to [[Swansea Docks]].


The first day-school was opened in 1880 at [[Penyrheol, Swansea|Penyrheol]]. The Headmaster, Mr. Jones, afterwards transferred to Gorseinon. As Gorseinon’s industries grew so did its housing and streets, with the development of Mill Street, Gorseinon Terrace, Eynon Street and High Street.
The first day-school was opened in 1880 at [[Penyrheol, Swansea|Penyrheol]]. The Headmaster, Mr. Jones, afterwards transferred to Gorseinon. As Gorseinon's industries grew so did its housing and streets, with the development of Mill Street, Gorseinon Terrace, Eynon Street and High Street.


In 1886 the Grovesend Tin Works was built and the Lewis Family built many houses around the area to house the workers. The Grovesend Steelworks opened in 1890, but in 1891 all tinplate workers in South Wales were involved in a seven-month strike and times were very hard for the workers.
In 1886 the Grovesend Tin Works was built and the Lewis Family built many houses around the area to house the workers. The Grovesend Steelworks opened in 1890, but in 1891 all tinplate workers in South Wales were involved in a seven-month strike and times were very hard for the workers.


Gorseinon had two [[public house]]s, the Gorseinon Hotel (the Bottom Hotel) and the Station Hotel (the Gyp). It was said that the Bottom Hotel was for miners and the Gyp was for tinplate workers and it was a mortal sin to encroach on another man’s territory. Then in 1892 the West End Hotel was built and the Mardy in 1901 bring the number of public houses to four. The Gorseinon Hotel is no longer a pub but a ‘Seagers’ steakhouse restaurant.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}
Gorseinon had two [[public house]]s, the Gorseinon Hotel (the Bottom Hotel) and the Station Hotel (the Gyp). It was said that the Bottom Hotel was for miners and the Gyp was for tinplate workers and it was a mortal sin to encroach on another man's territory. Then in 1892 the West End Hotel was built and the Mardy in 1901 bring the number of public houses to four. The Gorseinon Hotel is no longer a pub but a ‘Seagers’ steakhouse restaurant.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}


Gorseinon Institute was opened in 1904 and in 1908 the Bryngwyn Sheetworks was opened
Gorseinon Institute was opened in 1904 and in 1908 the Bryngwyn Sheetworks was opened
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Gorseinon Development Trust is a locally-run charity that works on issues such as car parking, business, litter, historic areas, tourism and parks in the area.
Gorseinon Development Trust is a locally-run charity that works on issues such as car parking, business, litter, historic areas, tourism and parks in the area.


===Twin Town===
===Twin town===
The town of Gorseinon along with the community of [[Llwchwr]] is twinned with:
The town of Gorseinon along with the community of [[Llwchwr]] is [[sister city|twinned]] with [[Ploërmel]], France.<ref>[http://www.twinning.org.uk/uk_twinnings.htm Twin Towns in the UK] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070624184158/http://www.twinning.org.uk/uk_twinnings.htm |date=2007-06-24 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Ploërmel]], [[France]]<ref>[http://www.twinning.org.uk/uk_twinnings.htm Twin Towns in the UK] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070624184158/http://www.twinning.org.uk/uk_twinnings.htm |date=2007-06-24 }}</ref>


==Facilities==
==Facilities==
The town has a well-established local hospital, donated to the community prior to the establishment of the [[National Health Service]] by the local industrialist, (William) Rufus Lewis, who also established Parc y Werin People's Park {{Citation needed|date=July 2013}}
The town has local hospital, donated to the community prior to the establishment of the [[National Health Service]] by the local industrialist, (William) Rufus Lewis, who also established Parc y Werin People's Park {{Citation needed|date=July 2013}}


Gorseinon has a library, a district housing office and a post office.
Gorseinon has a library, a district housing office and a post office.
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*[[Gorseinon RFC]] play Rugby Union in [[WRU Division One West]].
*[[Gorseinon RFC]] play Rugby Union in [[WRU Division One West]].
*[[Garden Village A.F.C.|Garden Village FC]] play in the [[Welsh Football League Division Two]].
*[[Garden Village A.F.C.|Garden Village FC]] play in the [[Welsh Football League Division Two]].
*[[Gorseinon Cricket Club]] play in the [[South Wales Cricket Association]] Division One.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gorseinon CC|url=http://gorseinon.play-cricket.com/|accessdate=18 September 2016}}</ref>
*[[Gorseinon Cricket Club]] play in the [[South Wales Cricket Association]] Division One.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gorseinon CC|url=http://gorseinon.play-cricket.com/|access-date=18 September 2016}}</ref>
*[[Gower Riders]] cycling club are based in the town and hold an annual [[cyclo-cross]] race at [[Melin Mynach]] in the town.
*[[Gower Riders]] cycling club are based in the town and hold an annual [[cyclo-cross]] race at [[Melin Mynach]] in the town.
*[[Swansea Sharks]] [[roller hockey]] club play in the South Wales region of the [[BIPHA]].{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}
*[[Swansea Sharks]] [[roller hockey]] club play in the South Wales region of the [[BIPHA]].{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}
*Garngoch Golf Club, Gorseinon, operated between about 1930 and 1950.<ref>[http://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/wales-64/1040-garngoch-golf-club-swansea “Garngoch Golf Club”], “Golf’s Missing Links”.</ref>
*Garngoch Golf Club, Gorseinon, operated between about 1930 and 1950.<ref>[http://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/wales-64/1040-garngoch-golf-club-swansea "Garngoch Golf Club"], "Golf's Missing Links".</ref>


Gorseinon hosted the [[National Eisteddfod]] in 1980.
Gorseinon hosted the [[National Eisteddfod]] in 1980.
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==Education==
==Education==
Gorseinon has a range of education and childcare facilities. Gorseinon Primary School, which has three sites in the town, provides pre-school and primary education. There is a proposal to build a new primary school at Parc y Werin to replace the existing school buildings.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gorseinon Primary School Project|url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/gorseinonprimaryproject|website=City and County of Swansea|accessdate=18 September 2016}}</ref>
Gorseinon Primary School, which has three sites in the town, provides pre-school and primary education. There is a proposal to build a new primary school at Parc y Werin to replace the existing school buildings.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gorseinon Primary School Project|url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/gorseinonprimaryproject|website=City and County of Swansea|access-date=18 September 2016}}</ref>


Most eleven to sixteen-year-old children in the area attend [[Penyrheol Comprehensive School]]. The school buildings were largely destroyed by an arson attack in 2006. The rebuilt school was opened in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=
Most eleven to sixteen-year-old children in the area attend [[Penyrheol Comprehensive School]]. The school buildings were largely destroyed by an arson attack in 2006. The rebuilt school was opened in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rebuilt school opens after arson|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/8235755.stm|website=BBC News|date=4 September 2009 |access-date=16 September 2016}}</ref>
Rebuilt school opens after arson|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/8235755.stm|website=BBC News|accessdate=16 September 2016}}</ref>


One of the campuses of [[Gower College Swansea]] is in Gorseinon, providing further education and adult learning.
One of the campuses of [[Gower College Swansea]] is in Gorseinon, providing further education and adult learning.
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==Notable residents==
==Notable residents==
*[[Keith Allen (actor)|Keith Allen]], actor, comedian, singer/songwriter
*[[Keith Allen (actor)|Keith Allen]], actor, comedian, singer/songwriter
*[[Aneirin Talfan Davies]], Welsh language poet, broadcaster and literary critic.
*[[Aneirin Talfan Davies]], Welsh language poet, broadcaster and literary critic
*[[Sir Alun Talfan Davies]] QC, judge, publisher and politician.
*[[Sir Alun Talfan Davies]], judge, publisher and politician
*[[Colin Edwards (journalist)|Colin Edwards]], (1924–1994) radio journalist and documentary film maker.
*[[Colin Edwards (journalist)|Colin Edwards]], (1924–1994) radio journalist and documentary film maker
*[[Norman Gale (rugby player)|Norman Gale]], [[Welsh rugby union]] captain
*[[Norman Gale (rugby player)|Norman Gale]], [[Welsh rugby union]] captain
*[[Tristan Garel-Jones|Lord Garel-Jones]], Conservative MP for Watford and government minister
*[[Tristan Garel-Jones|Lord Garel-Jones]], Conservative MP for Watford and government minister
*[[James Henry Govier]], (1910–1974) painter, etcher and engraver lived in Gorseinon from 1914-1945.
*[[James Henry Govier]], (1910–1974) painter, etcher and engraver lived in Gorseinon from 1914 to 1945
*[[David Rhys Grenfell]], born in nearby [[Penyrheol, Swansea|Penyrheol]], local [[Member of Parliament]] for 37 years, [[Father of the House of Commons]].
*[[David Rhys Grenfell]], born in nearby [[Penyrheol, Swansea|Penyrheol]], local [[Member of Parliament]] for 37 years, [[Father of the House of Commons]]
*[[Leigh Halfpenny]], Welsh International Rugby Union and [[British and Irish Lions]] player
*[[Leigh Halfpenny]], Welsh international and [[British & Irish Lions]] rugby union player
*[[Michael Howard]], politician: [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] leader and [[Home Secretary]]
*[[Michael Howard]], politician, [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] leader and [[Home Secretary]]
*[[Gwynne Howell]], operatic bass
*[[Gwynne Howell]], operatic bass
*[[Leighton James]], Welsh international footballer
*[[Leighton James]], Welsh international footballer
*[[Robbie James]], Welsh international footballer.
*[[Robbie James]], Welsh international footballer
*[[Phil John (prop)|Phil John]], Rugby Union player
*[[Phil John (rugby union, born 1981)|Phil John]], rugby union player
*[[Colin Jones (boxer)|Colin Jones]], welterweight boxer
*[[Colin Jones (boxer)|Colin Jones]], welterweight boxer
*[[Lewis Jones (rugby)|Lewis Jones]], dual-code Welsh international rugby footballer.
*[[Lewis Jones (rugby, born 1931)|Lewis Jones]], dual-code Welsh international rugby footballer
*[[Richard Moriarty]], [[Welsh rugby union]] captain
*[[Richard Moriarty]], [[Welsh rugby union]] captain
*[[Beth Morris]], television actress.
*[[Beth Morris]], television actress
*[[Jessica Sula]], actress
*[[Jessica Sula]], actress
*[[Elin Manahan Thomas]], classical soprano, broadcaster and presenter
*[[Elin Manahan Thomas]], classical soprano, broadcaster and presenter
*[[Imogen Thomas]], model.
*[[Imogen Thomas]], model


==Transport==
==Transport==
Gorseinon bus station is located just off West Street in the town centre. Bus services are provided by [[First Cymru]] with services to the surrounding villages and to [[Llanelli]] and [[Swansea city centre]]. The bus station was rebuilt making an improvement to the area. The town lost its train service in 1964 under the [[Beeching Axe]]. {{Citation needed|date=July 2013}}
Gorseinon bus station is located just off West Street in the town centre. Bus services are provided by [[First Cymru]] with services to the surrounding villages and to [[Llanelli]] and [[Swansea city centre]]. The bus station was rebuilt making an improvement to the area. The town lost its train service in 1964 under the [[Beeching Axe]]; the nearest train station is now [[Gowerton railway station]], {{convert|1.8|mi|km}} to the south. {{Citation needed|date=July 2013}}


The primary route through Gorseinon is the [[A4240 road]] which crosses the town centre as High Street and Alexandra Road. The A4240 connects Gorseinon with [[Llanelli]] to the west; and [[Penllergaer]] and the [[M4 Motorway]] (Junction 47) to the east.
The primary route through Gorseinon is the [[A4240 road]] which crosses the town centre as High Street and Alexandra Road. The A4240 connects Gorseinon with [[Llanelli]] to the west; and [[Penllergaer]] and the [[M4 Motorway]] (Junction 47) to the east.


==Geology==
==Geology==
*Bedrock Geology
===Bedrock Geology===


Grovesend formation
====Grovesend formation====


Gorseinon is built upon the Grovesend formation. Lithological characteristics are predominantly argillaceous, comprising mudstones and siltstones, with well developed coals; minor lithic ("Pennant") sandstones; locally developed red mudstones in the type area. Description of the lower boundary of this formation is that the base is placed at the base of the Swansea Four-Feet Coal of the Swansea district (equivalent of the Llantwit No.3 Seam in the Pontypridd district and the Mynyddislwyn Seam east of the Taff valley), where it overlies mudstone seatearth at the top of the predominantly arenaceous Swansea Member in the Swansea district and the similar Hughes Member in the east of the coalfield. It is a conformable boundary in the west, but is assumed to be an unconformable one in the east (Woodland et al., 1957; Squirrell and Downing, 1969; Barclay, 1989). Also taken at the base of the laterally correlatable Rudge Coal in the Radstack part of the Somerset Coalfield, the High Coal of the Bristol Coalfield and the Avonmouth No.1 Coal of the Severn Coal Basin. Description of the upper boundary is The Grovesend Formation is the youngest unit found in the South Wales and Forest of Dean coalfields. It is overlain unconformably by sandstones of the Sherwood Sandstone Group in the Newent Coalfield, by mudstones of the Mercia Mudstone Group in the Oxfordshire Coalfield and either the Sherwood Sandstone or Mercia Mudstone groups in the Bristol/Somerset Coalfields.
Gorseinon is built upon the Grovesend formation. Lithological characteristics are predominantly argillaceous, comprising mudstones and siltstones, with well developed coals; minor lithic ("Pennant") sandstones; locally developed red mudstones in the type area. Description of the lower boundary of this formation is that the base is placed at the base of the Swansea Four-Feet Coal of the Swansea district (equivalent of the Llantwit No.3 Seam in the Pontypridd district and the Mynyddislwyn Seam east of the Taff valley), where it overlies mudstone seatearth at the top of the predominantly arenaceous Swansea Member in the Swansea district and the similar Hughes Member in the east of the coalfield. It is a conformable boundary in the west, but is assumed to be an unconformable one in the east (Woodland et al., 1957; Squirrell and Downing, 1969; Barclay, 1989). Also taken at the base of the laterally correlatable Rudge Coal in the Radstack part of the Somerset Coalfield, the High Coal of the Bristol Coalfield and the Avonmouth No.1 Coal of the Severn Coal Basin. Description of the upper boundary is The Grovesend Formation is the youngest unit found in the South Wales and Forest of Dean coalfields. It is overlain unconformably by sandstones of the Sherwood Sandstone Group in the Newent Coalfield, by mudstones of the Mercia Mudstone Group in the Oxfordshire Coalfield and either the Sherwood Sandstone or Mercia Mudstone groups in the Bristol/Somerset Coalfields.


Swansea Member Formation
====Swansea Member Formation====


Small outcrop of this formation occurs to East of a fault which has a North-South orientation which is in the penllergaer region of Gorseinon. Lithological characteristics are green-grey, lithic arenites ("Pennant sandstones") with thin mudstone/siltstone and seatearth interbeds, and mainly thin coals. Description of the lower boundary of this formation is that the base is placed at the base of the Golden Seam (Swansea Three Feet or Graigola) (Woodland et al., 1957), where the coal rests on mudstone seatearth within a predominantly arenaceous sequence of the Pennant Sandstone Formation. Description of the upper boundary of this formation is that the top is placed at the base of the Wernffraith Seam (correlated with the Mynyddislwyn Seam of the eastern part of the South Wales Coalfield) where the coal overlies mudstone seatearth with a predominantly arenaceous sequence of the Pennant Sandstone Formation, and is overlain conformably by the mudstone-dominated succession of the Grovesend Formation.
Small outcrop of this formation occurs to East of a fault which has a north–south orientation which is in the penllergaer region of Gorseinon. Lithological characteristics are green-grey, lithic arenites ("Pennant sandstones") with thin mudstone/siltstone and seatearth interbeds, and mainly thin coals. Description of the lower boundary of this formation is that the base is placed at the base of the Golden Seam (Swansea Three Feet or Graigola) (Woodland et al., 1957), where the coal rests on mudstone seatearth within a predominantly arenaceous sequence of the Pennant Sandstone Formation. Description of the upper boundary of this formation is that the top is placed at the base of the Wernffraith Seam (correlated with the Mynyddislwyn Seam of the eastern part of the South Wales Coalfield) where the coal overlies mudstone seatearth with a predominantly arenaceous sequence of the Pennant Sandstone Formation, and is overlain conformably by the mudstone-dominated succession of the Grovesend Formation.


*Drift Geology
===Drift Geology===
The most common drift deposit in Gorseinon are Devension till (boulder clay) glacial deposits. The Afon Lliw is dominated by Alluvium deposits. Tidal flat deposits occur East of Gorseinon near the estuary.
The most common drift deposit in Gorseinon are Devension till (boulder clay) glacial deposits. The Afon Lliw is dominated by Alluvium deposits. Tidal flat deposits occur East of Gorseinon near the estuary.


*Economic Geology
===Economic Geology===
Several coal mines and shafts occur in South Gorseinon. There are also abundant aggregate quarries in North Gorseinon. Coal seams occur in the Southern and Eastern limits of Gorseinon.
Several coal mines and shafts occur in South Gorseinon. There are also abundant aggregate quarries in North Gorseinon. Coal seams occur in the Southern and Eastern limits of Gorseinon.


*Structural Geology
===Structural Geology===
A large axial plan of an Anticline occurs South of the hospital in Gorseinon with a North West-South East orientation. Four major faults with a North-South orientation in the Gorseinon region.
A large axial plan of an Anticline occurs South of the hospital in Gorseinon with a North West-South East orientation. Four major faults with a north–south orientation in the Gorseinon region.


==References==
==References==
Line 167: Line 170:


==External links==
==External links==
* http://gorseinon.wales - The Gorseinon Community Website and Forum
* [http://gorseinon.wales The Gorseinon Community Website and Forum]
* http://www.angelfire.com/folk/gorseinon/ – Gorseinon History Archive Society
* [https://www.angelfire.com/folk/gorseinon/ Gorseinon History Archive Society]
* http://www.gdt.org.uk/ – Gorseinon Development Trust
* [http://www.gdt.org.uk/ Gorseinon Development Trust]


{{Swansea}}
{{Swansea}}

Latest revision as of 09:07, 12 October 2024

Gorseinon
Gorseinon is located in Swansea
Gorseinon
Gorseinon
Location within Swansea
PopulationTown: 8,696[1]
Urban Area: 20,581
OS grid referenceSS585985
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSWANSEA
Postcode districtSA4
Dialling code01792
PoliceSouth Wales
FireMid and West Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
List of places
UK
Wales
Swansea
51°40′N 4°02′W / 51.66°N 4.03°W / 51.66; -4.03

Gorseinon is a town within the City and County of Swansea, Wales, near the Loughor estuary. It was a small village until the late 19th century when it grew around the coal mining and tinplate industries. It is situated in the north west of Swansea City Centre, around 6 miles (10 km) north west of the city centre. Gorseinon is a local government community with an elected town council.

The population of the Gorseinon town council area in the 2011 Census is 8,693. However, the ONS defines an area called the Gorseinon Urban Area which comprises all of the continuous built up area in and around Gorseinon. This area includes Gorseinon, Loughor, Garden Village and Penllergaer[2] and has a population of 20,581.

Etymology

[edit]

The name Gorseinon means "Einon's marsh", from the soft mutated form of Welsh cors "marsh"[3] and the male personal name Einon, the identity of whom is uncertain.[4] Einon is the southern form of the name Einion. The initial soft mutation is irregular, and one would expect Corseinon. The short name of the village in Welsh is Y Gors (the marsh).[5][better source needed] Here the soft mutation is entirely regular (occurring when a feminine noun follows the definite article), and it may have spurred the change of Corseinon to Gorseinon. A "standard" form of the name, Corseinion, is seen in an appeal to his fellow tinplate workers by Y Cymro Coch in 1882.[5][better source needed]

History

[edit]

Religious development

[edit]

In 1840 the population of Gorseinon was barely 250 people. There were then two churches in the area. One was St Teilo's Church, Llandeilo Tal-y-bont, also known as the “Church on the Marsh” – this has now been rebuilt in the St Fagans National History Museum in Cardiff. The other church was Brynteg Chapel, the only non-conformist chapel for miles, which was built in 1815 and still stands.

Several churches and chapels were built in the 1880s. The first church in the town was Holy Trinity Church, built in 1882 and extended in 1884. Seion Baptist Church opened in 1886, built on a riverbank at the bottom of Gorseinon, but by 1902 a new Seion was built in the High Street. The old Seion was taken over by the English Methodists, but this eventually became the Moose Hall. Bethel English Congregational Church (Evangelical) was built in 1894. West Street Bethel Chapel in Masons Road was built as an English Congregationalist church. Ebenezer, the Welsh Congregational Chapel opened in 1887, but by 1909 a new chapel was built near Seion Capel.

St. Catherine's Church was built in 1913 and the Salvation Army church in 1910. A Roman Catholic church in Pontardulais Road was built in 1932 and a new church was built on Alexandra Road in the 1960s, designed by the architect Robert Robinson, a local Gower man. There is also a Christadelphian meeting hall in the town.

Agricultural and industrial development

[edit]

Gors Eynon first appeared on an Ordnance Survey map in 1813, but by 1830 the name appeared in its modern spelling.

The monks of Neath Abbey paid many visits to this locality, and evidence of this were several mills built on the banks of local rivers; Cadle Mill, on the Lliw, Pontlliw, Melyn Mynach, and Loughor Mill.

There was one weaving mill and two flour mills on the river. These were worked by the monks to provide food and clothing for the Abbey, wool being brought here from Gower sheeplands.

By the end of the thirteenth century the monks at Melyn Mynach owned vast acreage devoted to sheep farming. They produced high quality wool at Cwrt Y Carnau, which was traded in Flanders and Italy.

With the arrival of the black death and bubonic plague in the fourteenth century, labour became scarce and the monks were forced to sell or rent to the local farmers. Eventually, during Henry VIII's reign, the few monks that were left were pensioned off, as their land passed into crown hands.

John Pryce, a legal gentleman, who was originally from the area but had moved to London, returned to raise a family at Cwrt Y Carne. In 1575 he purchased the manor and land, and also the mill at Melyn Mynach. The whole estate totalled over 130 acres (0.53 km2). Pryce tried to squeeze every penny out of his tenant farmers and many disputes followed. The Pryce family prospered and by the early eighteenth Century, the name had changed to Price.

The last owner of the Melyn Mynach was the husband of a Price family member. He was called Nathaniel Cameron – Mayor of Swansea. He also owned the Mountain Colliery but sold the Mill after getting into financial difficulties to Mr. William Lewis, the founder of Gorseinon.

There were few industries but coal was plentiful. A drift was opened in 1846 and became known as “The Mountain Coal”. This coal was transported on a narrow gauge railway line to Loughor, where it was loaded onto barges and sent to Llanelli for transportation all around the world. The drift mine continued to be worked until 1900, when a shaft was sunk. Now known as the Mountain Colliery, it produced at its peak in excess of 200,000 tons of coal a year with a workforce in excess of 900. It was closed in 1969.[6]

In 1860 the L.N.W.R. wanted to extend the line from Pontarddulais to Swansea. William Lewis, a young industrialist, sold them the land and a station was erected in 1870 – this became known as Gorseinon Station. The Mountain Colliery laid a siding from the Colliery to the Station and coal was redirected to Swansea Docks.

The first day-school was opened in 1880 at Penyrheol. The Headmaster, Mr. Jones, afterwards transferred to Gorseinon. As Gorseinon's industries grew so did its housing and streets, with the development of Mill Street, Gorseinon Terrace, Eynon Street and High Street.

In 1886 the Grovesend Tin Works was built and the Lewis Family built many houses around the area to house the workers. The Grovesend Steelworks opened in 1890, but in 1891 all tinplate workers in South Wales were involved in a seven-month strike and times were very hard for the workers.

Gorseinon had two public houses, the Gorseinon Hotel (the Bottom Hotel) and the Station Hotel (the Gyp). It was said that the Bottom Hotel was for miners and the Gyp was for tinplate workers and it was a mortal sin to encroach on another man's territory. Then in 1892 the West End Hotel was built and the Mardy in 1901 bring the number of public houses to four. The Gorseinon Hotel is no longer a pub but a ‘Seagers’ steakhouse restaurant.[citation needed]

Gorseinon Institute was opened in 1904 and in 1908 the Bryngwyn Sheetworks was opened

Governance

[edit]

County Council

[edit]

Prior to local government re-organisation in 1996, the town of Gorseinon was administered as part of the Lliw Valley district and previously Llwchwr Urban District Council. Since 1996, Gorseinon has been governed by the City and County of Swansea council and falls within the Gorseinon and Penyrheol wards of Swansea.

Town Council

[edit]

The community of Gorseinon comprises the Gorseinon ward and the southern part of the Penyrheol ward. The Gorseinon Town Council developed from the former Gorseinon Community Council in 1998, since when it was able to appoint a town mayor annually. The council now comprises sixteen unpaid volunteers who are elected every four years. The council meet at Gorseinon Institute every first Wednesday to discuss local business and planning applications.

Economy

[edit]

Gorseinon has a busy high street area in the centre of the town. The other major areas of employment are the nearby Garngoch Industrial estate, in Penllergaer, Gorseinon Business Park and Kingsbridge Business Park. Previously, the nearby Bryngwyn steel works and Valeo plant were major employers in the town, however they closed in the 1990s. In response to the closures, the National Assembly for Wales set up the Gorseinon Regeneration Strategy to invest in a number of regeneration schemes in the town.

A large Asda store opened in September 2010.[citation needed]

The Canolfan Gorseinon Centre was built on the old Bryngwyn Steel Works and is a charity-run, community-based centre. Several local charities and organisations are based here, including

  • Gorseinon Development Trust
  • Gorseinon Food Bank
  • Musicality – Academy of Performing Arts
  • Gorseinon Food Festival
  • Gorseinon Community Cinema
  • Gorseinon Players

Gorseinon Development Trust is a locally-run charity that works on issues such as car parking, business, litter, historic areas, tourism and parks in the area.

Twin town

[edit]

The town of Gorseinon along with the community of Llwchwr is twinned with Ploërmel, France.[7]

Facilities

[edit]

The town has local hospital, donated to the community prior to the establishment of the National Health Service by the local industrialist, (William) Rufus Lewis, who also established Parc y Werin People's Park [citation needed]

Gorseinon has a library, a district housing office and a post office.

Sport and leisure

[edit]

Gorseinon hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1980.

For more than 50 years, Gorseinon was home to 'La Charrette', the UK's smallest cinema, established by local electrician, the late Gwyn Phillips. Built from a disused railway carriage, the cinema opened in 1953; when the decay of its structure forced closure in February 2008, 'La Charrette' was dismantled and taken to the Gower Heritage Centre. The last film shown at La Charette was a black-tie premiere of Danny Boyle's Alien Love Triangle attended by Kenneth Branagh, who starred in the film, and organised by Observer film critic Mark Kermode.[10]

The recently opened Canolfan Gorseinon Centre features a multi-use hall, training rooms, office room for small businesses, a creche and a bar and cafe.[11]

Education

[edit]

Gorseinon Primary School, which has three sites in the town, provides pre-school and primary education. There is a proposal to build a new primary school at Parc y Werin to replace the existing school buildings.[12]

Most eleven to sixteen-year-old children in the area attend Penyrheol Comprehensive School. The school buildings were largely destroyed by an arson attack in 2006. The rebuilt school was opened in 2009.[13]

One of the campuses of Gower College Swansea is in Gorseinon, providing further education and adult learning.

Notable residents

[edit]

Transport

[edit]

Gorseinon bus station is located just off West Street in the town centre. Bus services are provided by First Cymru with services to the surrounding villages and to Llanelli and Swansea city centre. The bus station was rebuilt making an improvement to the area. The town lost its train service in 1964 under the Beeching Axe; the nearest train station is now Gowerton railway station, 1.8 miles (2.9 km) to the south. [citation needed]

The primary route through Gorseinon is the A4240 road which crosses the town centre as High Street and Alexandra Road. The A4240 connects Gorseinon with Llanelli to the west; and Penllergaer and the M4 Motorway (Junction 47) to the east.

Geology

[edit]

Bedrock Geology

[edit]

Grovesend formation

[edit]

Gorseinon is built upon the Grovesend formation. Lithological characteristics are predominantly argillaceous, comprising mudstones and siltstones, with well developed coals; minor lithic ("Pennant") sandstones; locally developed red mudstones in the type area. Description of the lower boundary of this formation is that the base is placed at the base of the Swansea Four-Feet Coal of the Swansea district (equivalent of the Llantwit No.3 Seam in the Pontypridd district and the Mynyddislwyn Seam east of the Taff valley), where it overlies mudstone seatearth at the top of the predominantly arenaceous Swansea Member in the Swansea district and the similar Hughes Member in the east of the coalfield. It is a conformable boundary in the west, but is assumed to be an unconformable one in the east (Woodland et al., 1957; Squirrell and Downing, 1969; Barclay, 1989). Also taken at the base of the laterally correlatable Rudge Coal in the Radstack part of the Somerset Coalfield, the High Coal of the Bristol Coalfield and the Avonmouth No.1 Coal of the Severn Coal Basin. Description of the upper boundary is The Grovesend Formation is the youngest unit found in the South Wales and Forest of Dean coalfields. It is overlain unconformably by sandstones of the Sherwood Sandstone Group in the Newent Coalfield, by mudstones of the Mercia Mudstone Group in the Oxfordshire Coalfield and either the Sherwood Sandstone or Mercia Mudstone groups in the Bristol/Somerset Coalfields.

Swansea Member Formation

[edit]

Small outcrop of this formation occurs to East of a fault which has a north–south orientation which is in the penllergaer region of Gorseinon. Lithological characteristics are green-grey, lithic arenites ("Pennant sandstones") with thin mudstone/siltstone and seatearth interbeds, and mainly thin coals. Description of the lower boundary of this formation is that the base is placed at the base of the Golden Seam (Swansea Three Feet or Graigola) (Woodland et al., 1957), where the coal rests on mudstone seatearth within a predominantly arenaceous sequence of the Pennant Sandstone Formation. Description of the upper boundary of this formation is that the top is placed at the base of the Wernffraith Seam (correlated with the Mynyddislwyn Seam of the eastern part of the South Wales Coalfield) where the coal overlies mudstone seatearth with a predominantly arenaceous sequence of the Pennant Sandstone Formation, and is overlain conformably by the mudstone-dominated succession of the Grovesend Formation.

Drift Geology

[edit]

The most common drift deposit in Gorseinon are Devension till (boulder clay) glacial deposits. The Afon Lliw is dominated by Alluvium deposits. Tidal flat deposits occur East of Gorseinon near the estuary.

Economic Geology

[edit]

Several coal mines and shafts occur in South Gorseinon. There are also abundant aggregate quarries in North Gorseinon. Coal seams occur in the Southern and Eastern limits of Gorseinon.

Structural Geology

[edit]

A large axial plan of an Anticline occurs South of the hospital in Gorseinon with a North West-South East orientation. Four major faults with a north–south orientation in the Gorseinon region.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ ONS: Census 2011 Key Statistics
  2. ^ Nomis: Map of Gorseinon Urban Area
  3. ^ "Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru".
  4. ^ Mills, A. D. (2003). A Dictionary of British Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198527589.
  5. ^ a b Y Cymro Coch (23 November 1882). "At Alcanwyr Corseinion". Tarian y Gweithiwr (in Welsh). p. 3.
  6. ^ "Mountain". Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  7. ^ Twin Towns in the UK Archived 2007-06-24 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Gorseinon CC". Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Garngoch Golf Club", "Golf's Missing Links".
  10. ^ BBC News "Starry last night for tiny cinema", 24 February 2008, accessed 22 January 2010.
  11. ^ City and County of Swansea: Early boost for Gorseinon Centre Archived 2008-03-15 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Gorseinon Primary School Project". City and County of Swansea. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  13. ^ "Rebuilt school opens after arson". BBC News. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
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