Penclawdd

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**Penclawdd Ward**

Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference:	Maps for SS5495
Geography
Principal locality	Penclawdd
Total population	3,672 (2001 census)
Land area (km²)	14.27 (2001 census)
Administration
Local council:	City and County of Swansea
Number of councillors:	1
Nation:	Wales
Post office and telephone
PostCode(s):	SA4
Dialling code:	+44-1792
Politics
Welsh Assembly:	Gower
UK Parliament:	Gower
European Parliament:	Wales

Penclawdd at sunset, Gower, South Wales.

Penclawdd, Gower, South Wales .

Penclawdd is the name of an electoral ward and village which is situated on the Gower Peninsula in the City and County of Swansea, South Wales.

1 Penclawdd Village
2 Brief History
3 Local Delicacies
4 Books On Penclawdd
5 External links

[edit] Penclawdd Village

The village of Penclawdd is situated on the north of the Gower Peninsula. The village is perched on a high location, enjoying panoramic views over the Loughor estuary and surrounding Gower countryside. Being so close to an estuary, Penclawdd is thriving with wildlife. It is plentiful in birdlife and with wild horses that roam the estuary.

The electoral ward consists of some or all of the following areas: Blue Anchor, Penclawdd, Llanmorlais, Crofty and Wernffrwd in the parliamentary constituency of Gower. The ward is mainly rural and is fairly sparsely populated. However, it is one of the larger villages on Gower. It is bounded by Gower to the south west, and Fairwood; Gowerton to the east and the Loughor estuary to the north.

[edit] Brief History

Up until the end of the 19th century Penclawdd was a thriving sea port. The village was renowned for coal mining and it's extensive tinplate, copper and brass works. There was a time when Penclawdd had a forge, twenty grocers, three butchers, three drapers, four fish and chip shops, eleven pubs, a cinema, the still remaining three chapels and a church and a busy railway station. The original railway platform still remains today. Also, built in 1807, a now derelict Hermon Chapel was used to help ships that were navigating the estuary.

Also, famous composer Karl Jenkins was born and raised in Penclawdd.

[edit] Local Delicacies

Penclawdd is most famous for its local cockle industry which goes back for many years to Roman times. This is one of the only industries to survive. These cockles are collected from the extensive mudflats in the Burry Estuary and the cockles harvested there are sold worldwide. Samples of these famous cockles can be purchased at the stalls in Swansea Market and locally in the village itself. Up until 1970s the cockle women picked the cockles with the help of donkeys, hand rakes and riddles (coarse sieves), often braving very hard conditions to harvest the cockles.

Other local delicacies include laverbread (laver seaweed washed, dipped in oatmeal and fried in bacon fat) and salt marsh lamb. All of these and more are sold at an award winning local Penclawdd produce market.