Loughor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Loughor | |
Welsh: Casllwchwr | |
Loughor shown within the United Kingdom |
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Population | 4,991 (2001 Census) |
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OS grid reference | |
Principal area | Swansea |
Ceremonial county | West Glamorgan |
Constituent country | Wales |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | SWANSEA |
Postcode district | SA4 |
Dialling code | 01792 |
Police | South Wales |
Fire | Mid and West Wales |
Ambulance | Welsh |
European Parliament | Wales |
UK Parliament | Gower |
List of places: UK • Wales • Swansea |
Loughor (Welsh: Casllwchwr) is a town in the City and County of Swansea, South Wales, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales. It lies on the estuary of the River Loughor. The town has a community council called Llwchwr.
The town was home to the Roman fort of Leucarum, over which the Norman Loughor Castle was built in 1099. There is said to be a hidden tunnel under the castle which contains many treasures. Loughor developed around the castle.
It later grew as a port, while in the early twentieth century large tin and steel works were the main industries. It is now mostly a commuter town for Swansea and Llanelli via the Loughor bridge and has merged with the neighbouring town of Gorseinon.
Paul Jones famous for the ball room dance lives in the town. The town is also famous for being the birthplace of well-respected and all-knowing pundit and Lollipop man Leighton James.
Nearby is the Llygad Llwchwr, a 1.2km river cave system.
Local schools in the town include Tre Uchaf Primary School and the Casllwchwr Primary School. Sited opposite the Tre Uchaf Primary is one of the sites of Gorseinon College.
The local rugby union team of the town is Loughor RFC.
James Henry Govier (1910- 1974) the British painter, etcher and engraver of the Swansea School, produced a number of images of Loughor, he lived at Gorseinon and has work in the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery at Swansea, The National Museum of Wales , The National Library of Wales and in several National collections. See Gorseinon and Oakley for more details.
[edit] References
- Swansea Art Gallery Catalogue 1936.
- The Gower Journal.
- Who's Who in Art.
- Dictionary of British Artists 1900-1950, by Grant M Waters 1975.