Mumbles

Mumbles (Welsh Y Mwmbwls ) is a large village on the Gower Peninsula, bordering the Swansea Bay. It is part of the administration of the City and County of Swansea. Historically it was part of the county of Glamorgan.

History

There is evidence that in Roman times villas were built on the present territory of the Church in Oystermouth.

After the Norman conquest of Gower Peninsula William de Londres built in 1100 Oystermouth Castle on a hill above the bay. The castle was destroyed several times and rebuilt. Since the 16th century it is a ruin.

Three of the bells in All Saints Church belonged to the Jesuit church of La Campania in Santiago de Chile. They were brought to Mumbles after the Jesuit church was burned down in 1863. This was possible because an influential family in the village had links with the relevant copper mines in Chile.

In 1806 a railway between Oystermouth and Swansea was built to transport coal. Soon, the potential for passenger transport has been detected, and the railway line was converted into a horse-drawn railway on March 25, 1807. Now even people could go by rail. It was the first railway for passenger transport around the world. The connection was very popular and was called " Mumbles train ".

As part of this revolutionary invention Mumbles became a popular tourist destination. In 1960 the railway was closed and dismantled. This decision was very controversial in Mumbles, because the inhabitants had built a relationship with the " Mumbles train ". Even today, the "return" to the Mumbles train is required in local newspapers.

Trivia

• Catherine Zeta -Jones and Michael Douglas have a home in Mumbles.
• Catherine Zeta -Jones was born in Mumbles and grew up there.
• Bonnie Tyler lives in Mumbles.
• Thomas Bowdler is buried in Oystermouth
• The Australian politician Jean Jenkins grew up in Mumbles.
• The musician times Pope lives in Mumbles.
• The actress Joanna Page was born in Mumbles.