Penclawdd is the name of an electoral ward and village which is situated on the Gower Peninsula in the City of Swansea, in the County of Swansea South Wales.
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.
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.
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.
 Pubs/Bars:
Berthlwyd Inn
Penclawdd Road
Penclawdd
Swansea
West Glamorgan
SA4 3RB
Blue Anchor Inn
2 Blue Anchor Road
Penclawdd
Swansea
West Glamorgan
SA4 3JQ
The Railway Inn
Bellevue
Penclawdd
Swansea
West Glamorgan
SA4 3YE
Royal Oak Hotel
Beach Road
Penclawdd
Swansea
West Glamorgan
SA4 3YN |
