Townhill, Swansea
Encyclopedia
Townhill is the name of a hill
and residential district in Swansea
, Wales
, UK
.
. The district of Townhill consists of a council estate spread over a steep hill of the same name bordering Mayhill
and visible from the Swansea city centre
. The area overlooks Swansea city centre
, Swansea Docks
and Swansea Bay
to the south; and Cockett
, Gendros
and Cwmbwrla
to the north.
Local amenities at the top of the hill include a public library, the Townhill Community primary school, a nursery school and some playing fields. Swansea Metropolitan University has a campus to the west.
Townhill is a Communities First
area.
to the north is a large slab of sandstone
called Townhill. The summit of Townhill is approximately 175m above sea level.http://v-g.me.uk/Hill-Lists/Hill-Lists-MP0100-0199.htm At the top of hill lies the housing estate of Townhill which falls away to the north west of the hill. The Mayhill district lies on the northeast face of the hill. The southeastern face of the hill is the steepest and is covered by the district of Mount Pleasant
. The Uplands
district occupies the southwestern face of the hill which slopes gently downwards towards Singleton Park
.
. In this band, on the south side of the hill is the designated Rosehill Quarry Community Park. Rosehill Quarry is a semi-natural urban green space which is not formally cultivated in its entirety. Wildlife areas include a stream, waterfall and several ponds. There are over one hundred species of plants including oak
, royal fern
and rowan trees. Around thirty species of birds can be found in the park, including sparrow hawks, kestrel
s, and tawny owl
s. Additionally, there are frog
s, newt
s, dragonfiles
, damsel flies
, and the rare bluetailed damselfly, which is used as the quarry's symbol. Recreational facilities in the park include picnic
tables, play equipment
, and a BMX
bike track.
The Rosehill Quarry six acre site was quarried
for stone for house-building from the 1840s, creating the only flat ground in the area. The area stood derelict for some time until the early 20th Century when the area was used as a tennis court which later fell into disuse. In the 1970s, planning permission
was granted for a block of flats, which never got built. In the 1970s and 1980s, local residents' initiatives persuaded the local council to buy the land and designate it as a public open space
in the Local Plan. The Rosehill Quarry Group was formed, with support from the council, to develop and maintain the quarry as the first community park in Swansea.
, being featured in a scene with a daring car stunt. The street is now sectioned off from traffic due to the number of people attempting to imitate this stunt. Constitution Hill is one of the steepest road hills in Swansea. In the early 20th Century, there was a tram service going up and down the hill. The hill is also sometimes used for cycling races held in Swansea. Constitution Hill forms part of the boundary between the Castle
and Uplands
wards.
Hill
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
and residential district in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Townhill district
The suburb of Townhill falls within the Townhill wardTownhill (electoral ward)
Townhill is an electoral ward and a community of Swansea, Wales, UK. Townhill does not have a community council.The electoral ward consists of some or all of the following geographical areas: Cwm-Gwyn, Mayhill, Mount Pleasant and Townhill in the parliamentary constituency of Swansea West...
. The district of Townhill consists of a council estate spread over a steep hill of the same name bordering Mayhill
Mayhill
The district of Mayhill is spread over the top of a steep hill of the same name just north west of Swansea city centre, partly separated from Townhill to the west....
and visible from the Swansea city centre
Swansea city centre
Swansea city centre in Swansea, Wales, contains the main shopping, leisure and nightlife district in Swansea. The city centre covers much of the Castle ward including the area around Oxford Street, Castle Square, and the Quadrant Shopping Centre; Alexandra Road, High Street, Wind Street and the...
. The area overlooks Swansea city centre
Swansea city centre
Swansea city centre in Swansea, Wales, contains the main shopping, leisure and nightlife district in Swansea. The city centre covers much of the Castle ward including the area around Oxford Street, Castle Square, and the Quadrant Shopping Centre; Alexandra Road, High Street, Wind Street and the...
, Swansea Docks
Swansea docks
Swansea Docks is the collective name for several docks in Swansea, Wales. The Swansea docks are located immediately south east of Swansea city centre. In the mid-19th century the port was exporting 60% of the world's copper from factories situated in the Tawe valley...
and Swansea Bay
Swansea Bay
Swansea Bay is a bay on the Bristol Channel on the South Wales coast. Places on the bay include Mumbles, Swansea and Port Talbot. The River Neath, River Tawe, River Afan and Blackpill stream flow into the bay....
to the south; and Cockett
Cockett
Cockett is a community in Swansea, Wales falling within Cockett ward. It is located about north west of Swansea city centre.Cockett, in common with much of western Swansea, was the result of late Victorian and early twentieth century expansion...
, Gendros
Gendros
Gendros is a suburban district of the City and County of Swansea, Wales falling within the Cockett ward. Gendros approximates to the settlement northwest of Carmarthen Road between Cwmdu and Ravenhill. Other areas surrounding Gendros are Blaen-y-Maes, Cwmbwrla, Cockett, Fforestfach and Mayhill...
and Cwmbwrla
Cwmbwrla
Cwmbwrla is a residential area of Swansea in Wales, falling within the Cwmbwrla ward of the city. Located on rising ground about 1 mile north of the city centre, it takes its name from the valley of the Burlais Brook which flows down from here to join the River Tawe immediately northeast of...
to the north.
Local amenities at the top of the hill include a public library, the Townhill Community primary school, a nursery school and some playing fields. Swansea Metropolitan University has a campus to the west.
Townhill is a Communities First
Communities First
Communities First is a programme designed to increase participation and develop the capacity of Welsh communities to make decisions and run projects. The programme was established by the Welsh Government’s Department for Social Justice and Regeneration in 2002...
area.
Townhill Baptist Church
Townhill Baptist Church was formed on the hill in the late 1920s and the church still meets today on Sunday mornings and evenings in the original building on Powys Avenue.Townhill landform
Backing Swansea city centreSwansea city centre
Swansea city centre in Swansea, Wales, contains the main shopping, leisure and nightlife district in Swansea. The city centre covers much of the Castle ward including the area around Oxford Street, Castle Square, and the Quadrant Shopping Centre; Alexandra Road, High Street, Wind Street and the...
to the north is a large slab of sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
called Townhill. The summit of Townhill is approximately 175m above sea level.http://v-g.me.uk/Hill-Lists/Hill-Lists-MP0100-0199.htm At the top of hill lies the housing estate of Townhill which falls away to the north west of the hill. The Mayhill district lies on the northeast face of the hill. The southeastern face of the hill is the steepest and is covered by the district of Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, Swansea
Mount Pleasant is a suburban district of Swansea, Wales. The area is centred around the main road, called Mount Pleasant, immediately to the north of Swansea city centre, which connects the city centre to the Townhill and Mayhill districts to the north. It walls within the Castle ward.The area...
. The Uplands
Uplands, Swansea
Uplands is a suburb of Swansea, Wales. It lies about a mile to the west of Swansea city centre, and falls within the Uplands electoral ward. It is centred around the A4118 road, which links Swansea city centre and Sketty. The main road begins as Walter Road from the east, and becomes Sketty Road...
district occupies the southwestern face of the hill which slopes gently downwards towards Singleton Park
Singleton Park
Singleton Park is the largest urban park in the city of Swansea and is located in Sketty. The park has hosted many entertainment and cultural events such as Party in the Park and Proms in the Park which were regular events by local stations The Wave & Swansea Sound and other music events held by...
.
Rosehill Quarry Community Park
The hill is rounded by a band of rock which is too steep to develop on and is recognised by the City and County of Swansea council as a wildlife corridorWildlife corridor
A wildlife corridor or green corridor is an area of habitat connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities . This allows an exchange of individuals between populations, which may help prevent the negative effects of inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity that often occur within...
. In this band, on the south side of the hill is the designated Rosehill Quarry Community Park. Rosehill Quarry is a semi-natural urban green space which is not formally cultivated in its entirety. Wildlife areas include a stream, waterfall and several ponds. There are over one hundred species of plants including oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, royal fern
Royal fern
Osmunda regalis, the Old World Royal fern, is a species of Osmunda, native to Europe, Africa, and Asia, growing in woodland bogs. The species is sometimes known as flowering fern due to the appearance of its fertile fronds.-Description:...
and rowan trees. Around thirty species of birds can be found in the park, including sparrow hawks, kestrel
Kestrel
The name kestrel, is given to several different members of the falcon genus, Falco. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour which is to hover at a height of around over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects...
s, and tawny owl
Tawny Owl
The Tawny Owl or Brown Owl is a stocky, medium-sized owl commonly found in woodlands across much of Eurasia. Its underparts are pale with dark streaks, and the upperparts are either brown or grey. Several of the eleven recognised subspecies have both variants...
s. Additionally, there are frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
s, newt
Newt
A newt is an aquatic amphibian of the family Salamandridae, although not all aquatic salamanders are considered newts. Newts are classified in the subfamily Pleurodelinae of the family Salamandridae, and are found in North America, Europe and Asia...
s, dragonfiles
Dragonfly
A dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...
, damsel flies
Damselfly
Damselflies are insects in the order Odonata. Damselflies are similar to dragonflies, but the adults can be distinguished by the fact that the wings of most damselflies are held along, and parallel to, the body when at rest...
, and the rare bluetailed damselfly, which is used as the quarry's symbol. Recreational facilities in the park include picnic
Picnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
tables, play equipment
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
, and a BMX
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
bike track.
The Rosehill Quarry six acre site was quarried
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
for stone for house-building from the 1840s, creating the only flat ground in the area. The area stood derelict for some time until the early 20th Century when the area was used as a tennis court which later fell into disuse. In the 1970s, planning permission
Planning permission
Planning permission or planning consent is the permission required in the United Kingdom in order to be allowed to build on land, or change the use of land or buildings. Within the UK the occupier of any land or building will need title to that land or building , but will also need "planning...
was granted for a block of flats, which never got built. In the 1970s and 1980s, local residents' initiatives persuaded the local council to buy the land and designate it as a public open space
Public open space
Public Open Space is often referred to by urban planners and landscape architects by the acronym 'POS'. It has a meaning similar to public park, but varied interpretations of the term are possible.'Public' can mean:...
in the Local Plan. The Rosehill Quarry Group was formed, with support from the council, to develop and maintain the quarry as the first community park in Swansea.
Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill leads up towards the Townhill district from Swansea city centre. This is a steep sloping cobbled street made famous in the feature film Twin TownTwin Town
Twin Town is a 1997 revenge comedy film made and set in South West Wales. It was directed by Kevin Allen and had a working title of Hot Dog; a hot dog van features in a number of scenes in the film. It stars real-life brothers Rhys Ifans and Llŷr Ifans and also features Dougray Scott...
, being featured in a scene with a daring car stunt. The street is now sectioned off from traffic due to the number of people attempting to imitate this stunt. Constitution Hill is one of the steepest road hills in Swansea. In the early 20th Century, there was a tram service going up and down the hill. The hill is also sometimes used for cycling races held in Swansea. Constitution Hill forms part of the boundary between the Castle
Castle, Swansea
Castle is an electoral ward and community in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, UK. Castle covers most of the heart of the City of Swansea...
and Uplands
Uplands (electoral ward)
Uplands is name of an electoral ward, a community and a suburb in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, UK. The Uplands community does not have a community council....
wards.