Gowerton
| |
|---|---|
 | |
  Gowerton Location withinSwansea | |
| Population | 8,183 [1] |
| OS grid reference | SS595965 |
| Principal area | |
| Preserved county | |
| 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 |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
51°38′53″N4°02′35″W / 51.648°N 4.043°W /51.648; -4.043  Map of the community | |
Gowerton (Welsh:Tre-gŵyrⓘ) is a large village andcommunity, about 4 miles (6 km) northwest ofSwansea city centre, Wales. Gowerton is often known as the gateway to theGower Peninsula. Gowerton's original name was Ffosfelin. The village falls within theGowerton electoral ward of theCity and County of Swansea Council, which elects one councillor. Thecommunity had a population of 5,212[2] and the built-up area withWaunarlwydd 8,183.[3]
In 1980, the WelshNational Eisteddfod (named afterDyffryn Lliw, see below) was held at the Elba sports complex in the village. The Eisteddfod stone (Gorsedd stones) is located on the roundabout (grid ref. 585966) on the B4295 road to Penclawdd.
Nearby villages/towns arePenclawdd (west),Three Crosses andDunvant (south),Waunarlwydd (east, contiguous with Gowerton),Gorseinon (north) andLoughor (north-west).
From 1974 to 1966, Gowerton was part of the district of Lliw Valley (Dyffryn Lliw) within West Glamorgan.
People from Gowerton are often referred to as "starch". When the local area processed steel for export, the steel owners and white-collar workers lived in the Gowerton area; hence the name "starch". On the other hand, many of the manual workers resided in neighbouring Penclawdd and are known by the affectionate term "donks".[citation needed]
Gowerton is twinned withLa Gacilly inBrittany,France.
Gowerton elects acommunity council of thirteen members in two wards: East and West.
Gowerton has three schools:Gowerton Primary school,Gowerton Comprehensive School andYsgol Gyfun Gŵyr (Welsh medium comprehensive school).
Gowerton once had five church or chapel buildings: St John's Church (built 1882), Tabernacl (opened 1893) Temple United Reformed Church (opened 1888), Bethel (opened 1873) and Bethania (opened 1891). However, only two, St John's Church and Temple URC, still remain. Bethel has lain in ruins for two decades and both Tabernacl and Bethania have been demolished.
Bus services are provided byFirst Cymru and NAT.[4] These depart Gowerton from Hill Street or Sterry Road.
First Cymru provide a half-hourly service (no. 16) through the village toSwansea andGorseinon.[5]
Gowerton railway station is on theWest Wales Line, between Swansea and Llanelli. Gowerton once had two railway stations, but today only one remains. This was made single-track in 1986. Work began in November 2012 to restore the double track to Gowerton by mid-2013, this has now been completed.[6]
The local rugby club isGowerton RFC.
Gowerton's Elba Sports Complex is home to Swansea Senior League Second Division, Gowerton FC.
Gowerton has a golf range and a nine-hole, par 3 golf course.
