Cwmdonkin Park

Last updated

Cwmdonkin Park
Cwmdonkin Park - geograph.org.uk - 4010398.jpg
Cwmdonkin Park
Cwmdonkin Park
TypePublic park
Location Uplands
Swansea,
Wales
Area13 acres (5.3 ha)
Created1874
Operated by City and County of Swansea
StatusOpen all year

Cwmdonkin Park is an urban park situated in the Uplands area of Swansea, Wales. It has a children's play area, water gardens, tennis courts, and a bowling green. The park is known for its associations with Dylan Thomas, and is listed on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.

Contents

History

Cwmdonkin Park is a well-preserved urban park from the Victorian era. It sits on 13-acres of land which, at the time of the park's opening, was on the western edge of the town of Swansea. However, the park is now situated within in the residential area of Uplands to the west of the city centre. [1]

The use of the land for public recreation originated with the creation of Cwmdonkin reservoir around 1850 by William Henry Smith and the Swansea Waterworks Company. The records of the Borough of Swansea and The Cambrian newspaper detail the somewhat controversial use of public funds to take over and run "the destructive pit at Cwmdonkin, euphemistically called a reservoir". [2] [3] [4]

The first suggestion to landscape the grounds around the reservoir was raised in 1853, [5] but it was not until 1874 that Swansea Council purchased two fields from Mr James Walters for £4,650 to create the park, which was opened on 24 July 1874. [6] [7] There was some criticism that the park was in an essentially wealthy, middle-class area of town: this led to the emergence of the "Open Spaces Movement" led by William Thomas of Lan, which campaigned for more parks for deprived working class areas. [8]

Cwmdonkin's reservoir was filled in with rubble in the 1950s and landscaped to become a children's play area. The park's octagonal bandstand has also been removed. However, although their surfaces have been replaced by tarmac, the narrow winding paths at the west end of the park that were shown on an Ordnance Survey map in 1878 are largely unchanged. [1]

Associations with Dylan Thomas

Poet Dylan Thomas grew up near the park at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive. This semi-detached house, in which Thomas was born and lived until he was 23, is where he created two-thirds of his published work. [9] The house had been bought by his parents in August 1914 when it was newly-built, and Dylan was born in the front bedroom later that year on 27 October. [10] [11]

The cast-iron drinking fountain mentioned by Dylan Thomas in 'The Hunchback in the Park'. Drinking fountain in Cwmdonkin Park - geograph.org.uk - 4010404.jpg
The cast-iron drinking fountain mentioned by Dylan Thomas in 'The Hunchback in the Park'.

Cwmdonkin Park features heavily in Thomas's radio broadcasts, Return Journey and Reminiscences of Childhood, and is the setting for his poem 'The Hunchback in the Park'. In the poem, Thomas mentions 'the fountain basin where I sailed my ship' – a reference to the park's cast-iron drinking fountain, which is still in place today (though the 'chained cup' has been removed).

In addition to the eponymous character of 'the hunchback', the poem also features a park keeper who is widely thought to be John Smallcoombe. Smallcoombe, or 'Old Smally', was Cwmdonkin's first park keeper, and was said to have been terrorised by the young Thomas and his friends. [12] A portrait of a much younger Smallcoombe in high-ranking Salvation Army uniform, painted around 1900, is on display as part of the 'Love the Words' exhibition at Swansea's Dylan Thomas Centre. [13]

The memorial stone inscribed with lines from 'Fern Hill', photographed after the 2018 restoration. Dylan Thomas Memorial Stone, Cwmdonkin Park.jpg
The memorial stone inscribed with lines from 'Fern Hill', photographed after the 2018 restoration.

Both Smallcoombe and Cwmdonkin Park also feature in the radio broadcast Return Journey, written by Thomas after Swansea was partially destroyed by the Three Night Blitz in February 1941. The broadcast concludes with Thomas attempting to find the younger version of himself in the park of his childhood, and asking the park keeper if he remembered the young boy who used to taunt him. [13]

Dylan Thomas died in New York on 9 November 1953, aged 39. [14] A memorial stone, inscribed with lines from his poem 'Fern Hill', was placed in Cwmdonkin Park to mark the ten-year anniversary of his death on 9 November 1963. [15] [16] The stone originally came from Cwmrhydyceirw Quarry in the north of the city, where it was picked out by Dylan's friend Vernon Watkins and the sculptor Ronald Cour. Watkins wrote two poems inspired by the choosing of his friend's memorial stone: 'At Cwmrhydyceirw Quarry' and 'Cwmrhydyceirw Elegaics'. [17] The inscription on the stone later became obscured by moss and erosion, before being restored in 2018. [16]

Cwmdonkin Park also features as one of the places mentioned in Watkins' poem 'Ode to Swansea', published in The Atlantic in April 1953. [18]

Other notable people

The southern entrance to Cwmdonkin Park on The Grove. The Amis family lived at number 24 (to the right of the picture). The Grove Uplands.JPG
The southern entrance to Cwmdonkin Park on The Grove. The Amis family lived at number 24 (to the right of the picture).

In addition to the poets Dylan Thomas and Vernon Watkins, Cwmdonkin Park also has links with several other notable people. In the early 1950s, Kingsley Amis, Martin Amis and Sally Amis lived at 24 The Grove, close to the southern entrance to the park. In 2015, a blue plaque honouring the older Amis was unveiled on the house. [19]

From the age of 11, the professional tennis player Mike Davies learnt to play on the park's courts. [20] Davies enjoyed a sixty-year career in tennis, first as a player (including a period as the number one ranked player in Great Britain and a member of the British Davis Cup team), then later as an entrepreneur and one of the pioneers of the professional game. [21] [22]

Refurbishment

On 7 September 2013, after an extensive £1.39m refurbishment, the park reopened in time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Dylan Thomas's birth. [23] The park is listed at Grade II on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales. [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dylan Thomas</span> Welsh poet and writer (1914–1953)

Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer whose works include the poems "Do not go gentle into that good night" and "And death shall have no dominion", as well as the "play for voices" Under Milk Wood. He also wrote stories and radio broadcasts such as A Child's Christmas in Wales and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog. He became widely popular in his lifetime and remained so after his death at the age of 39 in New York City. By then, he had acquired a reputation, which he had encouraged, as a "roistering, drunken and doomed poet".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vernon Watkins</span> Welsh poet

Vernon Phillips Watkins was a Welsh poet and translator. He was a close friend of fellow poet Dylan Thomas, who described him as "the most profound and greatly accomplished Welshman writing poems in English".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uplands, Swansea</span> Human settlement in Wales

Uplands is a suburb and community of Swansea, Wales. It lies about a mile (2 km) to the west of Swansea city centre, and falls within the Uplands electoral ward. It is centred on the A4118 road, which links Swansea city centre and Sketty. The main road begins as Walter Road from the east, and becomes Sketty Road towards the west. Much of the area is hilly. The population of the community and ward in 2011 was 15,665 and in terms of Welsh identity had the lowest percentage in the county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llandinam</span> Human settlement in Wales

Llandinam is a village and community in Montgomeryshire, Powys, central Wales, between Newtown and Llanidloes, located on the A470. As a community, Llandinam is made up of the village itself, small hamlets including Plas Dinam and Little London and several farms. The village itself has a population of around 576 with 56% born in Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ystrad Aeron</span> Human settlement in Wales

Ystrad Aeron is a small village west of Felinfach on the A482 between Lampeter and Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales. It is part of the constituent community of Llanfihangel Ystrad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cwmrhydyceirw</span> Human settlement in Wales

Cwmrhydyceirw is a village in the City and County of Swansea, south Wales. The village is located about 1 mile north of Morriston town centre. It is home to the main campus of Morriston Hospital, Morriston Comprehensive School, and Cwmrhydyceirw Primary School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beechwood Park, Newport</span> Park in Newport, South Wales

Beechwood Park is a thirty-acre public park situated in the eastern Beechwood area of the city of Newport, South Wales. The park is listed on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nant Gwynant</span>

Nant Gwynant is a valley in northern Wales. The A498 road descends 600 feet (180 m) into the valley in about two miles (3 km) from Pen-y-Gwryd; it follows the Nant Cynnyd, the Afon Glaslyn and alongside Llyn Gwynant, then beside the Nant Gwynant river to Llyn Dinas and passing below Dinas Emrys to Beddgelert. The road continues through the Aberglaslyn Pass to Porthmadog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swansea Guildhall</span> Municipal Building in Swansea, Wales

The Guildhall is one of the main office buildings of the City and County of Swansea Council. The Guildhall complex, which includes the City Hall, Brangwyn Hall and the County Law Courts for Swansea, is a Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llanerchaeron</span> House in Aberaeron, Ceredigion

Llanerchaeron, known as "Llanayron House" to its nineteenth-century occupants, is a grade I listed mansion on the River Aeron, designed and built in 1795 by John Nash for Major William Lewis as a model, self-sufficient farm complex located near Ciliau Aeron, some 2+1⁄2 miles south-east of Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales. There is evidence that the house replaced an earlier mansion. A later owner, William Lewes was the husband of Colonel Lewis's inheriting daughter.

Llanfair Kilgeddin is a small village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, lying within the administrative community of Llanover. It is located four miles north west of Usk and six miles south east of Abergavenny on the B4598 road. The River Usk passes close by.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nanteos Mansion</span>

Nanteos is an 18th-century former country house in Llanbadarn-y-Creuddyn, near Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales. A Grade I listed building, it is now a country house hotel. The gardens and parkland surrounding the mansion are listed on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parc le Breos</span> Medieval deer park in Wales

Parc le Breos was a great medieval deer park in the south of the Gower Peninsula, about eight miles (13 km) west of Swansea, Wales, and about 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) north of the Bristol Channel. The park was an enclosed, oval area of 6.7 miles (10.8 km) in circumference, covering about 2,000 acres (810 ha) and measuring 2+1⁄2 miles (east–west) by just over 1+3⁄4 miles. Parc le Breos was established in the 1220s CE by John de Braose, Marcher Lord of Gower and husband to Margaret Ferch Llywelyn, Llywelyn Fawr's daughter. Other than for deer husbandry, the park received an income from agistment, pannage, and from sales of wild honey, ferns and dead wood. There is evidence of rabbit warrens in the park. Whether the warrens were free or domestic is unknown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guilsfield</span>

Guilsfield is a village and local government community in Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales. It lies beside Guilsfield Brook about three miles north of Welshpool. It is located on the B4392 road and a disused branch of the Montgomery Canal starts nearby. The community has an area of 30.01 km2 (11.59 sq mi) and had a population of 1,640 in 2001. rising to 1,727 in 2011. The community includes the villages of Burgedin and Groes-lwyd. The village itself had a population of about 1,220.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John's, Monmouth</span>

St John's is a grade II listed building in the town centre of Monmouth, Wales. It is located in Glendower Street within the medieval town walls. The house is most remarkable for the rear of the property which features a Coalbrookdale verandah and formal walled garden that have been separately grade II listed with the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales. The villa's garden is also registered with the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llanegryn</span> Human settlement in Wales

Llanegryn is a village and a community in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It was formerly part of the historic county of Merionethshire. It is located within Snowdonia National Park south of the Snowdonia (Eryri) mountain range. Travelling by road, it is around 4 miles (6 km) north-east of Tywyn and 17 miles (27 km) south-west of Dolgellau. The nearest railway stations are at Tonfanau and Llwyngwril, both less than 3 miles (5 km) away.

Talsarn is a hamlet in the community of Nantcwnlle, Ceredigion, Wales. It lies some 16 miles (26 km) south of Aberystwyth, 64 miles (103 km) north-west of Cardiff, and 178 miles (286 km) from London. It is situated almost half-way between the towns of Lampeter and Aberaeron on the Ceredigion coast. The River Aeron passes close to Talsarn as it makes its way to the sea at Aberaeron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of Welsh history</span> List of significant events in the history of Wales

This is a timeline of Welsh history, comprising important legal and territorial changes, and political events in Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Registered historic parks and gardens in Swansea</span> List of buildings in county of Wales

The City and County of Swansea is a principal area in south Wales. It covers an area of 380 km2 (150 sq mi) and in 2021 the population was approximately 237,800.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cwmgelli Cemetery</span> Cemetery in Swansea, Wales

Cwmgelli Cemetery, also known as Cwmgelly Cemetery, is a cemetery located in the Treboeth area of Swansea, Wales. The cemetery is listed on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales, where it is designated Grade II for "its historic interest as a small Victorian garden cemetery".

References

  1. 1 2 "English – Coflein". coflein.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  2. ↑ Held at the West Glamorgan Archive Service
  3. ↑ Swansea Council Cambrian Indexing Project
  4. ↑ Editorial from the Cambrian newspaper, 14 May 1869
  5. ↑ Waters and Sewers Committee minutes, 23 Sept 1853 (TC 67/1/2: 174).
  6. ↑ The Cambrian, 10 July 1874 p.5
  7. ↑ Davies, Rowley. "Cwmdonkin Park", South Wales Evening Post, 29 Oct 1974.
  8. ↑ Davies, Rice and J. Roberts, "Prize Essays on the desirability and advantages of recreation grounds for Swansea", Swansea: Cambrian Books Publishing Company, 1895
  9. ↑ "Dylan Thomas Birthplace | VisitWales". www.visitwales.com. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  10. ↑ "History - Birthplace and heritage home of Welsh writer Dylan Thomas". 15 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "Dylan Thomas's Swansea childhood bedroom reopens". BBC News. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "Cwmdonkin Park". DylanThomas.com. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Oil Painting - portrait of Cwmdonkin Park Keeper John Smallcombe". DylanThomas.com. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  14. ↑ Ezard, John; correspondent, arts (27 November 2004). "History has Dylan Thomas dying from drink. But now, a new theory". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  15. ↑ "Cwmdonkin Park, Swansea". Dylan Thomas 100. 2013. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  16. 1 2 "Restored Dylan Thomas memorial unveiled in Swansea". BBC News. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  17. ↑ Jenkins, Nigel (2012). Real Swansea Two. Seren Books. p. 180. ISBN   9781854116482.
  18. ↑ Watkins, Vernon (1 April 1959). "Ode to Swansea". The Atlantic. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  19. ↑ "Sir Kingsley Amis blue plaque unveiled in Swansea". BBC News. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  20. ↑ "Mike Davies: The man who shaped modern tennis". BBC News. 5 July 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  21. ↑ WalesOnline (3 July 2011). "Tennis: Welsh Wimbledon finalist Mike Davies reflects on colourful career". WalesOnline. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  22. ↑ Evans, Richard (10 January 2016). "Mike Davies obituary". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  23. ↑ "Swansea: The latest news, sport, what's on and business from Swansea and Gower".
  24. ↑ Cadw. "Cwmdonkin Park (PGW(Gm)48(SWA))". National Historic Assets of Wales . Retrieved 6 February 2023.

51°37′18″N3°58′07″W / 51.6217°N 3.9685°W / 51.6217; -3.9685

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.