Mumbles

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Mumbles and lighthouse, mid-1800s The Mumbles light house, Glamorganshire (1130083).jpg
Mumbles and lighthouse, mid-1800s

Mumbles (Welsh : Mwmbwls) is a headland sited on the western edge of Swansea Bay on the southern coast of Wales.

Contents

Toponym

Mumbles has been noted for its unusual place name. [1] The headland is thought by some to have been named by French sailors, after the shape of the two anthropomorphic islands which the headland comprises: the word "Mumbles" may be a corruption of the French les mamelles, meaning "the breasts". Another possible source of the name is the word Mamucium, which is generally thought to represent a Latinisation of an original Brythonic name, either from mamm- ("breast", in reference to a "breast-like hill") or from mamma ("mother", in reference to a local river goddess).[ citation needed ]

Mumbles Lighthouse was built during the 1790s, and was converted to solar powered operation in 1995. [2]

Notable features

Mumbles Pier was opened in 1898 at the terminus of the Swansea and Mumbles Railway, which was the world's first horse-drawn public passenger train service. It opened 2 Mar 1807 and used horse power to 1877, then steam power to 1929, when it switched to double deck overhead electric tram power, lasting till the line closed in Jan 1960. [3]

Mumbles Lifeboat Station has operated since 1866. In 1947, the entire lifeboat crew was lost at sea, attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Samtampa , in what has become known as the Mumbles lifeboat disaster. The nearest church, All Saints' Church, Oystermouth, contains memorials to the crew.

Panoramic photograph of Mumbles Pier; the Lifeboat station and the lighthouse on the right Pier y Mwmbwls a'i Oleudy.jpg
Panoramic photograph of Mumbles Pier; the Lifeboat station and the lighthouse on the right

Climate

Climate data for Mumbles Head (32m elevation) 1981–2010
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)8.0
(46.4)
7.8
(46.0)
9.5
(49.1)
11.9
(53.4)
15.0
(59.0)
17.7
(63.9)
19.6
(67.3)
19.7
(67.5)
17.8
(64.0)
14.4
(57.9)
11.1
(52.0)
8.7
(47.7)
13.5
(56.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)4.0
(39.2)
3.6
(38.5)
4.8
(40.6)
6.3
(43.3)
9.2
(48.6)
11.8
(53.2)
13.9
(57.0)
14.0
(57.2)
12.4
(54.3)
9.9
(49.8)
6.9
(44.4)
4.7
(40.5)
8.5
(47.3)
Average rainfall mm (inches)95.5
(3.76)
67.0
(2.64)
72.9
(2.87)
58.5
(2.30)
62.8
(2.47)
63.8
(2.51)
71.9
(2.83)
83.9
(3.30)
77.4
(3.05)
123.1
(4.85)
112.1
(4.41)
110.3
(4.34)
999.2
(39.34)
Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm)15.011.013.510.610.39.910.111.211.415.415.014.4147.9
Source: metoffice.gov.uk [4]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swansea Bay</span> Bay on the southern coast of Wales

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mumbles Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse in Wales

Mumbles Lighthouse, completed in 1794, is a lighthouse located in Mumbles, near Swansea. The structure, which sits on the outer of two islands off Mumbles Head, is clearly visible from any point along the five mile sweep of Swansea Bay. Along with the nearby lifeboat station, it is the most photographed landmark in the village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swansea and Mumbles Railway</span> First passenger railway system in the world

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

Oystermouth is a village in the district of Mumbles, Swansea, Wales. It is part of the Mumbles community.

SS <i>Samtampa</i> World War II Liberty ship of the United States

SS Samtampa was a 7,219 ton steamship wrecked on Sker Point, off Porthcawl and Kenfig, Wales, in the Bristol Channel on 23 April 1947. At the time of the shipwreck, the Samtampa was operated by the Houlder Line.

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

Bracelet Bay is a small bay on the south of the Gower Peninsula. It is the first bay one comes to after leaving Swansea Bay and rounding Mumbles Head.

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

The Grade II listed structure of Mumbles Pier is an 835 feet (255 m) long Victorian pleasure pier built in 1898. It is located at the south-western corner of Swansea Bay near the village of Mumbles, within the city and county of Swansea, Wales.

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

Sker Point is a headland in Bridgend County Borough on the South Wales coast between Port Talbot and Porthcawl. It marks the south end of Kenfig Sands. The placename Sker is of Old Norse origin, and means skerry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Worm's Head</span>

Worm's Head is a headland, at Rhossili, part of the City and County of Swansea, Wales. It is the furthest westerly point of the Gower Peninsula. The name Worm's Head is derived from an Old English word 'wyrm' for 'sea serpent'. The headland of carboniferous limestone comprises three islands: the Inner Head, the Middle Head which features a collapsed sea cave and is known as the Devil's Bridge, and the Outer Head. In total, it is approximately one mile long. The Inner Head is up to 200 yards wide. Worm's Head is only accessible on foot for 2+12 hours either side of low tide, fatal to attempt to wade or swim to when the causeway from the mainland is flooded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mumbles (district)</span> Human settlement in Wales

The Mumbles is a district of Swansea, Wales, located on the south-east corner of the unitary authority area. It is also a local government community using the same name. At the 2001 census the population was 16,774, reduced slightly to 16,600 at the 2011 Census. The district is named after the headland of Mumbles, located on its south-east corner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lizard Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Cornwall, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Mumbles Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Wales, UK

The Mumbles Lifeboat Station opened in 1835 with a lifeboat that was funded and managed by Swansea Harbour Trustees and was known as Swansea Lifeboat Station. The station was taken over by the RNLI in 1863 and moved to Mumbles in 1866. The station only officially became The Mumbles Lifeboat Station in 1904.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horton and Port Eynon Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Wales, UK

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The Mumbles lifeboat disaster occurred in 1947 off south Wales when the Mumbles lifeboat was undertaking a rescue off Sker Point but was overwhelmed by the sea. All eight people in the lifeboat died as result.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessie Ace and Margaret Wright</span> Welsh sisters who rescued seamen in distress

Jessie Ace (1860–1936) and Margaret Wright are known for their rescue of crewmen from the Mumbles lifeboat, which had gone to assist a wrecked German barque during an 1883 storm at Mumbles Head, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Saints' Church, Oystermouth</span> Church in Oystermouth, Swansea, Wales

All Saints' Church, Oystermouth is an Anglican church in the diocese of Swansea and Brecon, south Wales. It is located in Mumbles and is a Grade II listed building The church stands on a hillside, not far from Oystermouth Castle.

References

  1. Symons, Mitchell (8 November 2012). The Bumper Book For The Loo: Facts and figures, stats and stories – an unputdownable treat of trivia. Transworld. p. 272. ISBN   978-1-4481-5271-1.
  2. "Mumbles". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
  3. "The Swansea and Mumbles Railway - the world's first railway service".
  4. "Climate Normals 1981–2010". Met Office. Retrieved 24 February 2021.


51°34′05″N3°59′06″W / 51.568°N 3.985°W / 51.568; -3.985