Greenhill, Swansea
Encyclopedia
Greenhill is an inner-urban district of Swansea
, Wales
, lying immediately north of the city centre
around the junction of the A483
, A4118
and B4489 roads. It forms part of the city
's Castle ward
.
The Greenhill area was the focus of large-scale Irish immigration in the second half of the 19th century – especially following the Great Famine – and from that period date the foundation of Greenhill's Roman Catholic Junior School and that of Saint Joseph's church, which was eventually to become the present-day Cathedral Church of Saint Joseph, designed by the firm of Pugin & Pugin
and consecrated in 1888.
The combined effects of slum clearance schemes, damage to housing from wartime
aerial bombardment in the Swansea Blitz
, and post-war road improvement measures have led to some loss of identity for this once very densely-occupied part of Swansea, to the extent that many locals now identify it simply as a part of the area lying to its immediate north and known as Brynmelyn (Welsh
: "yellow hill"), after Bryn-Melyn Street, which traverses it. Note that Brynmelyn should not be confused with "Brynmelin", sometimes offered as a Welsh-language translation of Brynmill
, which is an entirely different district of 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...
, lying immediately north of the 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...
around the junction of the A483
A483 road
The A483 is a major road in the United Kingdom, running from Swansea in Wales to Chester in England, although the official title is the Swansea to Manchester Trunk Road.-Swansea:...
, A4118
A4118 road
The A4118 road is a road in Swansea, Wales which connects Dyfatty Street in the city centre with the village of Port Eynon. It runs in an approximate east-west direction...
and B4489 roads. It forms part of the city
City and County of Swansea
The City and County of Swansea Council is the governing body for one of the Principal Areas of Wales covering Swansea, Gower and the surrounding area. The council consists of 72 councillors representing 36 electoral wards....
's Castle ward
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...
.
The Greenhill area was the focus of large-scale Irish immigration in the second half of the 19th century – especially following the Great Famine – and from that period date the foundation of Greenhill's Roman Catholic Junior School and that of Saint Joseph's church, which was eventually to become the present-day Cathedral Church of Saint Joseph, designed by the firm of Pugin & Pugin
Pugin & Pugin
Pugin & Pugin was a London-based family firm of ecclesiastical architects, founded in the Westminster office of Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin . The firm was succeeded by his sons Cuthbert Welby Pugin and Peter Paul Pugin after the death of their elder brother, Edward Welby Pugin...
and consecrated in 1888.
The combined effects of slum clearance schemes, damage to housing from wartime
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
aerial bombardment in the Swansea Blitz
Swansea Blitz
The Swansea Blitz was the heavy and sustained bombing of Swansea by the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany on 19–21 February 1941.Swansea was selected as a legitimate target due to its importance as a port and docks and the oil refinery just beyond and its destruction was key to Nazi German war efforts as...
, and post-war road improvement measures have led to some loss of identity for this once very densely-occupied part of Swansea, to the extent that many locals now identify it simply as a part of the area lying to its immediate north and known as Brynmelyn (Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
: "yellow hill"), after Bryn-Melyn Street, which traverses it. Note that Brynmelyn should not be confused with "Brynmelin", sometimes offered as a Welsh-language translation of Brynmill
Brynmill
Brynmill is a suburb of the City and County of Swansea, Wales, UK. It lies about two miles to the west of Swansea city centre. It is a residential area forming the southern part of the Uplands electoral ward. As it is close to Swansea university, many students choose to rent rooms here during...
, which is an entirely different district of Swansea.