About

Swansea

Swansea Museum Service is centred on Swansea Museum, a fine classical building which faces the main road into the city from the east. Opened in 1841, it is the oldest museum in Wales, and has rich collections:

A mass of archaeology, especially prehistoric material from the Gower peninsula.

The mummified body of the Egyptian priest, Hor, and associated materials.

A Ceramics Gallery full of beautiful pottery, much of it from the Cambrian Pottery in Swansea, 1764-1870.

A Cabinet of Curiosities, with a reconstructed Welsh Kitchen of about 1850, a penny farthing, boneshaker, phrenology heads, and a million other things, especially rich in Victorian material.

A rolling programme of temporary exhibitions and events, examples: “Their Past Your Future”, Surf’s Up, Golden Gower, Beasts of the Nile, etc….

The service also has

In the nearby marina, the Helwick, a lightship of 1937 vintage, and the “Canning”, a 1950s steam tug, both of which are open in the summer months, and a seaworthy sailing pilot cutter, the “Olga”.

Close by, the Tram Centre, which tells the story of the Mumbles Railway, the first passenger railway in the world, and of the Swansea street trams.

2 miles away, at Landore, the Collection Centre, housed in a huge copper works building, and specially rich in transport exhibits – viewing is welcomed, but by appointment.

4Site Education runs a wide range of sessions for pupils and students of all ages at these venues, and also at The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and the towncentre tropical hothouse, Plantasia.

If you want to find out about sessions for Key Stage 1/ Early Years (domestic life, toys, transport, etc), Key Stage 2 (Early Peoples, Romans, Ancient Egypt, Industry, Victorians, etc), Key Stage 3 or 4, please ring on 01792/477180 (direct) or 653763 (switchboard) and ask for Gerald Gabb or Barry Hughes.
Or e mail – gerald.gabb@swansea.gov.uk or barry.hughes@swansea.gov.uk

For general information, try the City & County of Swansea website and follow links to Leisure & Tourism, then Museums and Art Galleries, and on to Education Service, Glynn Vivian or Swansea Museum.

The facility you are using refers specifically to the swanseaheritage.net website, which is rich in World War II material and much else beside.

4Site also runs a great many school sessions on the theme, a full day of lively activities and inquiry. For classroom resources we have a pack called “Swansea and the war…60 years on” with pictures and lots of reminiscence, aimed specifically at Y5/6 and above – get in touch !