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Wales Online
Wales Online
Lifestyle
Robert Dalling

21 things you used to be able to do in Swansea but can't anymore

Swansea has changed dramatically over the decades, and things which once defined the city have gone for good.

From transport, to shops, pubs and even roads.

Here are some of the things you can't do in Swansea anymore.

Drive down Oxford Street

Oxford Street had one-way traffic in the spring of 1964. It is pedestrianised today (From the book Memory Lane Swansea by David Roberts/ South Wales Evening Post archives)

Oxford Street once had a one-way traffic system. Here it pictured in the spring of 1964.

The city centre street which is today home to high street stores is of course pedestrianised today.

Catch a train from seven different locations

Swansea Victoria Station which once sat where The LC now is (South Wales Evening Post archives)

In 1985 the city had seven railway stations.

High Street, St Thomas, East Dock, Riverside Victoria, Swansea Bay, and Rutland Street, all built by five different railway companies.

Today only High Street station remains.

Tell the time on a floral clock

Swansea's old floral clock, as it was, pictured in the 1970s (South Wales Evening Post archives)

The working timepiece was a feature of Victoria Park for decades but disappeared from sight 20 years ago because of council cutbacks.

It was installed in 1911 by Swansea Corporation at a cost of £50.

It was placed in storage, and presumably still sits idle gathering dust.

Go to a racecourse

In the 19th century, Manselton in Swansea boasted what was regarded as one of the finest racecourses in Britain.

There was an impressive 2,500 seater enclosed grandstand and a course featuring a paddock, private stand and telegraph office.

It experienced huge success, attracting between 30,000 and 50,000 spectators on the first day alone (depending on which account you believe).

The event was affordable too, costing just one shilling for the ordinary punter to gain admission.

Efforts were made until June 1889 to host events at the site, but dwindling attendance eventually spelt the end for the course.

Party the night away at Cinderella's

Outside the old Cinderella's nightclub (Chris Raddenbury)
A packed Cinderella's dance floor, captured from the DJ box (Chris Raddenbury)

For generations, Cinderella's nightclub was the place to go for many young adults in Swansea.

It started and ended a fair few relationships.

Despite the fact it was stuck out of the way, with no obvious way of getting home in the early hours of the morning for many who were not local, people would still flock from all corners of the city for a night out at the legendary club.

Or you could have had a dance at Neptunes

Neptunes in Swansea, where Castellamare now sits (Bracelet Bay Swansea/ South Wales Evening Post archives)

Neptunes was another popular spot in Mumbles for nightlife.

It overlooked Bracelet Bay and would be the natural culmination to a day pub hopping whilst doing the 'Mumbles Miile'.

Today it serves Italian food as restaurant Castellamare.

Stay here overnight

The Mackworth Hotel, High Street, pictured in 1966 (South Wales Evening Post archives)

The Mackworth Hotel was Swansea’s foremost guesthouse for much of the 20th century, popular for wedding receptions and dinner dances, having a resident orchestra.

Retired police officers recall the aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through the hotel’s kitchens in the early morning as they walked back to Central Police Station at the end of the night beat.

Its features included a billiard room with six tables, and the novelty of an Automatic Café (whatever that was).

Walk across the slip bridge

One of the few remnants from the Victorian/Edwardian era following a long period of de-industrialisation and Swansea’s devastation in the Second World War.

It was a response to the dangerous slip crossing to the beach and a fixture on the Swansea skyline for almost a century.

But it fell into disrepair, with the span being removed and never replaced.

It sat on the Mumbles Road from 1914 but was controversially taken down in 2004.

The Return of Swansea Slip Bridge group has been pushing for its return ever since.

Sit on the grass at Castle Gardens

Children feed the birds in Castle Gardens back in 1973 (South Wales Evening Post)

Castle Gardens was a public garden and a memorial to those who died in the WWII Swansea bombings, notably the 230 people killed in the three-night blitz of February 1941. 

The area was initially a picturesque spot for many to enjoy a bit of calm within an otherwise bustling shopping area, have a picnic, or feed the birds.

But in October 1993 city councillors decided it was time for a change. They gave their backing to a scheme to transform the gardens for good and it was turned into Castle Square, a concrete amphitheatre.

Ride on the Mumbles Train

Crowds pictured surrounding the Mumbles Train (Lynne Langan)

The Mumbles Train was iconic in Swansea and was the first railway in the world to regularly carry fare-paying passengers.

It later moved from horse power to steam locomotion, and was converted to electric power, using the largest tram cars ever built for service in Britain.

But it was closed in the '60s to the anger of many. And even though the city ended up with a fantastic prom, popular with walkers and cyclists, the railway is still sorely missed.

Buy a bag of fresh doughnuts in Parc Tawe

There was once a fresh doughnuts shop in Parc Tawe (South Wales Evening Post archives)

For those of a certain age the mere smell of fresh doughnuts in Parc Tawe is iconic.

Right next door to it, Joe's Ice Cream also had a unit, leaving you with a big dilemma on your hands over which treat to go for and take into the nearby UCI cinema.

Watch a film here

Castle Cinema (South Wales Evening Post)

Castle Cinema was opened in Worcester Place on December 14, 1913, by Castle and Central Cinemas Ltd.

It was modernised in 1967, and new owners, Welmore Cinema Co. Ltd, took over in the 1970s.

It was closed in 1983, and took on new life the same year as Film Centa. It closed on October 31, 1991 and is now in use as Laserzone.

Drive in both directions down the Kingsway

The Kingsway pictured in 1968 (From Reflections of Swansea by David Roberts / South Wales Evening Post archives)

If you're from Swansea, you'll only be too familiar with the number of times the Kingsway layout has changed through the years.

Its most recent incarnation has turned the road into a one-way system. But traffic used to be able to flow in both directions, as is pictured here.

Have a pint in the Swansea Jack

The Swansea Jack pub (Richard Youle)

The Swansea Jack, on Oystermouth Road’s corner with West Way, closed in 2015.

The pub was named after the famous dog, which lived from 1930 to 1937 and famously rescued 27 people from Swansea Docks and the river bank.

The retriever is the only dog to have been awarded two bronze medals – the canine VC – by the National Canine Defence League, now known as Dogs Trust.

Over the years the Swansea Jack pub was a popular haunt for Swansea City fans who attended at the club’s former Vetch Field ground nearby.

When the football club moved to the Liberty Stadium the fate of the pub was largely sealed.

Go swimming here

The old St. Helen's Swimming Baths (South Wales Evening Post archives)

St Helen's swimming baths was once a popular spot which attracted people from across the city.

The 80-year-old historic baths, which had been home to local swimming groups for so many years, were no longer required with the opening of the new £10.7 million Wales National Pool, Swansea.

The building was demolished in 2003.

Shop at Woolworths

A one time giant of the high street, there were more than 800 stores at its peak. But they vanished from our towns and cities with the loss of 27,000 jobs. 

It was a sugary paradise for children thanks to its iconic pick 'n' mix.

Go to watch football at the Vetch Field

Swans fans pictured singing on the North Bank before the crucial game against Hull City in 2003 (Adam Davies / South Wales Evening Post archives)

From 1912 until 2005, visiting The Vetch Field was a Swansea institution.

Whether you stood on the North Bank, or were situated in the Centre Stand, East Stand or West Terrace, thousands would flock from all corners of the city to cheer on Swansea City FC until their move to the Liberty Stadium.

Take the kids here for food

There was a Wimpy at the old Megabowl (South Wales Evening Post)

Wimpy was a firm favourite with children.

It served the Bender in a Bun - Wimpy's infamous Frankfurt sausage in a bap, sliced around the edges, deep fried and curled to fit into its circular bread housing. It had restaurants at College Street and also within the old Megabowl in Parc Tawe.

...And then take them to buy a toy here

Toys R Us was a firm favourite in Parc Tawe (South Wales Evening Post archives)

The toy retailer which had been in the city for generations, and had been a big favourite with kids all over the city.

It closed its doors on Sunday, April 22, 2018, after the company entered administration and all its stores shut nationwide.

It has been occupied on a temporary basis by Circus Eruption since January, 2018.

Bomb down these amazing slides

The red and yellow slide and the peashooter (South Wales Evening Post)

Swansea's old leisure centre had some amazing slides which people still remember to this day. The red and yellow, peashooter and spacebowl slides were all big hits back in the day.

They went when it closed its doors in 2003. It reopened as The LC in 2008.

Skate on this

Skateboarders using the old ramp at Swansea Leisure Centre (JH Davies / South Wales Evening Post archives)

Bikers and skateboarders used to love using these ramps which were right next to Swansea leisure centre.

The skating facilities were moved elsewhere in 2006 as the space was needed for works to be carried out to transform the old leisure centre into the LC.

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