An historic building on Gower is being partly demolished - due to health and safety fears.
The forge building in Bishopston, situated next to the Valley Inn, is believed to have existed since at least the mid eighteenth century.
But concerns over its condition saw workers move onto the site to demolish around half of the structure.
Although the building is not listed, it within Bishopston Conservation Area, meaning planning permission would need to granted by Swansea Council to demolish the building.
As permission had not been officially given - it will have to make a retrospective application instead.
Bishopston resident Paul Thomas said: “I grew up in the village, and I remember residents who have long gone telling me stories about its history.
“One told me how he used to get paid a penny as a young boy for setting up the skittles for all the farmers who used to go there to play.
“It just seems a shame that one of the oldest buildings in Bishopston has had to be partly demolished”.
The building appears to feature on an 1844 map of Bishopston, although the exact date it was built is not certain.
In the 1970s the building was renovated and served as a function room, a pool room and was known for a while as The Forge Restaurant.
But around twenty years ago its public use ceased, and it has been used since as pub storage space.
The Valley Inn was taken over brewers Star Pubs & Bars two years ago, when the forge building was removed from the pub lease.
A spokesman for the brewery said action was needed to make the area safe.
He added: “The council advised us we needed to demolish the building as soon as possible, or they would do it for us, as it was a dangerous structure.
“Given the urgency, it was agreed that we would apply for retrospective planning permission which we are currently doing.
“As the property owner, we paid for the demolition under instruction from the local authority.
“Planned improvements to the site – such as making the remaining building exterior look better and fencing off the boundary from the school - are already underway.
“Once this is completed we’ll review the space to see how it can best be used.”
A Gower Society spokesman said: “We are always concerned about the loss of any older building or damage to the same. It is part of our history”.
A Swansea Council spokesman added: “The Council has recently been contacted about work carried out at the location and we will be carrying out an assessment to establish if further action is required.”
