Singleton Park
Parc Singleton
LocationSwansea
Coordinates51°36′46″N 3°58′51″W / 51.612815°N 3.980846°W / 51.612815; -3.980846
Owned byCity and County of Swansea Council
Open1919
StatusGrade I
Websitehttps://www.swansea.gov.uk/singletonpark

Singleton Park (Welsh: Parc Singleton) is the largest urban park in the city of Swansea. It is located in Sketty and is listed on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.

The park encompasses 250 acres. An ornamental garden is located in the south, near the entrance to Swansea University, while a walled botanical garden is located in the park centre. On the south-western corner, past the hospital and the university, is a boating lake, as well as a miniature golf course.[1]

History

The park was originally part of the Vivian family estate. It was purchased by Swansea County Borough Council in 1919 for use as a public park. Park superintendent Daniel Bliss, who was trained at Kew Gardens, was conceived of the Singleton Farm botanical gardens and Ornamental Gardens. He was the main driver behind the purchase of the estate.[1]

During the Second World War, the park hosted the Armaments Research Department a detachment of the Woolwich Arsenal under Sir Robert Robertson (1869-1949).[2] While in 1944 over 1500 American soldiers were billeted for training on the beaches prior to landing on Omaha Beach, Normandy.

A Gorsedd stone circle was erected in 1925 for the Eisteddfod held in Singleton Park, Swansea, and was enlarged in 1964.[3]

The park hosts entertainment and cultural events such as Party in the Park and Proms in the Park The Wave and Swansea Sound and other music events held by local stations and their partners are Escape into the Park and the former Stars in the Park.[4] The BBC hosted Proms on the Park and the Biggest Weekend. Artists who have performed in the park include Jess Glynne and the Stereophonics.

Gardens

Singleton Park has several formal gardens in addition to the Botanical Garden, there is an Italianate Garden and ornamental garden.

Botanical Gardens

Originally called the Educational Gardens the botanical gardens were opened on 25th May 1926 housing a collection of economic plants and British flora. During the second world war part of the gardens were used for growing vegetables as part of the Dig for Victory campaign.

The Botanical Garden in Singleton Park

The original wooden glasshouses were replaced in 1987 as they had become unsafe, and replaced by aluminium structures. Ty Blodau (English: Flower House) is a purpose-built education and visitors center opened in 2006, funded by the Friends of the City of Swansea Botanical Complex.

A Wildflower/Wellbeing Garden was created as an extension to the botanical gardens in 2017, creating a little slice of wild among the more formal settings of the traditional garden.

The Friends of the City of Swansea Botanical Complex commissioned the creation of a bi-lingual commemorative panel to celebrate the Centenary of Singleton Park being in public ownership. The panel will be displayed in the Botanical Gardens. This panel was unveiled by descendants of the Vivian family on Sunday 4 August 2019. In 2022 the park, including the former gardens of Sketty Hall, was listed at Grade I on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.[5]


Structures

Buildings

A Swiss cottage is located inside the park. It was designed by architect P.F. Robinson, who designed Sketty Hall as well as other lodges in the park.[6] The cottage was badly damaged in 2010 in an arson attack, but was restored.[7] The lakeside pub, Inn on the Lake, became so well known as The Pub On the Pond that the owner later gave in and changed the name.

Building and structure Architect Year Image
Bishop Gore School 1952
Bishop Gore school main entrance
Mosque
Union House
Institute of Life Science 1 and 2 2007 and 2009
Institute of Life Science 2
Digital Technium 2005
Talbot Building
Faraday Building
Glyndwr Building c. 1960s
Vivian Tower c. 1960s
Kier Hardie Building
Callaghan Building
Wallace Building Percy Thomas Partnership 1956
Grove Building 1961
Grove Building Swansea University
Fulton House, Swansea (originally College House) Norman Thomas 1961
1937 Library Verner O. Rees 1937
Library and Information Building Sir Percy Thomas & Son 1963
Singleton Abbey
Singleton Abbey
Singleton Home Farm
Singleton Hospital
Singleton Hospital Viewed from across public and University playing fields
Sketty Hall 1852
Sketty Hall
Taliesin Arts Center The Peter Moro Partnership 1984
The Swiss Cottage P.F. Robinson (1776-1858) 1826
Swiss cottage in Singleton, UK
Veranda House[8] Henry Woodyer 1852

Gate Houses

Building and structure Architect Year Image
Gower Lodge(also known as Veranda Lodge or North Lodge) possibly Haycock[9] mid-1800s
Gower Lodge Singleton Park
Brynmill Lodge Henry Woodyer 1854
Brynmill Lodge Singleton Park
Sketty Green Lodge

(also known as Sketty Lane Lodge)

 P.F. Robinson (1776-1858)
Ty Harry P.F. Robinson (1776-1858)

See also

Reference list

  1. 1 2 "Singleton park: A must visit for families of all ages". Swansea Gov. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  2. ↑ THOMAS, KARMEN (2020). ""Community of Interests" The Creation, Development and Challenges of the Science Faculty at the University College of Swansea, circa 1920 – 1970". cronfa.swan.ac.uk. doi:10.23889/suthesis.59335. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "Swansea Gorsedd Circle". The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "Escape Into the Park Official Facebook Page". Facebook. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Cadw. "Singleton Park and Sketty Hall (PGW(Gm)56(SWA))". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "Singleton Abbey & Sketty Hall, Swansea, Wales". Parks And Gardens, UK. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Swansea's Swiss Cottage restored after fire". BBC News. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "Veranda House". Singleton Abbey. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "Lodges". Singleton Abbey. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
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The Botanical Gardens and FCSBC Plant Sales Shop [Supporting the Botanical Gardens

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