Llwchwr

A bit about the ward …

Loughor’s history can be traced to the Roman fort of Leucarum, over which the Norman Loughor Castle was built in 1106. Neighbouring Garn goch was the location for the famous battle of 1136 won by a Welsh army led bt Hywel ap Maredydd.

Upper Loughor and Kingsbridge evolved from small hamlets during the nineteenth century as people flocked into the area to work in the coal mines and steel and tinplate works which had become the backbone of the local economy by the 1880s and made the area a centre of export-orientated, international trade in both coal and tinplate. Loughor Welfare Hall was originally funded by the Miners’ Welfare Scheme while Parc Williams was donated by J. C. Williams and family, American industrialists who hailed from the area. Loughor was the centre of the religious revival of 1904-05 led by Evan Roberts and Sidney Evans and the events are commemorated locally at Moriah chapel in Glebe Road and at Pisgah in Bryn y mor Road.

The rapid influx of population continued into the twentieth century and led to the establishment of the original Garden Village built on co-partnership principles, inspired by Ebenezer Howard’s Garden Cities movement.

In recent times Llwchwr has evolved primarily a residential area with a population of around 9,000 inhabitants. The whole locality is served by Llwchwr Town Council who maintain the Loughor Welfare Hall. Four primary schools are located in Llwchwr and most learners from the area access their secondary education either at Penyrheol Comprehensive School or Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr.

Local clubs are an established part of grass roots sport and have enjoyed considerable success in their own right as well as providing the nurturing ground for many talented players including several who have gone on to international stardom.