Clyne Castle facts for kids
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Clyne Castle is a beautiful old building in Swansea, Wales. It sits on a hill and looks out over Swansea Bay. This special building is next to the Clyne valley, near Blackpill. It was first built in 1791 by a rich landowner. Later, the Vivian family owned it. Many important people visited them there. In the 1950s, Swansea University bought the castle. They used it as a place for students to live. Today, Clyne Castle has been changed into fancy apartments.
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History of Clyne Castle
Clyne Castle was first built in 1791. A wealthy landowner from Carmarthenshire named Richard Phillips had it built. Over the years, other owners changed parts of the castle. For a long time, the Vivian family owned it. They were a very important family.
Famous Visitors at the Castle
While the Vivian family lived at Clyne Castle, many famous people came to visit. It is believed that Queen Victoria herself visited the castle. Other well-known guests included Winston Churchill, who was a famous Prime Minister. Even King Edward VIII is thought to have visited.
Gardens and Landscapes
In the 1860s, William Graham Vivian created the lovely gardens around the castle. These gardens were carefully planned. They are now known as Clyne Gardens.
Later Uses of the Castle
In the 1950s, Swansea University bought Clyne Castle. They turned it into a hall of residence for students. It was called Neuadd Gilbertson. The university also built two more buildings nearby for students to live in. Later, they added a women's hall called Neuadd Martin. This hall had amazing views of the sea. The student halls were connected by outdoor steps.
Clyne Gardens Today
The City of Swansea later took over the large park around the castle. This park is now called Clyne Gardens (Gerddi Clun). It offers beautiful views across Swansea Bay. The area around Clyne Castle is a special historic park. It is listed as a Registered Historic Park.
Modern Apartments
In 2003, the university decided to sell the castle and its student halls. They wanted to build new student housing on their main campus. Clyne Castle was then renovated. It is now a block of luxury apartments. These apartments have one or two bedrooms. The grounds are protected by iron gates. Residents can enjoy the well-kept gardens. The old student accommodation buildings were taken down. New houses were built in their place in 2006.
