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Gowerton
Gowerton, Church Street - geograph.org.uk - 184787.jpg
Gowerton is located in Swansea
Gowerton
Gowerton
Population 8,183 
OS grid reference SS595965
Principal area
Ceremonial county
Country Wales
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town SWANSEA
Postcode district SA4
Dialling code 01792
Police South Wales
Fire Mid and West Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK Parliament
  • Gower
Welsh Assembly
  • Gower
List of places
UK
Wales
Swansea
51°38′53″N 4°02′35″W / 51.648°N 4.043°W / 51.648; -4.043

Gowerton (Welsh: Tregŵyr ) is a large village and community, about 4 miles (6 km) north west of Swansea city centre, Wales. Gowerton is often known as the gateway to the Gower Peninsula. Gowerton's original name was Ffosfelin. The village falls within the Gowerton electoral ward of the City and County of Swansea Council, which elects one councillor. The community had a population of 5,212 and the built-up area with Waunarlwydd 8,183.

In 1980, the Welsh National Eisteddfod (named after Dyffryn Lliw, see below) was held at the Elba sports complex in the village. The Eisteddfod stone (Gorsedd stones) is located on the roundabout (grid ref. 585966) on the B4295 road to Penclawdd.

Geography

Nearby villages/towns are Penclawdd (west), Three Crosses and Dunvant (south), Waunarlwydd (east, contiguous with Gowerton), Gorseinon (north) and Loughor (north-west).

From 1974 to 1966, Gowerton was part of the district of Lliw Valley (Dyffryn Lliw) within West Glamorgan.

People from Gowerton are often referred to as "starch". When the local area processed steel for export, the steel owners and white collar workers lived in the Gowerton area; hence the name "starch". On the other hand, many of the manual workers resided in neighbouring Penclawdd and are known by the affectionate term "donks".

Gowerton is twinned with La Gacilly in Brittany, France.

Education

Gowerton has three schools: Gowerton Primary school, Gowerton Comprehensive School and Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr (Welsh medium comprehensive school).

Religion

Gowerton once had five church or chapel buildings: St John's Church (built 1882), Tabernacl (opened 1893) Temple United Reformed Church (opened 1888), Bethel (opened 1873) and Bethania (opened 1891). However, only two, St John's Church and Temple URC, still remain. Bethel has lain in ruins for two decades and both Tabernacl and Bethania have been demolished.

Transport

Bus services are provided by First Cymru and NAT. These depart Gowerton from Hill Street or Sterry Road.

First Cymru provide a half-hourly service (no. 16) through the village to Swansea and Gorseinon.

Gowerton railway station is on the West Wales Line, between Swansea and Llanelli. Gowerton once had two railway stations, but today only one remains. This was made single-track in 1986. Work began in November 2012 to restore the double track to Gowerton by mid-2013, this has now been completed.

Sport

The local rugby club is Gowerton RFC.

Gowerton's Elba Sports Complex is home to Swansea Senior League Second Division, Gowerton FC.

Gowerton has a golf range and a nine-hole, par 3 golf course.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Gowerton para niños

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