Greenhill, Swansea facts for kids

Greenhill is a neighborhood in Swansea, located just north of the city center. It's a busy area where three important roads, the A483, A4118, and B4489, all come together.

A Look Back at Greenhill's History

Greenhill has a rich past, especially linked to people moving there from other places.

Irish Families Make Greenhill Home

In the second half of the 1800s, many families from Ireland came to live in Greenhill. A big reason for this was the Great Famine, a time when many people in Ireland faced hunger and hardship. They came to Swansea looking for new opportunities.

Building a Community: Schools and Churches

With more families moving in, the community grew. This led to the creation of Greenhill's Roman Catholic Junior School. Also, Saint Joseph's Church was built. It was designed by a famous company called Pugin & Pugin. The church was officially opened in 1888. Later, in 1987, it became the main church for the area, known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Joseph.

Home of a Famous Missionary

Greenhill is also close to the birthplace of a very important person named Griffith John. He was a Christian missionary who traveled all the way to China to share his beliefs. You can find Griffith John Street in Greenhill, named after him.

Changes and New Identity

Over the years, Greenhill has changed a lot. Several things caused these changes.

Reshaping the Neighborhood

Some older houses in Greenhill were removed as part of "slum clearance" plans. This was done to improve living conditions in the area. Also, during World War II, some homes were damaged by bombs during the Swansea Blitz. After the war, new roads were built, which also changed the layout of the neighborhood.

Greenhill Becomes Brynmelyn

Because of all these changes, Greenhill has lost some of its original look and feel. Many local people now think of it as part of the area just north of it, which is called Brynmelyn. This name comes from Bryn-Melyn Street, which runs through the area. Brynmelyn means "yellow hill" in Welsh. It's important not to confuse Brynmelyn with "Brynmelin," which is sometimes mistakenly used for Brynmill, a completely different part of Swansea.

Nearby Places to Greenhill

Greenhill is surrounded by other interesting neighborhoods in Swansea. These include Cwmbwrla, Hafod, Manselton, and Mayhill.