Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Former Mumbles Railway Electricity Sub-Station
Mumbles, Swansea, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Transport
- Date of designation
- 11 February 1998
- Locality
- Blackpill
- Town
- Swansea
- Community
- Mumbles
- Unitary authority
- Swansea
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.59703, -3.99498
- Cadw reference
- 19323
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Location
To S of car park to Clyne Valley Country Park. Between Mumbles Road and sea.
History
Built in 1927 (date on building) by Ernest Morgan, architect, for the Swansea & Mumbles Railway. The building contained two 500kW rotary converters (removed) which converted 6600V alternating current to 650V direct current to operate trams of the Swansea & Mumbles Railway by overhead wires. The building also served as Blackpill Station. The Railway had originated by an Act of 1804, and is claimed to have been the earliest passenger railway in the world, running a regular passenger service from 1807 until 1960.
Exterior
An electricity sub-station of brown brick with concrete dressings, and flat roof behind a plain parapet. Round-arched windows have an impost band and small-pane metal glazing with marginal lights. Facing the road (to W) are 5 windows, while to the L end is a doorway with its hood removed and a louvred vent over. In the S end wall are 2 lunettes and a broad doorway to the L. Facing the sea is a 6-bay Tuscan portico, above which are 2 lunettes and, in the parapet, a raised field inscribed 'Blackpill'. The N elevation has 2 lunettes.
Interior
The machinery removed but the interior retains its tiled floor and I-beams to the ceiling.
Reason for designation
Listed as the only substantial remaining structure of the Swansea & Mumbles Railway.
Nearby in the register
- 74 Mumbles RoadDomesticunder 1 mi
- Bridge over River Clyne known as 'Roman Bridge' (partly in Sketty community)Transportunder 1 mi
- Bridge over River Clyne known as 'Roman Bridge' (partly in Mumbles community)Transportunder 1 mi
- Clyne LodgeDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.