Singleton Abbey History

I have had a tour around Singleton Park and Singleton Abbey with Steve Littlejohns from Swansea University. Steve was happy to share some of his immense knowledge about the history of Singleton Abbey which is intrinsic to the park but it is now sited in the University grounds. There is so much fascinating and relevant history right under our noses, if only we knew.

Have you like me wondered why the windows on Home Farm look so much like windows in a castle? Well, that’s because when Ty Plas was demolished, which was a mediaeval villa and part of Swansea Castle itself, John Henry Vivian appropriated the window surrounds intact, to be used in Home Farm. This meant instant history and prestige was imported to his estate and a door used by Oliver Cromwell was the entrance to his dairy.

The ancient window surrounds on Home Farm

I heard how John Henry and Sarah Vivian created an ornamental garden. I thought ornamental referred to the planting which was exotic for its time but really it was the carefully placed statues that were in view from the Abbey itself. These have nearly all been removed from their original positions. There was a time when explorers went to the Himalayas, seeds were shared by William Henry Sykes to Kew Gardens and The Ornamental Gardens in Singleton.

Swansea was once at the pinnacle of horticulture and indeed some very rare hybrids may be still hidden in the gardens. The Vivian Family also valued their privacy and some of the mature large trees were sited to prevent overlooking of their estate by other large local houses, as Swansea was pretty rural in those times.

Large trees planted to avoid overlooking by other large houses on the higher ground

There are many streams underground and over ground in the park. The Vivian’s sometimes enhanced them for a better view and landscaping and sometimes re-routed them. The drainage of the park is very complex running under the university site and the hospital site. Some of the clay pipes have been damaged by large machinery leading to seepage and flooding; likewise some of the old iron pipe work is leeching iron into waterways visible as orange sludge.

Farming has played a big part in the history of the park. The Abbey had its first farm on the Lacrosse Field, but that would have spoilt the views down the slope to the sea and so the farm was moved to behind the walls in the Botanics. Produce would be carted down to the Abbey including pineapples and peaches grown in glass houses and against the walled garden

I saw the sites of the known ice houses on the estate. One next to the Abbey probably built in time for the anticipated royal visit, this looks intact but is bricked up. One right near the Lily Pad Lake so the ice could be stored there and a strange one on the beech wind break on the top of a slight mound, the other is on a higher bank near the water wheel partly covered now.

The ice bricked up but intact outside Singleton Abbey

We walked along the old route of Sketty Lane which is also known as Carriage walk – which is actually the original route of Sketty Lane. The flat open area near the entrance by the iron gates used to be Sketty Lane Lodge, this was a thatched building dating back to the 14th century but it was demolished in the 1960’s. Up until quite recently there were sheep present in the park which would have avoided the need for heavy tractors to go on the grass to cut it. I do recall cattle grids on the entrance some years previously now I know why, but it would not suit dog owners today.

This is only a fraction of the information gleaned in a couple of hours with Steve. The very good news is that he is amalgamating 15 years work on the history of Singleton Abbey and the story of the estate. He is developing a comprehensive website soon to be released, so all this information can be easily shared and the area better valued. The Vivian’s certainly helped develop Sketty with the building of St Paul’s church and the four pubs on the cross that brought people and prosperity to the area. Even though the Vivian’s no longer reside at Singleton Abbey the story still continues.