Amy Dillwyn

Tucked away in the churchyard at St Paul’s, Sketty, lies the resting place of one of Swansea’s most remarkable women: Amy Dillwyn. Novelist, industrialist, and campaigner for social justice, Amy lived a life that defied expectations. Yet, even here in her hometown, her story isn’t as well-known as it deserves to be.

Amy Dillwyn was born on 16 May 1845 at Parkwern House, right here in Sketty. Her father, Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn, was an MP and industrialist, part of a family known for science, business, and public service. The Dillwyns were central to Swansea life in the 19th century, owning estates around Sketty and Killay.

Growing up in such a household, Amy was surrounded by politics and ideas. It’s not hard to imagine her forming her own views about the world early on; views that would later make their way into her writing and activism.

In her 30s, Amy turned to writing. Between 1880 and 1892, she published six novels. These weren’t typical Victorian romances. Instead, Amy wrote about class struggles, women’s independence, and social issues that many writers of her time wouldn’t touch.

Her first novel, The Rebecca Rioter, was set in Killay and told the story of the real life Rebecca Riots through the eyes of one of the rioters; a rare working class narrator in Victorian fiction. Her most popular book, Jill, featured a heroine who rejected marriage, dressed as a man and forged her own path in the world.

Amy’s stories, full of wit and dry humour, reflected her own personality. Through her characters, she challenged the expectations placed on women and the working class alike.

Amy’s life took an unexpected turn after her father’s death in 1892. She inherited the family’s spelter works in Llansamlet along with considerable debts. Rather than sell up, Amy took charge of the business herself, a bold move for a woman at the time.

She tightened her belt, moved into simpler lodgings, and set about saving the company. By 1899, she had cleared her father’s debts and made the works profitable again. Amy became one of Britain’s first female industrialists, overseeing dozens of workers and running a complex business.

Locally, her efforts kept jobs and livelihoods afloat during a difficult period for Swansea’s industry.

Running a business didn’t stop Amy from campaigning for social causes. She was a passionate supporter of women’s suffrage and became president of the Swansea branch of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies.

She backed workers’ rights too; supporting strikes like the 1911 protest by women shop workers at Ben Evans in Swansea. She fundraised for local schools and hospitals, sat on committees, and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.

In 1906, she even stood for election to Swansea Town Council and the Harbour Board, an unheard of move for a woman then.

Amy’s personal life was as independent as her public one. She never married, though she had once been engaged. The love of her life was Olive Talbot and Amy was open about their relationship in a way few dared to be at the time.

She was also known for her distinctive appearance; short hair, men’s style clothes and always a cigar in hand. To some, she was a local eccentric. To others, she was simply Amy: principled, sharp tongued, and kind.

Amy lived her later years at Ty Glyn in West Cross, now marked by a plaque. She kept working and campaigning into her nineties before passing away in December 1935. Her ashes were laid to rest at St Paul’s, just a short walk from where she grew up.

Today, there’s renewed interest in Amy Dillwyn. Her novels have been rediscovered by new generations, and in 2024, Swansea named a new park in her honour: Amy Dillwyn Park, complete with a purple plaque.

For those of us in Sketty, her legacy is close to home. Amy Dillwyn wasn’t just a historical figure; she was one of us; a local woman who stood up for what she believed in, lived life on her own terms, and made a difference both here and far beyond.

Next time you pass by St Paul’s or Ty Glyn, it’s worth pausing a moment to remember her.