Oystermouth was always regarded as another name for Mumbles although today it is known as a district of the seaside resort. At all events it stands as a reminder of the area's historic and, indeed, long-lived reputation as a premier source of the most romantic of seafoods, the humble oyster, prized over the centuries for its aphrodisiac qualities.

The oyster trade was once the centre of this fishing village's life with Swansea Bay noted as a major source of the delicacy. And Mumbles folk didn't just harvest oysters - they also thrived on them. They became a staple diet, whether it was fried in omelettes, cooked in breadcrumbs or used to fill steak which was then grilled. Many tucked into them with fish and chips out of a paper bag.

The Romans, who developed a taste for Burry Inlet cockles from further along the coast, were among the first to appreciate the delights of oysters, too, and in 5th Century Wales there is evidence they consumed huge quantities during their occupation, with these possibly coming from from Swansea Bay.

A strong trade in oysters was developed in Swansea during the Middle Ages and the oyster beds off-shore at Mumbles were considered the most prolific in the country by 1684 when the first Duke of Beaufort toured Wales. In later centuries the holder of this title profited greatly from Swansea's oyster trade, demanding rent from workers for maintaining "plantations" of oysters on the waterside he owned.

In the 17th century the oyster dredging was conducted from small rowing boats hauled by the women of Mumbles. A vessel with a rig was introduced in the 19th Century and this was known as a "skiff." The dredge, which was locally designed, was attached to the bottom of each of the 180 boats involved in the oyster trade and each "skiff" was mastered by a three-strong crew. At one time 600 people were employed in the industry, with many oysters shipped directly by sea to Bristol for distribution throughout the country. It's acknowledged that in 1871 a staggering ten million oysters were scraped off the sea beds of Swansea Bay and Gower, with a total saleable value of around £50,000 - an enormous amount of money for the time.

Onward to Part 6...