By the late 1870s the oyster beds were devastated by over-fishing, spiralling the industry into sharp decline. Many people had to find alternative work after an oyster disease wiped out most of the beds in the early 1920s, with the last skiff retired in 1930. However if you look over the sea wall you will still see not just the wrecks of the old oyster boats - still there after all these years - but also the shell remnants of Swansea Bay's other once-thriving crustacean industries, with cockles and mussels as well as oysters.
And yet the hardship the oyster families faced was a lot more enduring than the boats in which they plied their trade. So many people depended on the industry that when it collapsed, its impact on the local area was nothing short of catastrophic. Families went without food and clothes, with many forced to pack-up and settle in another part of the country. Life was not just harsh; it was also a constant struggle for survival.
Now the oysters are making a long-awaited comeback, as the increasing number of restaurants in the Mumbles demand the freshest locally-caught seafood. The oysters are being slowly harvested again, with new research showing the once-dormant beds enjoying a new lease of life.
However, well before the situation began to improve for the oysters, a lifeline had been thrown to those who stayed on in Mumbles - the birth of tourism.
In the 17 and 1800s, Swansea earned itself the title of "Bath-by-the-sea" after becoming a playground for only the wealthiest of citizens. Now, though, it is the Victorian resort of Mumbles that earns the tourism plaudits because of its quaint streets, restaurants and shops, coffee bars - and, of course, the imfamous Mumbles Mile.
(From this point in the walk you can either continue onward to the Mumbles pier, or return to where the walk began).
Before returning to Blackpill - and because of the confusion between Oystermouth and Mumbles - it is worth considering the origin of the name 'Mumbles'. This refers to the area named after the two islands that stand sentinel at the end of the promentory and it is believed they were so called - perhaps by the occupying Romans - due to their visual similarity to "breasts," i.e. 'mamma' in Latin and 'mammelles' in French. It's fairly common for that particular theory to surprise as many locals as it does visitors...
From here it is possible to continue along the foreshore at low tide, though those with walking difficulties or using wheelchairs will most likely find that the shingle on the beach and rocks toward the promenade wall too much of a hazard. Always check tide times before walking on the beach, as the incoming tide moves quickly, and the sands can be hazardous.
Onward to Part 7...
your comments
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Bob Stewart Australia
I was born on Townhill, from there we had a sweeping view from Port Talbot to the Mumbles lighthouse. For the latter part of my life in Swansea I lived at the top of West Cross Lane I was a postman in the Mumbles prior to emigrating. One summer morning at about 4.45am I was going to work I turned the corner and there in full sail leaning into the wind just passing the lighthouse was a three masted sailing ship (I think it was the Winston Churchill). I have seen many beautiful sights but the top of my list is the view from Townhill and the view of the Mumbles from any angle.
Mon Jan 22 09:33:18 2007
Mark Smith from Farmington New Mexico, USA
I visited Mumbles in 1999, and also in 1979 and 1969, and an earlier visit when I was very young. I thing the Electric Train had recently been closed on my first visit. My Mother and Aunt both grew up in the Swansea area, and are very fond of the bays and the Mumbles area. I was always fascinated by the life boat station, and was thrilled it was still intact after all these years. Fish and chips seem to taste better after a long walk around Mumbles, and the cool sea air blowing in your face.
It would be great (maybe a tourist attraction) to get the train running again!
Fri Feb 10 18:18:34 2006
John Couvh Wolverhampton
Lived in Mumbles for many years. The 'Mumbles Mile' meant having a beer in every pub from the Pier to Oystermouth. Popular for a stag night. But not popular with the intended bride!
Mon Aug 1 09:00:35 2005
David L. Morgan, Baden, Pennsylvania USA
Our good family friend who is now gone from us Millie Leishman always told us on our visits to Wales to say a big shwmae to Mumbles! Millie was a Brit from the get go. Half Scot and half Welsh. She lived in the Port Talbot area as a child untill she came to the States in the mid 1930s. Shwmae Mumbles from Millie!
Wed Jul 27 04:23:25 2005
Are you a fan of the Mumbles? Been on this walk or down the Mumbles Mile? Add your comments here.
Untangling the mystery of Mumbles' name, the fall of the oyster trade, and the arrival of tourism...
