Loughor, Glamorgan

Description
Loughor, a small town and a parish in Glamorgan. The town stands on the river Loughor and on the Julian Way, 8 miles WNW of Swansea, occupies the site of the Roman station Leucarum, was once a place of considerable note, but now is practically a mere village. It had a castle of Henry de Beaumont built about 1100, taken by the Welsh in 1150, and given by Edward II. to the Despencers ; a ruined square tower of the castle remains. It was till 1886 a municipal borough, and unites with Aberavon, Kenfig, Neath, and part of Swansea in sending a member to the House of Commons. It has a station on the South Wales section of the G.W.R.; a post, money order, and telegraph office (R.S.O.); and fairs on the 6 June and 10 October. There is a town-hall with a police station underneath. A modern bridge takes the highway across the river, and a bridge upwards of a quarter of a mile long takes across the railway. The Yspitty Tin-plate Works are on the opposite bank, and give employment to some of the inhabitants. There are collieries in the neighbourhood. Roman corns and other relics have been found, and two small Roman camps are near. Acreage of the parish within the borough, 1159, with 48 of adjacent tidal water and 259 of foreshore; population, 2064. The parish contains also a considerable rural tract, including the village of Gowertou. Acreage of the portion outside the borough, 2489 ; population of the entire parish, 4196. The living is a rectory in the diocese of St David's; net value, £180 with residence. Patron, the Lord Chancellor. The church is ancient, and was restored in 1886. There are Baptist, Congregational, and Calvinistic Methodist chapels.