Swansea’s earthquake remembered

On June 27^th 1906 one of the largest earthquakes of the 20^th century struck Swansea with the epicentre close to the city centre. Memories of the event were recorded in the Cambria Daily Leader, and other local papers of the time.

Bryngwyn Williams, from Swansea Library Service has been preparing the exhibition alongside the British Geological Society, he said, "The exhibition features press cuttings of the time with accounts from residents of the earthquake, including several near misses. We will also be featuring the only surviving seismograph from the time."

Although the earthquake only measured 5.2 on the Richter scale it did cause damage as it was in a built up area. Some reports described how bricks fell from chimneys in all parts of the city almost. There was also damage to St Andrew's church, the jail, the Board of Trade offices and the Gasworks.

There were a few injuries caused by the earthquake. In Swansea, a young man called Thomas Westbury and a three year-old named Thomas Lewis were both hit on the head by falling bricks. In Cwmafon a girl working at the tin works was badly injured when a stack of tin-plates toppled onto her.

These accounts and more can be seen at the exhibition in Swansea Library until July 10^th

More information on the Swansea earthquake can be found on the British Geological Survey website www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/latest/swansea_anniversary.htm

For more information on events at Swansea Libraries visit www.swansea.gov.uk/libraries

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This page last updated on June 27 2006