Life after the Lords of Gower - 20th century

A photograph dated 1911 shows the military barracks being demolished. Colonel Morgan who was watching, was renowned as an expert on Swansea Castle and he went on to excavate the "old" castle site. In 1914 he wrote "The Castle has seen bad times, but the present is the worst."

"Read all about it"

In the early 1930s Swansea's most famous son Dylan Thomas worked here as a young reporter on the South Wales Daily Post. At that time the newspaper's offices and printing presses completely filled the castle courtyard. Dylan left in 1932 to write poetry, but perhaps the castle provided inspiration for the lines 'Shut, too, in a tower of words'? 

Swansea saw intensive bombing during WWII and whilst the Daily Post buildings were damaged, they survived and were not cleared from the castle's courtyard until 1976. As the town was rebuilt after the War the future of the castle was uncertain. There were even discussions about clearing away the remaining walls. 

FOLLOW THE STORY of Dylan Thomas by visiting the Dylan Thomas Centre (opens new window) - to find out about Swansea's famous son. Or Dylan's birthplace at 5, Cwmdonkin Drive.