Hafod is a district of the city of Swansea, in South

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

, U.K., and lies just north of the city centre, within the Landore ward. Hafod is the home to the Hafod Copperworks, founded in 1810 and closed in 1980 which is now being developed into an industrial heritage site.

Name origins

The word ''hafod'' is a Welsh word referring to the seasonal cycle of

transhumance Transhumance is a type of pastoralism or nomadism, a seasonal movement of livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In montane regions (''vertical transhumance''), it implies movement between higher pastures in summer and lower val ...

- the movement of livestock and people from a lowland winter pasture at the main residence (Welsh ''hendre'') to a higher summer pasture from roughly May to October.

Description

The western part of Hafod is a residential suburb. In the late 20th century, this was a mostly run-down area of Swansea, with property prices there being some of the lowest in the city centre area. In the new millennium, many properties in the main Neath Road (B4603) and some of the side streets have benefited from council grants to improve the façade of the properties. Beside the

River Tawe The River Tawe (; cy, Afon Tawe ) is a long river in South Wales. Its headwaters flow initially east from its source below Llyn y Fan Fawr south of Moel Feity in the Black Mountains, the westernmost range of the Brecon Beacons National ...

to the east is a small industrial strip around Morfa Road. Hafod has a comprehensive school called Pentrehafod School, and a primary school called Hafod Primary school. There used to be junior and senior schools located on the same site but the school was ravaged by fire during the early 1990s. The new primary school was built to replace it and new buildings were constructed within the grounds of Pentrehafod school to cater for the junior and senior pupils. The community sports facility is the Pentrehafod sports hall and pool located in the grounds of the Pentrehafod Comprehensive School. The school is built on what was formerly the waste product dumping ground for the Morris family copper works. Neath Road is a busy thoroughfare used by buses and cars to travelling between central Swansea and the northern suburbs in and around

Morriston Morriston (; cy, Treforys ) is a community in the City and County of Swansea, Wales and falls within the Morriston ward. It is the largest community in Swansea county. Morriston is sometimes referred to as a distinct town (e.g. the local fo ...

and Llansamlet. There is a dedicated express bus route to the east of Neath Road, which is used by buses serving the

Landore Landore ( cy, Glandŵr) is a district and community in Swansea, Wales. The district falls in the Landore council ward. A mainly residential area, it is located about 2.5 miles north of Swansea city centre. The north-easterly part of Landore i ...

Park and Ride A park and ride, also known as incentive parking or a commuter lot, is a parking lot with public transport connections that allows commuters and other people heading to city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system ( ...

site and the 'bendy bus' service from

Singleton Hospital Singleton Hospital ( cy, Ysbyty Singleton) is a general hospital in Sketty Lane, Swansea, Wales. It is managed by Swansea Bay University Health Board. History The first stage of the hospital, which included outpatients' facilities, was completed ...

Morriston Hospital Morriston Hospital ( cy, Ysbyty Treforys) is a 750-bed hospital located in Cwmrhydyceirw near Morriston in Swansea, Wales. It is managed by Swansea Bay University Health Board. Alongside its role as a district general hospital, Morriston is a ...

Plans

Hafod Bypass

A bypass has been proposed for the community of Hafod for many years. Neath Road which runs through Hafod is a main entry point into the city of Swansea, and yet is a narrow road with terraced housing lining both sides of the street. Plans ratified by the City & County of Swansea in 2006TaweRivCorJune06pdf.pdf
June 2006 allow for the redevelopment of the western bank of the river tawe. A new road would be constructed along railway siding to extend the current Morfa Road so that the new road would run from New Cut Road up to the Liberty Stadium. Smiths Arms, Hafod, Swansea (geograph 5953899)

Smiths Arms, Hafod, Swansea (geograph 5953899)

References

External links

Hafod Renewal Area (about regeneration project)Photos of Hafod and surrounding area on geograph.org.ukTawe Riverside Corridor Strategy