Singleton Park () is the largest urban

park A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are urban green space, green spaces set aside for recreation inside t ...

in the city of

Swansea Swansea ( ; ) is a coastal City status in the United Kingdom, city and the List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, second-largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of ...

. It is located in Sketty and is listed on the

Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales The Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales is a heritage register of significant historic parks and gardens in Wales. It is maintained by Cadw, the historic environment service of the Welsh Government and ...

. The park encompasses 250 acres. An ornamental garden is located in the south, near the entrance to

Swansea University Swansea University () is a public university, public research university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. It was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it chang ...

, while a walled

botanical garden A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is ...

is located in the park centre. On the south-western corner, past the hospital and the university, is a

boating Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels (such as rowing and paddle boats), focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, suc ...

lake, as well as a

miniature golf Miniature golf (also known as minigolf, putt-putt, crazy golf, and by #Nomenclature, several other names) is an offshoot of the sport of golf focusing solely on the putting aspect of its parent game. The aim of the game is to score the lowest ...

course.

History

The park was originally part of the Vivian family estate. It was purchased by Swansea County Borough Council in 1919 for use as a public park. Park superintendent Daniel Bliss, who was trained at

Kew Gardens Kew Gardens is a botanical garden, botanic garden in southwest London that houses the "largest and most diverse botany, botanical and mycology, mycological collections in the world". Founded in 1759, from the exotic garden at Kew Park, its li ...

, was conceived of the Singleton Farm botanical gardens and Ornamental Gardens. He was the main driver behind the purchase of the estate. During the Second World War, the park hosted the Armaments Research Department a detachment of the Woolwich Arsenal under Sir Robert Robertson (1869-1949). While in 1944 over 1500 American soldiers were billeted for training on the beaches prior to landing on Omaha Beach, Normandy. A

Gorsedd Gorsedd Cymru (), or simply the Gorsedd (), is a society of Welsh-language poets, writers, musicians and others who have contributed to the Welsh language and to public life in Wales. Its aim is to honour such individuals and help develop and p ...

stone circle was erected in 1925 for the

Eisteddfod In Welsh culture, an ''eisteddfod'' is an institution and festival with several ranked competitions, including in poetry and music. The term ''eisteddfod'', which is formed from the Welsh morphemes: , meaning 'sit', and , meaning 'be', means, a ...

held in Singleton Park, Swansea, and was enlarged in 1964. The park hosts entertainment and cultural events such as

Party in the Park Party in the Park is the generic name given to music concerts organised by various radio stations and local authorities and groups in the United Kingdom, typically in large parks during the summer, however it is also used to refer to a family or ...

and Proms in the Park The Wave and Swansea Sound and other music events held by local stations and their partners are Escape into the Park and the former Stars in the Park. The BBC hosted Proms on the Park and the Biggest Weekend. Artists who have performed in the park include

Jess Glynne Jessica Hannah Glynne (born 20 October 1989) is a British singer. She rose to prominence in 2014 as a featured artist on the singles " Rather Be" by Clean Bandit and " My Love" by Route 94, both of which reached number one on the UK Singles C ...

and the

Stereophonics Stereophonics are a Welsh pop and rock music, Welsh rock band formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman in the Cynon Valley. The band consists of Kelly Jones (lead vocals, lead guitar, keyboards), Richard Jones (Stereophonics), Richard Jones (n ...

Gardens

Singleton Park has several formal gardens in addition to the Botanical Garden, there is an Italianate Garden and ornamental garden.

Botanical Gardens

Originally called the ''Educational Gardens'' the botanical gardens were opened on 25th May 1926 housing a collection of economic plants and British flora. During the second world war part of the gardens were used for growing vegetables as part of the Dig for Victory campaign. Swansea Botanical Gardens - 2022-08-20

The original wooden glasshouses were replaced in 1987 as they had become unsafe, and replaced by aluminium structures. Ty Blodau () is a purpose-built education and visitors center opened in 2006, funded by the Friends of the City of Swansea Botanical Complex. A Wildflower/Wellbeing Garden was created as an extension to the botanical gardens in 2017, creating a little slice of wild among the more formal settings of the traditional garden. The Friends of the City of Swansea Botanical Complex commissioned the creation of a bi-lingual commemorative panel to celebrate the Centenary of Singleton Park being in public ownership. The panel will be displayed in the Botanical Gardens. This panel was unveiled by descendants of the Vivian family on Sunday 4 August 2019. In 2022 the park, including the former gardens of Sketty Hall, was listed at Grade I on the

Structures

Buildings

A Swiss cottage is located inside the park. It was designed by architect P.F. Robinson, who designed Sketty Hall as well as other lodges in the park. The cottage was badly damaged in 2010 in an arson attack, but was restored. The lakeside pub, ''Inn on the Lake'', became so well known as ''The Pub On the Pond'' that the owner later gave in and changed the name.

Gate Houses

Reference list

External links

The Botanical Gardens and FCSBC Plant Sales Shop [Supporting the Botanical GardensSwansea Gov: Singleton ParkSingleton Park map location and accommodation

Complete listing of all Listed Buildings within The City and County of Swansea.
{{Swansea Parks in Swansea Swansea University Botanical gardens in Wales Swansea Bay Registered historic parks and gardens in Swansea