Singleton Park

Singleton Park (Welsh: Parc Singleton) is the largest urban park in the city of Swansea. It is located in Sketty and is listed on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.

Singleton Park

The park encompasses 250 acres. An ornamental garden is located in the south, near the entrance to Swansea University, while a walled botanical garden is located in the park centre. On the south-western corner, past the hospital and the university, is a boating lake, as well as a miniature golf course.[1]

History

The Swiss cottage in Singleton Park
The Botanical Garden in Singleton Park

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. Oark superintendent Daniel Bliss, who was trained at Kew Gardens, was conceived of the Singleton Farm botanical gardens and Ornamental Gardens. He was the main driver behind the purchase of the estate.[2]

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.[3] The cottage was badly damaged in 2010 in an arson attack, but was restored.[4] 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.

The park hosts entertainment and cultural events such as Party in the Park 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.[5] The BBC hosted Proms on the Park and the Biggest Weekend. Artists who have performed in the park include Jess Glynne and the Stereophonics.

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 Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.[6]

Amenities

Located in the grounds of Singleton Park are:

The Botanical Gardens and FCSBC Plant Sales Shop [Supporting the Botanical Gardens

See also

The Botanical Gardens

Reference list

  1. "Singleton park: A must visit for families of all ages". Swansea Gov. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  2. "Singleton park: A must visit for families of all ages". Swansea Gov. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  3. "Singleton Abbey & Sketty Hall, Swansea, Wales". Parks And Gardens, UK. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  4. "Swansea's Swiss Cottage restored after fire". BBC News. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  5. "Escape Into the Park Official Facebook Page". Facebook. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  6. Cadw. "Singleton Park and Sketty Hall (PGW(Gm)56(SWA))". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 6 February 2023.

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