Bishop’s Wood, Caswell: A History of Woodland, Coast and Conservation
Bishop’s Wood, Caswell: A History of Woodland, Coast and Conservation Caswell Cottage Origins in Medieval Bishopston Bishop’s Wood (Welsh: Coed yr Esgob) occupies the steep limestone slopes above Caswell Bay , forming one of Gower’s most significant surviving areas of ancient woodland. Its name reflects its early association with Bishopston Manor , a medieval estate belonging to the Bishops of St Davids , whose extensive lands shaped the rural character of the region for centuries. The woodland provided timber, fuel, grazing and shelter for local communities, while its rugged terrain ensured that large tracts remained untouched, preserving a natural landscape that endured long after similar woodlands elsewhere were cleared. By the seventeenth century Bishop’s Wood was already recognised as long‑established. A 1673 survey of Bishopston Manor recorded woodland on the slopes above Caswell, confirming its continuity as part of a historic wooded environment. The underlying limestone creat...
