Oxwich - Landing with History

Ernest Sutton

Mr Ernest Sutton, proprietor of the Sutton Bros. Grange, of St. Helens Road.  During 1910, Ernest purchased a Bleriot monoplane.  The previous year, during July, Louis Bleriot made the first flight across the Channel.

The first flight to have been made in Swansea was made by Frances Barrett during 1802, the flight was conducted in a hot air balloon.  Frances leapt from the balloon early in its ascent.  The balloon carried on for a further four miles, before finally landing in a field.  During 1881, there was reports of a ‘balloon race’ at Mumbles Pier.

During 1910, Ernest placed the Bleriot for public display at the firm’s premises at Castle Street.  January 1911, Ernest made the first pioneering flight in Glamorgan, and equally in Wales, taking off and landing from Oxwich Beach.

Ernest born 1884, by September 1912 Ernest obtained his Aviator’s Certificate by the Royal Aero Club.  During the same year, 1912, the Sutton Bros. Grange had been declared bankrupt. Ernest had joined Royal Flying Corps, during 1916. Ernest died 1975, an exclusive living at St. George’s Hill, Surrey

Oxwich, a small seaside village.  “Oxwich”, probably takes it name from the Scandinavian meaning water creek.  Oxwich has picturesque cottage traditional of the Gower style. 

One notable cottage, built during the 18^th century, was where John Wesley had used as his headquarters, when he discovered that Gower people were in dire need of religion. 

John Wesley

In his book “An Extract of the Revd. John Wesley’s Journal”, John Wesley wrote

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gower is a large tract of land, bounded by Brecknockshire on the north-east, and the sea on the south-west, and rivers on the other sides.  Here all the people talk English, and are, in general, the most plain, loving people in Wales.  It is therefore no wonder that they receive the word with all readiness of the heart.

Knowing they were scattered up and down, I had sent two persons on Sunday, that they might be there early on Monday, and so sent notice of my coming all over the country. But they came to Oxwych source to a quarter of an hour before me, so that the poor people had no notice at all. Nor was there any to take us in the person with whom the Preacher used to lodge being three miles out of town.  After I stayed awhile in the street, (for there was no public house) a poor woman gave me house-room. Having had nothing since breakfast, I was very willing to eat and drink: but she simply tole me “She had nothing in the house but a dram of gin”.  However, I afterwards procured a dish of tea at another house, and much refreshed. About seven I preached to another little company and again in the morning. They were all attention; so that even for the sake of this handful of people, I did not regret my labour.

 

Oxwich Castle and Dovecote

Nearby is Oxwich Castle.  The castle dates back to the 13^th century, when the charter of 1306 was granted to Swansea referring to the tenants of “the ancient knight’s fees” at Oxwich, refereeing to the fortifications on the site. 

It was during the 16^th century, that buildings were built, consisting of a Gateway circa 1520-1536 leading to a courtyard.  A Hall circa 1559-1580 at the east end of the courtyard, and South Range circa 1520-1538.  To the north of the castle is a large stone dovecote.

Above the Gateway, hangs a plaque of the coat of arms of the Mansel family and the Penrice and Scurlage families.

The ‘new’ castle was built by Sir Rice Mansel who died 1559, his son Sir Edward Mansel continued the building work, he died 1595.  By the 16^th century the Mansel family leased the castle out.  During the 18^th century parts of the building work started to collapse, following these parts of the South Range were rebuilt and continued to be used a farmhouse until the 20^th century. The castle was under threat of demolition by 1949, when it was given to the State.  The castle now listed as Grade I listed building is under the care of Cadw.

Sir Rice Mansel, who was Vice-Admiral, was High Sheriff of Glamorgan, 1545, a Commissioner of the Peace, and served as Chamberlain of Chester for Henry VIII.  Not only did Sir Rice own the estates of Penrice and Oxwich, he also purchased after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Margam Abbey.  This remained in the family until 1941.

 Nested in the trees above the Oxwich Bay, is the church of St. Illtyd’s.  The first church to have been present here was dates back to the 6^th century.  The church of today, dates back to the 13^th century with the additional tower dating from the 14^th century. 

Could St. Illtyd’s also be one of Gower’s smallest churches.

 

The entrance into the church is via a door in the tower, where two tombstones mounted against the walls have the following plaque

Grave Cover Stone have been found and used as a slab, face upwards inside the inside door of the church.  It was placed here in 1890.  The inscription commemorates William De La Lake, who was the rector of Oxwich from 1320 to 1323.

Grave Cover Stone dating from as early as the 13^th or 14^th centuries have been found face downwards in the nave of the church was place there in 1590. The inscription reads

“Hugh formerly the pious rector of Saint Illtyd’s Church, lies here.”

In the north wall in the corner lies the figures of a knight and his lady.  However, is in the graveyard, where the unknown sailor who was found February 1916 is buried