Swansea Valley Swansea Valley The Swansea Valley (), one of the South Wales Valleys, is the name often given to the valley of the River Tawe area in southern Wales, United Kingdom. It reaches southwest and south from the Brecon Beacons National Park down to the city of Swansea. Today, administration of the area is divided between the City and County of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot County Borough, and Powys. A distinction is often drawn between the Lower Swansea valley and the Upper Swansea valley which have different characters; the former was more heavily industrialised during the 19th and 20th centuries. Notable
Richard Martin (Mayor of Swansea) to the zinc works, which still operate today, until his death. He started up the Birch Grove iron works in 1881 and bought the Ynys-pen-llwch tin works in 1884. Martin served the town council 1884-1910 as member and alderman, becoming mayor 1898-9. He was also chairman of the education committee for six years. In this time, he strived to have the University College of South Wales situated in Swansea, however Cardiff was ultimately chosen as its site. He nevertheless succeeded in ensuring the establishment of a technical school, which later became the technical college, in Swansea. Martin then strove to