Swansea Vale Railway nineteenth century, when land transport was limited to what pack animals could carry on their backs. At that time the extraction of copper in Cornwall became an important industry, and as a great deal of coal is required to smelt copper, it became the practice to bring the copper to Swansea by ship and smelt it there. This specific sector of the metal industry became so dominant that Swansea was given the nickname "Copperopolis". The works engaged in this industry were located on the banks of the River Tawe at first, but the construction of the Swansea Canal, opened in
Penyrheol, Swansea 4 September 2009. Penyrheol Leisure centre is the local sports facility which incorporates a swimming pool, gymnasium and theatre. The swimming pool is the home of Penyrheol Swimming Club, the only swimming club in Swansea to have achieved the Dragon Mark Award. Penyrheol is an electoral ward of City and County of Swansea Council. Penyrheol, Swansea Penyrheol () is a suburban district of Swansea, Wales falling within the Penyrheol ward. Penyrheol is located about 7 miles north west of Swansea city centre in northwest Gorseinon. Penyrheol has two schools: a primary school and a comprehensive school. The latter was destroyed