Cockett Cottage Homes

Swansea Union built ten semi-detached cottages for children in 1877[1] in Cockett which is north west of Swansea in South Wales. The homes were arranged in a line along a road off Station Road.

The homes were enlarged in 1879 and 1897 to hold 140 children[2].

The cottage homes served as children's homes until the around the 1970s.

Suzannah was in the cottage homes in the late 1950s and again in the early 1960s:

"The Cottage Homes in Swansea was made up of six cottages, number 1 was where the Matron and her family lived. 2, 3, 4 and 6 were quite large but number 5 where I lived was twice the size of the others. Not times I wish to remember, a cold dark environment. I remember feeling rather scared.

"There was a long drive, a play area, a large lawn where they had billy the goat tied up and the children had many laughs as if anyone went too close he would butt them. I should imagine it closed in the 70's."

Do you have any memories you would like to share of Cockett Cottage Homes or the children's homes that followed them? We'd love to hear from you.

The Fforestfach History Forum has a map and newspaper clippings about the cottage homes.

[1]. http://www.archiveswales.org.uk/anw/get_collection.php?inst_id=34&coll_id=76951&expand=

[2]. http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=27906