Step onto these streets and step back in time. Imagine the clatter of horse drawn carts, the chatter of market stalls, and the determination of workers shaping Swansea’s future. Picture Irish families seeking hope, factories humming with industry, and the shadows of war during the Swansea Blitz. This is a place marked by hardship and heroism, by sorrow and solidarity. As you follow the trail, let the stories around you come alive and see if you can piece together the true spirit of Greenhill and it’s surrounding areas.
Welcome to the Greenhill Gardens Heritage Trail
Step into the past and uncover the rich history of Greenhill, Swansea.
Step into the heart of this area and Greenhill’s history with this 10-point heritage trail, a journey through time that brings to life the people, places, and powerful events that shaped this remarkable community.
Engage with history in a new way!
Informative, interactive, and full of storytelling
This trail has been designed to be informative, interactive, and full of storytelling. Whether you’re here for a school visit, a community tour, or simply exploring on your own, we invite you to take part in this adventure through Greenhill’s past.
Preserving our shared heritage
Through our dedicated restoration efforts, we have carefully preserved the history, memories, and headstones that tell the stories of generations who once called this area and Greenhill home. Before any development began, the entire site was meticulously recorded using CAD drawings, blueprint surveys, and detailed digital scans, ensuring that no piece of this heritage was lost.
In time, this work will grow into a fully searchable digital database and a virtual walkthrough of the graveyard, allowing visitors and families around the world to explore its history in depth. We are also engraving the names of more than 4,000 individuals buried here onto the new habitat walls at Greenhill Gardens, ensuring every life is remembered in this special space for generations to come.
We are always adding to this legacy. If you have information, stories, or memories to share, please contact us at Greenhillgardens@matthewshouse.org.uk. Together, we can keep this history alive.
Now, it’s time for you to embark on this journey!
Follow the trail and uncover the extraordinary legacy of the 12th-century Knights Hospitaller, whose presence here shaped some of Swansea’s earliest efforts in hospitality and healthcare. As you wander the paths, take in the historic architecture and remnants of St John’s Chapel, a site of care and refuge for nearly a thousand years.
Pause at the poignant headstones and intricate memorials, each one a window into the lives of Greenhill’s past residents. Learn about the resilience of this remarkable community, which endured the devastation of cholera epidemics, the destruction of the Swansea Blitz, and the daily hardships of life in one of Swansea’s most historic districts. Discover a neighbourhood shaped by waves of Irish immigrants and other communities, whose spirit and stories continue to define this place today.
Start your journey at Point One of the trail, where you’ll find a QR code to scan with your smartphone, unlocking the Greenhill Gardens Heritage Trail in full.
For visitors without a smartphone—or those who prefer something to hold—printed trail booklets will soon be available at Matthew’s House Reception for purchase at print cost price.
1
The Origins of Greenhill
2
The Evolution of Housing
3
The Cholera Outbreaks
4
Saints of the Slums
5
Sir John Morris & Copperopolis
6
Difficult Moments in History
7
The Swansea Resurrection
8
The Graveyards of Greenhill
9
Ann of Swansea
10
The Irish Connection and The Swansea Blitz
