Images of Wales

Monday, 2 February 1998

Victoria Gardens, Neath
Glamorgan

Photography by John Ball - 1st February 1998
(with Agfa ePhoto-307 digital camera)

This public park in the centre of Neath (Castell Nedd), was established in
the reign of Queen Victoria.

Above: The Gorsedd Stones in Victoria Gardens, on a sunny Sunday morning.

Above: General view of the park, showing the Victorian bandstand, and
in the foreground, Welsh heather flowering through the winter.

Above: The bandstand is great for kids to climb on!!
The tower of St. David's Church (left) overlooks the scene.

Below left: The bandstand is traditionally used for performances by the town brass band.
Some may remember the famous Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance routine in a
bandstand in the 1930s movie Top Hat. Astaire and Rogers sheltered from the rain
and performed the delightful Irving Berlin classic Isn't This A Lovely Day?

Above right: A statue of local benefactor Howel Gwyn.

Above: St. David's Church. The tower (below left) is a Neath landmark
which can be seen from many miles away.

Above right: February 1st, and the crocuses are in full flower in Victoria Gardens.

Above: Pigeons are disturbed while basking in the February sunshine on
the roof of the bandstand.