Images of Wales

A Walk Down Wind Street, Swansea, Glamorgan

Photography by John Ball — 10.00am, 18 July 1998
(with Agfa ePhoto-307 digital camera)

Wind Street (pronounced to rhyme with "mind") is one of the most attractive old streets in the centre of Swansea. Unlike other areas in the city centre, much of Wind Street survived the blitz in World War 2, and has recently been given a new lease of life as part of the Swansea urban renewal programme. The street is becoming famous for its concentration of restaurants, pubs and bars.

Above: The east side of Wind Street, viewed from the south.

Above: The west side of Wind Street, also seen from the south.

Above: The Railmens Club and Institution.

Above left: Swansea Labour Club and Institute.
Above right: A Royal Mail pillar box. Letters are collected
from here several times each day.

Above: The Rat and Carrot public house (left) and the intriguing No Sign Bar (right),
once frequented by the poet Dylan Thomas.

Update - August 2009
Thankfully, since I took the above photographs, the Rat and Carrot has reverted to its original name, the Adelphi.
The Adelphi is claimed to have a link to boxing legend Rocky Marciano, the former world heavyweight champion. Marciano spent time in Swansea as a GI during World War 2 and it is thought he won one of his first fights in a pub brawl at the Adelphi. An Australian taunted him for not drinking alcohol and Rocky responded by knocking him out!
Marciano took up boxing after the war and finished his career as undefeated world champion. He died aged 46 in a plane crash in 1969.
Many thanks to Peter Thomas of Neath for drawing my attention this interesting snippet.

Above: "The Bank Statement" public house. Until recently, this building
actually was a bank.

Above: The "Pierre Victoire" restaurant and bar exudes a distinctly Gallic atmosphere.

Above: This restaurant employs its address as its name - "One Wind Street".

Above: The curiously named Salubrious Passage, leading from Wind Street to
Salubrious Place, would not be out of place in a Dickens novel. Note the (faded)
red and white striped barber's pole sign.