Finding us

The Archives are situated on level 1 of the Library & Information Centre, Swansea University.  The university is on the sea front and is well sign-posted.
It is building 7 on the campus, map available at  http://www.swan.ac.uk/alumniandvisitors/MapsLocation/Campus/

Parking
On entering the University campus there is a pay-and-display Visitors' Car Park immediately to the right of the main entrance. Should this be full, visitors are directed off campus to the Recreation Ground car park, a short walk from the University.

By Bus/Train
Trains arrive at High Street Station where a bus can be used to travel to the University. There is a taxi rank outside the Station with the journey to the University taking about 15 to 20 minutes.
Inter-city journeys by bus terminate at the Quadrant Bus Station. Buses to the campus may be caught from the bus station. There is also a taxi rank just outside the bus station.

Find us on a Google map

 

Records Held

The Archive holds the following records:

•  Local Archive Collections.

These include records of: metallurgical and engineering industries; Mumbles Railway; family and estates; Methodist records for the Swansea and Gower circuit (excluding the registers, which are held by West Glamorgan Archive Service); Roman Catholic church of St David's Priory, Swansea.

• South Wales Coalfield Collection (SWCC)

The majority of the Collection consists of records of the National Union of Mineworkers (South Wales Area) and its predecessor, the South Wales Miners' Federation (SWMF) and its branches or lodges. It also includes: records of Miners' Institutes and Co-operative societies; personal papers of individuals and a large photographic collection. In addition to the material held at the Archives, printed material, an extensive oral history collection and banners are held at the South Wales Miners' Library (01792 518603).

• Swansea University

Records of Swansea University from its foundation in 1920.

• Welsh Writing in English

Includes: Raymond Williams, Ron Berry and Alun Richards

• Richard Burton Collection

Includes: diaries, papers, posters and photographs

 

Opening Times

Monday - Friday 9.15am - 4.45pm
(Closed for lunch 1pm - 2pm)
Tuesday evening (term-time only) 5.30pm - 7.30pm

Appointments are necessary and those for Tuesday evening must be made by noon on the previous Friday. For Tuesday evenings, documents must be ordered in advance.

 

Accessibility

Disabled parking is available, please contact the Archives for further information (01792 295021). The main entrance of the Library & Information Centre is wheelchair accessible. There is lift access for wheelchairs to the floor where the Archive Reading Room is situated.

 

Facilities                                         

Food: Food and drink are not permitted in the Archive Reading Room. However within the library there is a Costa @ The Library facility serving snacks and hot and cold drinks. There are also a number of other catering outlets across the campus.
Toilets: Toilets for visitors are situated at the foot of the stairs, level 2, opposite the Information Desk. There is a toilet for wheelchair users located through the entrance to the right of Costa @ The Library.
Shop:  There is no shop in the Archive.

 

Appointments

An appointment is required to consult documents in the Archives but we try to fit people in at short notice wherever possible. Appointments can be made by telephoning (01792 295021) or emailing (archives@swansea.ac.uk).

 

Readers' Tickets

The Archives participate in the Archives Wales Reader's Ticket scheme, so contact the Archives for further information.

 

Lockers

Lockers are provided.

 

Copying and use of cameras

Staff can provide photocopies, within copyright guidelines and provided this does not damage the document. Please ask for details of charges. The use of cameras and mobile phone cameras is not permitted.

 

Use of laptops

Personal laptops are allowed and power supply sockets are available.

 

Research Service

We are pleased to respond to enquiries about the collections we hold but we are unable to provide a full research service.

 

Children and young people

There is no lower age limit for use of the facilities. However, the reading room is a quiet study area and the rules for using the Archives must be observed.