Urban Foundry’s Swansea in Gloom walking tours, launched in 2023, reimagine Swansea’s streets and invite people to connect with the City’s less known history whilst supporting the local economy.
The project celebrates Swansea’s hidden past in ways that both inform and entertain. It’s a unique way of encouraging people to engage with buildings and places.
Led by Jamie White, a local storyteller and historian, each 90-minute walk guides participants through the City’s hidden corners, shedding light on the characters and events that have shaped Swansea over centuries.
A new way to engage with Swansea
What makes Swansea in Gloom unique is it offers something different to both locals and visitors, helping them see Swansea in a new way.
The tours have quickly gained popularity, with a wide range of people joining, from tourists to locals wanting to learn more about Swansea.
Starting and ending at HQ Urban Kitchen, another Urban Foundry initiative, the tours contribute to Swansea’s growing twilight economy, offering an alternative for evening activities.
Community focus
Community impact is also at the heart of this initiative. Swansea in Gloom is a non-profit project, with proceeds going to Matt’s Café, a local charity that supports vulnerable members of Swansea’s community.
By taking part in these tours, participants are supporting those in need and demonstrating the power of creative, community-driven initiatives.
A growing success
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants excited about the tour’s unique blend of history and humour.
Groups such as Swansea Carers Centre and Gower College have praised the tours for their engaging storytelling and the fresh perspective they provide on Swansea’s past.
This has shown there is a demand for themed variations of the tours, as well as private group bookings for businesses and social groups.
What’s next
As the success of Swansea in Gloom continues, the team are looking at new ways to expand the project.
New themes are being developed to keep the experience fresh, and the possibility of increasing tour availability to meet demand is on the horizon. This project demonstrates how creativity can breathe new life into urban spaces, showing that history, when told well, can captivate and inspire.
Jamie White, the Chief Storyteller of the tours, said:
“Taking these tours is such a great experience. We’ve had a wide range of visitors, from foreign tourists to long-time residents of Swansea. It’s always interesting seeing people’s reactions when we point out something that they might have walked past hundreds of times without noticing.”
Gareth Willis-Falco from Urban Foundry added:
“We’re thrilled with the growing popularity of our walks. Besides individual participants, numerous businesses and organisations have been signing up, prompting us to schedule additional dates. These tours offer a brilliant and meaningful way for people to connect with local architecture and history.”
What participants are saying
“I’ve lived in Swansea my whole life, but this tour showed me a completely different side to the city. Jamie’s storytelling brought the history to life in a way that was both entertaining and spine-chilling!”
“I didn’t know Swansea had such a colourful past! Jamie’s stories were both fascinating and a little creepy, which made the experience unforgettable.”
“Had an amazing time today exploring a part of Swansea I thought I knew. Highly recommend this tour – it’s a perfect mix of humour, gore, and heaps of history!”
For more information, visit: www.swanseaingloom.co.uk
