National Waterfront Museum, Swansea
Until Sun 21 Oct
The 870-mile Welsh coastline has long provided a base for trading goods and services, driving the growth of trade industries. Today, it’s difficult to even imagine that some places were formerly former busy ports where large ships would have docked. Back in 2011, archeologists from Cardiff University discovered remains of a 2000-year-old Roman port in Caerleon, Newport. Along with it, the team of staff and students found traces of old marketplaces, monumental buildings and temples. The discovery was a significant dimension to understanding the archeology of the existing ports of Roman Britain.
This summer, as part of the 2018 celebration of Wales’ Year Of The Sea, the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea is holding an exhibition which recalls some of these lost harbours. Some of the featured old ports are in Porthgain [pictured], St Clears, Cardiff and Swansea. It’s hard to imagine that at some of these places the trading industry flourished and flowed, welcoming a large number of traders; now, some of them are used only by small vessels and fishing boats. If you are passionate about history and interested in educating yourself more about the history of the Welsh economy, then this is an ideal afternoon out for you.
Admission: free. Info: 0300 1112333 / www.museum.wales/swansea (FM)