Researching Swansea's industrial heritage - The Golden Mile
Wales can lay claim to be the world's first industrial nation. By the late nineteenth century, the south of Wales in particular was internationally recognised as a centre for heavy industry, coal production and maritime trade. This concentration of industry and innovation left a rich legacy of published and archival resources that can be used to support a wide range of historical, economic and cultural research.
Swansea hosts six research significant libraries and archives that together constitute one of the finest research facilities for the industrial heritage of Wales. Most are situated within Swansea’s historic maritime quarter, within a mile of one another. These pages outline briefly the key strengths of each institution.