In Swansea, as the anniversary of the February 1941 bombing raids approaches, interest in the Blitz always increases.
Kilvey Hill has many bomb craters across its southern part and into the woodlands near Pentrechwyth. Most craters date from September 1940 to February 1941. The German Air Force didn’t aim at Kilvey Hill; it’s just that the bombs that were intended for the docks missed and ended up on the hill. Bomb craters in town were quickly filled in, but craters on the hill were left and still survive today. A few have filled with water and have become biodiversity hotspots.
Kilvey also has a series of ditches and banks across the top, which were hastily constructed to prevent German soldiers from landing on the Hill in gliders. It was a definite threat, and my reconnaissance research confirms that the Germans had evaluated the usefulness of the Hill as a landing ground if they ever invaded. They survive as a poignant reminder of how real the threat was in 1940. The Council/Skyline development will destroy some of the banks, breaking a remarkable historical link between the darkest days of World War Two and our present day. It is ironic how so much is made of the disappeared Swansea copper industry in Landore is revered, but so much more recent and relevant history is ignored by Swansea Council.
If you want to know more about all of the archaeological features on Kilvey Hill, they are listed and described in the third Cilfái book available here.
If you want to know more about Swansea and World War Two you can read my book on German Intelligence and the bombing of the South Wales Ports 1040-1941.
Or if you want to know more about the Swansea Blitz, you can read Y Tan: A History of Destruction, February 1941.
Nigel Robins 