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Rhossili Bay, Wales

Rhossili Bay is a beautiful bay on the Heritage Coast of the Gower Peninsula. From an historical point of view Rhossili is remarkable in having the last remaining area of land in Britain farmed on the medieval open field system. Up until the early seventeenth century the lord of the manor would rent out strips of land to peasant farmers. Attempts would be made to distribute strips of varying quality so that everyone had a share of the best land. With a number of strips in different places, the farmers would live in a village central to the manor. From the early seventeenth century onwards enclosures began. Strips were amalgamated into single holdings of land. In a countryside with fewer, bigger farms, a large number of peasant farmers found themselves without any land at all. Many emigrated, while others headed for the newly expanding industrial towns. Enclosures were part of an agricultural revolution which allowed the Industrial Revolution to take place.

The pace of enclosures increased through the eighteenth century until the old medieval system was swept away. Life in Britain became predominantly urban. Now, apart from this little pocket of land next to the sea at the end of the Gower Peninsula, the old system has gone. The National Trust now owns the farmland, known as the Vile, and rents out strips to local farmers. The village of Rhossili is the last that shows how a village worked in medieval Britain, as a convenient place to live in a central position amongst scattered strips.

The best place to view the fields is from Rhossili Down behind the bay (Alternatively use the satellite view function on our map). The fact that this is such a beautiful location is of course a bonus. Rhossili Bay was the first ever landscape in England and Wales to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural beauty. And if you have children who are not necessarily interested in medieval open fields, then Rhossili Bay has one of the most wonderful beaches in the country.

While on Rhossili Down you might want to visit the remains of two neolithic burial chambers, and a Bronze Age cairn. In the village of Rhossili there is a church built around 1200.

The coastline is open all year. There is a National Trust Visitor Centre at Rhossili, which is open seven days week from the end of March to the beginning of November. November to December opening is Wednesday to Sunday. Also open 10th of January to the end of February, Thursday to Sunday.

Directions: From Swansea take the A4118 along the Gower Peninsula, and turn off on the B4247 for Rhossili. Click here for an interactive map centred on the Vile at Rhossili.

Access: There is level access from the car park to the National Trust Visitor Centre. The path towards Worms Head is flat and easy until you reach the tidal section. The Vile can be viewed quite well from this path. The climb up onto Rhossili Down is very steep. There is an adapted toilet at the car park. Braille and large print guides are provided at the Visitor Centre. Please note - this is an area of unprotected cliff edges.

Contact:

telephone: 01792 390707

web site: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-rhossilivisitorcentre.htm