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Swanbridge and Sully, Vale of Glamorgan

The hamlet of Swanbridge and Sully village are both situated some 4 miles south of Penarth Town Centre, on the B4267 Penarth – Barry road.

Swanbridge

This hamlet, near Penarth, is steeped in interesting history and intrigue.

Sully Island lies off the Swanbridge foreshore and can be reached via a causeway three hours either side of low water.

One word of caution, please take note of the tide and ideally, ask one of the locals for advice before going on to the Island; many lives have been lost because people have tried to cross the causeway as the sea raced fiercely across it. The Bristol Channel has the second highest rise and fall in the world, over 13 metres (40') second only to the Bay of Fundy in Canada.

If the tide is OK, go ahead and enjoy the fantastic views, down channel to Porlock in Devon, up channel as far as the Severn Bridge and across to the Somerset coast. No wonder that there is evidence of a fort on the eastern promontary of Sully Island (See an Ordnance Survey Map). Archaeological digs have found evidence of the Romans and Vikings using it, almost certainly because of its strategic position in the Bristol Channel. Pirates used Sully Island as a base in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Many ships have foundered off the Island and a wreck is visible on the north foreshore facing Swanbridge. Stories state that an Antarctic Survey ship, the Scotia was wrecked here but as this vessel, according to the ship's design plans, was 40 metres (133 feet) in length the existing wreck must be some other vessel as this keel is very much smaller than the Scotia's.

Although there is no evidence of it today Swanbridge was a working harbour; back in the 1970s mooring rings were still visible on the eastern side of the causeway.
In the 16th century, historical records indicate that skippers of trading boats were supposed to pay a duty to the local official and some tried to evade this; In November 1569, a port official seized 2,000 stones of cheese and 80 barrels of butter from a Penarth boat – some haul even by today’s standards!
Other records state that, even in 1685, Sully Creek or Harbour was used as a landing place for ‘undesirable immigrants’.

Imports and exports were via the St. Mary's Well Bay Road, crossing the much newer Lavernock Road, through Cosmeston Country Park and out via Llandough and into Canton Cross in Cardiff where there was a busy market and the main route to Cowbridge, Bridgend and Swansea.

There is also a reference, dated 1890, to ‘Swanbridge Harbour opposite Sully House'. This building, situated on the foreshore, is now a pub called the Captain’s Wife – reputed to be haunted; it is!

There is also a modern pub called the Seashore Grill for food and drinks.

Sully

It is thought that the nearby village of Sully takes its name from a Norman knight, Reginald de Sully, who also had estates in Devon. He built a small castle in Sully, the remains of which have all but gone except for a small wall east of the Norman Parish church.

Directions

B 4267 from Penarth or Barry.