Finding Copperopolis - photography exhibition launch

This morning I went to the Volcano Theatre in High Street where Swansea University and Crisis were staging three photograph exhibitions associated with the former copper works site in Hafod.

One was a series of photographs of the work currently underway to restore this important historic site, another was a series of portraits of former workers at the site. The third was a project run by the Crisis Skylight project, which is one of Lord Mayor's charities and which works with homeless people to help them get back on their feet.

The photo shows me with project members in front of this exhibition.

This third exhibition, called 'Our Twin Town', took photos of the area from about 100 years ago and superimposed contemporary photographs taken from precisely the same place, so that we can assess how the area has changed. The biggest shock for me from looking at these photographs was the height of the former slag heap that used to dominate the skyline, and was taken away a few decades ago so as to use the land to construct Pentrehafod School.

The exhibition provides a future insight into Swansea's past, as well as helping to document an area which the council is now investing in though heritage grants, the building of a Penderyn Whisky visitor centre and maybe the end point for a chair lift to take people to the top of Kilvey Hill.

If you are in the area in the next two weeks, pop in to see for yourself.