The promenade at Oystermouth, part of the Wales Coast Path, a public pathway of 882 miles or 1419 kilometres around the whole coast of Wales. Oystermouth is a village on the 6 mile sweep of Swansea Bay (from the docks to Mumbles Head). Oystermouth Castle located on a hill in the centre of the village commands views across the broad expanse of the bay was built in 1106 following the capture of Gower by the Normans. Attacked many times by the Welsh, it changed hands several times finally reverting to the English Lord of Gower, John de Braose under Henry III in 1220.  It was then re-fortified and expanded and became the main residence rather than Swansea Castle. It was visited briefly by King Edward 1st in December 1284. A 1650 survey suggests the castle was by this time empty and in ruins. It was partially restored in the 1840’s for the then owner, the Duke of Beaufort. It was then passed onto Swansea Council in 1927. At the end of the promendae is Mumbles Head, with the pier, lifeboat station and lighthouse. The promenade is also where the world famous Mumbles Railway ran. The worlds first passenger carrying railway. It was opened by act of Parliament in 1804 and closed in January 1960.