ROYAL INSTITUTION OF SOUTH WALES

The Friends of Swansea Museum

Latest News
The President's Invitation Lecture. Report
Scott Celebrations inc. Lunchtime Talks
St Davids Day Party  

What does the RISW do now that the City and County of Swansea runs the Swansea Museum?

The RISW, fondly known as the 'RI', was founded in 1835 as a philosophical and literary society. In 1841 it opened Swansea Museum, and ran it for more than 100 years. In addition to its original aims The R.I.S.W. now acts as the Friends of Swansea Museum giving help with a range of different activities and raising funds for the purchase of new exhibits. Recent Acquisitions by the RISW on behalf of the Museum include a painting of Castle Square by Calvert Richard Jones, an early glass photographic plate showing Mumbles from seaward, and a copy of W.J.Grant Davidson's book “The Pottery of South Wales”.

A programme of evening lectures arranged by the RISW included Bernard Morris’s lecture on St.Helen's House; 18th Century Gower (given by Dr.Prys Morgan); Archaeology from the Air (Dr.Toby Driver);Sir William Reardon-Smith's Pacific voyages (Dr.David Jenkins). And the launch of the RI’s Swansea History Journal (Vol.19).introduced by Gerald Gabb(Editor) Members also enjoyed an excellent Theatr Na n'Og performance, “You Should Ask Wallace” followed by a reception at Swansea Museum and a talk about the background of the play and the links between Darwin and Wallace. Lyndon Morris, invited Dr.Lyn Evans, former Director of CERN and project leader for the Hadron Collider to give the Annual President's Invitation Lecture

For The Museum at One Lunchtime lecture series the theme this year was “Swansea in the Forties”, with contributions on the U-Boat Campaign in South Wales 1939/1945 by Nigel Robins; The Railway System in Swansea by Alan Williams; Memories of an ARP Warden by Elaine Kidwell; The RAF Aerodrome at Fairwood by Steve Jones.

Social and fund-raising events included a Christmas Evening with mulled wine, mince pies and music, a St.David’s Day Coffee Morning, and the “Spring into Summer” evening of music followed by a buffet supper. These events as well as refreshments at other museum events were made possible by the Social Committee led by Christine Morris. The latest Annual Outing arranged by Mrs.Eirwen Davies was a visit to Llancaiach Fawr Manor and Castell Coch.

Each Year the RI organises in November an annual Local History Book Fair which attracts many visitors, publishes yearly three News Letters which can be read or downloaded on the News page of this site .

Swansea History Journal has been published annually since 1993 by the RI and presents new insights into the history of Swansea and district. Issue No.19 was launched on Thursday 13th October 2011. Young People’s Activities are actively and financially supported - week-end and School Holiday Workshops, currently an Outreach Programme is being developed by RI Members which will involve running a series of one-off workshops and offering talks on topics of interest to senior pupils in local schools. Full details from