South Wales Cottage Exhibition, Mayhill Estate, Swansea.

The idea of a cottage exhibition to be held at Swansea on 1909 was first mooted in January 1908 and by November of that year the layout plan for 119 cottages won in competition had been approved. Work commenced on the roads sewers and quarrying in February 1909 but by June it was clear that insufficient progress had been made and the decision was taken to postpone the exhibition until 1910. The South Wales Cottage Exhibition finally opened on 8 September 1910.  In total twenty-nine houses were built – 21 on Llewellyn Circle and Nicander Parade designed by private architects and eight designed and built by Swansea County Borough Council (nos 11-25 odd Tan y Marian Road). 

SWANSEA. — In connection with the South Wales Cottage Exhibition to be held at Town Hill, Swansea, in 1909. under the auspices of the National Housing Reform Association, a site-planning competition has been arranged. The site ix fifty acres in extent, and the average number of houses per acre is to be twelve. Gold, silver, and bronze medals will be awarded, together with the sums of £25, £15. and £10 respectively. The cottages are to be: (1) Built under the Swansea by-laws. and in accordance with the fair contracts clause of the Swansea Town Council; and (2) At prices which will render it quite possible for exhibitors to combine economy with absolute efficiency of construction. Three classes of cottages will be arranged. Class A: Cottages to contain two bedrooms, large living room, and scullery; maximum price, £175. Class B: Cottages to contain three bedrooms, large living room and scullery: maximum price, £200. Class C. Cottage to contain three bedrooms, parlour, large living room, and scullery; maximum price £225. Each cottage to be supplied with a bath. The maximum price must in all cases include architect's commission and builder's profits, but not cost of land or roads. The exhibitor may be called upon to sell any cottage to the town council of Swansea at the price stated in the catalogue, and an exhibition fee of two guineas will be charged on each cottage. A special prize of £30 will be awarded for the "best money value" cottage shown. as well as medals and diplomas of merit. Full particulars as to the competitions for sites and for cottages can be obtained by post of Mr. Henry R. Aldridge. secretary to the exhibition, 7, Gower-street. Swansea. [Building News 29 May 1908 page 777]

WELSH GARDEN CITY - Messrs. H Bedford Tylor (Bournville), Geoffrey Lucas, FRIBA. (Hart Street Bloomsbury, London), George Bell, AMICE (Swansea), and W. Miller (Swansea), the judges appointed to make the awards in connection with the South Wales Cottage Exhibition at Swansea, have just reported to the committee that they visited the Town Hill Estate on Friday 11 November, and inspected all the cottages in detail. Before dealing with the awards, the judges congratulated the Seansea Town Council on the exceptional site they own, and expressed their appreciation that the first effort at building operations on the estate should have been with a view to improving the dwellings of the people. The judges are of opinion that the only thing necessary to make the estate popular and ideal is the provision of suitable traffic facilities, and when these are obtained, they have no doubt that the town will greatly develop in that direction. Coming to the Exhibition, the judges regard the standards of planning, elevation, and building as marking a, distinct advance on previous exhibitions. a notable feature being the look of permanency and the harmonious grouping of the whole. They make the following awards:

Class A (maximum cost £202), - Gold medal: Exhibits 10, 11, and 12. Cost, including builders' profits and architects' fees. £195 6s. 8d. Architect, E. C. P. Monson, FRIBA, London builders, Messrs. Spencer. Santo, and Co (Limited), London.

Class B (maximum cost. £231). Gold medal; Bracketed equal, exhibit 16 and exhibits 5 and 6. Exhibit 16: cost, including builders' profits and architects' fees, £231, the architects are Messrs. Pepler and Allen, Swansea and London;  builders, Messrs. Spencer, Santo, and Co. Limited. London. Exhibits 5 and 6: cost, including builders' profits and architects' fees, £231, Architect, Charles T. Ruthen, Swansea, builders, Messrs. Lloyd Bros Swansea,

Class C (maximum cost, £260), Gold medal: Exhibits 18 and 19. cost, including builders' profits and architects' fees. £259 17s. 6d. Architect, Charles T Ruthen, Swansea; builders. Messrs. Lloyd Bros., Swansea. Silver medal:  exhibits 2 and 3; cost including builder’s profit and architect’s fees £259 17s 6d. Architect. Charles T. Ruthen. Swansea; builders. Messrs. Lloyd Bros., Swansea. Bronze medal: Exhibit 14. Cost, including builders' profits and architects' fees, £260. Architects. Messrs. Pepler and Allen, Swansea and London; builders, Messrs. Dawson and Jones, Fforest Fach, Sheffield and Huddersfield..

Class D (maximum cost £350) Gold medal: Exhibits 8 and 9. Cost, including builders' profits and architects' fees, £336. Architect, P. Morley Horder, FRIBA. London; builders, Messrs. Spencer, Santo, and Co. (Limited), London.

The judges add that they have made these awards on the clear understanding that the exhibitors are prepared to build twelve more cottages on the Town Hill Estate at the same price if called upon to do so by the Swansea Town Council within a reasonable time. [Building News 25 November 1910 page 760]

Reference        Building News 29 May 1908 page 777
Reference        Building News 29 May 1908 page 800 - competitions
Reference        South Wales Daily Post 28 September 1910 page 5 – advert for exhibition
Reference        Building News 25 November 1910 page 760 - awards
Reference        Evening Express 16 November 1910 page 2 slightly abridged version of BN
Reference        How to Town-Plan: The Building and Equipment of Cottages in Garden Suburbs with Illustrated Official Catalogue of the South Wales Cottage Exhibition