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Cockles have been harvested in Penclawdd since Roman
Times. The Burry estuary, which lies between the Gower
Peninsula and the County of Camarthenshire has become
a well known area for good quality cockles.
Cockle
gathering is the only remaining industry left in Penclawdd.
Up until the 19th Century Penclawdd was a thriving port
with coal, tinplate copper and brass production. With
the Industrial Revolution cockle gathering became a
lifeline for women whose husbands were to ill to work
in the coalmines. One such woman was Sarah Jones, the
present owners grandmother. Her husband died of 'dust'
from the mines. She worked on the sands with her son
Selwyn. He was 7 years old at this time. Little did
he know then that he would become one of the most popular
men to have gathered and sold cockles.
Penclawdd
Cockle Women
Selwyn worked hard to help his mother and as he got
older he could see potential in selling cockles and
decided to go further than Swansea Market. Through time
his name was recognised as good quality cockles, through
his good reputation his son Brian and daughter-in-law
Alyson have built a successful business - Selwyns Penclawdd
Seafoods!
Cockles are still gathered in the traditional way, with
a hand rake and riddle. However the donkeys have been
replaced with tractors and four-wheel drive.
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