Where Did Dylan Thomas Live In Wales
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- 13-04-2022
Where did Dylan Thomas live in Wales? The famous welsh poet was born in Swansea. Find out more about where he lived and worked in Wales.
Who Is Dylan Thomas?
Dylan Marlais Thomas was one of Wales' greatest poets, famous for works such as "Holy Spring", "Fern Hill", a touching tribute to his aunt and uncle, Ann Jones and Jim Jones, and "Do not go gentle into that good night", a tribute he paid after Dylan's father died.
His father was David Thomas, and his mother, Florence Hannah Thomas, (Williams). Born in Swansea in 1914, while an unremarkable pupil during his private school days, it was during his teenage years that Thomas wrote poetry and published the poems that would make him famous.
In particular, "Light breaks where no sun shines" gained him admirers in the London poetry world, including the likes of T.S. Eliot. Shortly after Thomas arrived in London during the 1930s, he was swept up in the decade's politics and attended anti-fascist rallies.
In 1936 Thomas met his future wife, Caitlin Macnamara, who was then the muse of painter Augustus John. He drunkenly proposed to Caitlin on the same night they met, and they were married the year after and had three children: Llewelyn, Aeronwy and Colm Garan Hart.
Dylan Thomas had lifelong issues with alcohol, alongside other respiratory illnesses. He also struggled to make any money with his writing, despite how critically acclaimed his work was.
After flying to New York to give a run of performances of his work, at the behest of his agent John Brinnin. While staying at the Chelsea Hotel, Dylan Thomas became seriously ill, and on the 9th of November 1953, he slipped into a coma while at St. Vincent's Hospital, from which he did not recover.
What Is Dylan Thomas Famous For?
The poet Dylan Thomas wrote profusely in his early life; his father, David John Thomas, having been the senior English master at the local Swansea Grammar School, Dylan was inspired by the literary world early in his life.
While not finding much inspiration at school, Dylan left when he was 16 to try his hand at journalism as a junior reporter at the South Wales Daily Post. This was ultimately unsuccessful, but Thomas continued to publish his poetry as a teenager, which gained him national recognition.
Where Did Dylan Thomas Live In Wales?
If you are a fan of Dylan Thomas, or Welsh literature in general, you may want to visit some of the locations synonymous with one of the country's greatest writers.
The 14th of May, also known as Dylan Thomas day, may be the best place to do this, with locations such as Swansea and Laugharne being firm favourites with fans. Here are a few of the locations you may want to visit.
Swansea is where Dylan Thomas was born on the 27th of October, 1914, in the Uplands district at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive to be specific.
This is almost an essential place to visit for any Thomas fans. Having spent his first twenty years in this house, this is where some of Thomas' most famous poems were first conceived.
There are also several Dylan Thomas tributes throughout the local area, such as an inscription of his poetry on a drinking fountain in the nearby Cwmdonkin Park.
You can find the Dylan Thomas Centre in the centre of Swansea itself. Here you can find a family-friendly exhibition all about the life and work of Thomas, which we suggest as another essential visit.
You can also take part in the "Return Journey", a self-guided tour which takes you through the streets of Swansea in the footsteps of Thomas' characters from the radio play of the same name.
In Laugharne, you will find one of the most iconic Dylan Thomas locations known as "The Boathouse". It was in this shore-side property that was to be Thomas' final home.
After John Malcolm Brinnin contacted Thomas to offer him a US lecture tour, starting in New York, the Welsh poet returned to his native land after his father died, where Laugharne remained Thomas' spiritual home for the rest of his life.
Now a museum dedicated to Thomas and a tearoom, you can even visit the "Writing Shed" where Thomas produced his short story collection, 'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog'.
There are two other properties that once belonged to Dylan Thomas nearby in Laugharne. These are "Eros" and "Sea View", with multiple tributes to the writer throughout the local area.
You can also walk in Thomas' footsteps along the "Birthday Walk", visit another of his homes at "Pelican House", or visit his favourite bar at Brown's Hotel. A touching final tribute may include a respectful visit to his resting place within St Martin's Churchyard.
While perhaps a little less known in Dylan Thomas' life, the Ceredigion harbour town of New Quay in West Wales is another must-see location for any Thomas fan.
Thomas and Caitlin lived here during the Second World War, and the town served as inspiration for Thomas' works, such as "Quite Early One Morning", "In Memory of Ann Jones", and "Under Milk Wood".
You can also participate in the "Dylan Thomas Trail" or visit another watering hole that Dylan spent many a happy hour in at The Black Lion.
There are locations throughout the county of Ceredigion that also have a link to both Dylan Thomas and Caitlin. These include:
Lampeter
- where Thomas stayed at the Castle Hotel.
The Aeron Valley - a favourite spot for Dylan and Caitlin Thomas.
Aberaeron - a beautiful Georgian town.
The National Library in Wales in Aberystwyth, by Cardigan Bay, is also relatively close by in Ceredigion and well worth a visit for their collection of materials relating to Dylan Thomas.
The collection includes letters to Lord Howard de Walden and Glyn Jones, alongside other notable pieces of literature in both English and the Welsh language.
This is another area of Wales synonymous with Dylan Thomas. The famous writer is known to have visited the cathedral and Bishop's palace in the small city of St. David's. Another of Dylan's favourite pubs can be found here, The Sailor's Safety Inn in Pwllgwaelod.
You can also find a blue plaque dedicated to Thomas in Tenby marking the location of his final performance of 'Under Milk Wood' from 1953. For film lovers, you can visit locations from the film adaptation of 'Under Milk Wood' starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in the town of Fishguard.
The Ship Inn pub has a range of memorabilia from the filming, while in nearby Solva, you can find more locations from the 2015 adaptation of the film.
Dylan Thomas' Laugharne
Again, Laugharne is one of the places in Wales with the greatest connection to Dylan Thomas. here are a few locations you may want to add to your list if you are a Dylan Thomas fan:
This was where Dylan and Caitlin first stayed once they were married in 1936. Writer Richard Hughes lived in Castle House, which contained Laugharne Castle within its grounds.
Hughes established a gazebo on the caste's ramparts, where Dylan Thomas preferred to write.
This former fisherman's cottage was the first proper home that Dylan and Catilin lived in as a married couple in the lower part of Laugharne town.
The cottage has come a long way since those days. According to local lore, Dylan Thomas was often seen trekking through the town to the public tap to collect water from the house since there was no plumbing.
The Cross House Inn sits in the same corner of Laugharne as the "Eros" cottage and was the go-to drinking spot for Dylan Thomas during his time there.
Many locals recall seeing Thomas drinking happily and scribbling ideas for his poems and prose on the back of cigarette packets.
Dylan Thomas Boathouse
Again, "The Boathouse" is one of the more famous locations associated with Dylan Thomas, being his family home for the final years of his life between 1949 - 1953 until Dylan's death.
The house overlooks the Taf estuary and is the location where Dylan wrote many of his most famous works.
Dylan and his wife lived here rent-free, thanks to a wealthy benefactor, the wife of historian AJP Taylor, Margaret Taylor, who had found the Thomas' family the previous property, Manor House, in South Leigh.
If you are planning a stay in Carmarthenshire we hope this page has offered some good reasons to come visit us. For accommodation in Carmarthenshire you can find no better location than Laugharne, the home of Dylan Thomas.
Contact Longshore House today to book your luxury holiday cottage in Laugharne.