DYLAN
THOMAS BOATHOUSE & SWANSEA
The Haunts of Wales’ Favorite Poet Son
“He’s
so unhip, when you say Dylan, he thinks you’re
talkin’ ‘bout Dylan Thomas – whoever he was”… Paul
Simon, the poet of the 1960’s generation certainly knew who Dylan
Thomas was when he wrote that, but nowadays if you say Dylan, most people,
whether hip or not, will think of the 60's folk icon before the Welsh
poet, born almost a hundred years ago. ,With the 60th anniversary of
his early
death in 1953 while on a radio tour of America coming up in 2013 and
centennial birthday celebrations being planned for 2014, Dylan Thomas,
a national heroic figure of Wales, best known for “A
Child’s Christmas in Wales” and “Under Milk Wood”,
is associated with several sites and locations in south Wales.
Swansea Dylan Thomas
The
Dylan Center can be found in the harbor quarter of Swansea, the city
where he
was born, not far from the bronze statue of the slightly pug nosed
poet sitting
in a chair, slightly turned as if he’s hearing voices coming
from the seaside pub restaurant nearby. The Dylan Thomas Theater in
Swansea
next to his statue performs his works on a never to be forgotten regular
schedule. The city of Swansea is planning redevelopment of Cwmdonkin
Park where Dylan Thomas spent much of his childhood to be ready in
time for the natal centenary. The Pembrokeshire coast has walks Dylan
Thomas
trod for inspiration. The little village of lower Fishguard, was used
as a film location for the movie version of Thomas’ “Under
Milk Wood” with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in the heyday
of their Hollywood romance (see Manor Townhouse Fishguard).
The Laugharne Boathouse
The
most visited site of the poets’ life in Wales is the Dylan
Thomas Boathouse in Laugharne about 40 minutes from Swansea,
now a heritage center. The Boathouse, which he described as a “seashaken
house on a breakneck of rocks” is a small cozy structure of two
floors and basement clinging tenuously to the cliff side overlooking
an estuary on the south Wales coast, a short walk from the hauntingly
beautiful ruin
of the Norman castle of Laugharne (see Laugharne
Castle). Dylan Thomas
first came to Laugharne in 1938 and revisited several times, often
staying
at
a house
called
the
Sea
View,
now a Bed & Breakfast, always envying the little boat house looking
out over the bay. The Boathouse was bought essentially for him by his
patron
Margaret Taylor. He and Caitlin only lived in the house for the last
four years of his life, but very productive years. Both Dylan Thomas
and Caitlin are buried a short distance away in St Martin’s Churchyard.
Caitlin moved out of the house after her husband’s death, and
his mother Florence lived in the house until 1958.
The entrance
is reached along the marked cliff path from either the parking area
next to the
castle or from the village, named "Dylan’s
Walk". The path through the garden used by the poet no longer exists.
The Boathouse interior is laid out much as it was when Dylan Thomas and
Caitlin lived there. A cozy county house of a few rooms, with a china
collection in the pantry, desk, throw rugs, ceramic cat and fireside
lamp, complete with shade askew. The lamp shade may be a result of the
ghost of Dylan Thomas’ mother who is thought to stall haunt the
place. It is said a chair can be heard to scrape from the table as employees
arrive in the morning, as if she is scurrying to hide from strangers
for
the day. Lights and lamps seem to be left on or turned off and pictures
or books moved. The furniture is mix of the poet's belongings brought
from his father's house in Swansea and of his mother's possessions when
she lived there.
From the parlor of the house the landscape from which Dylan drew much of his inspiration spreads out to the horizon. Across the River Tâf lies Fern Hill, the farm that came to symbolize the innocence of childhood and time's unforgiving march, and in the far distance, the Gower Peninsula and Worms Head. Two rooms upstairs offer both an interpretative display of books, photographs, letters and documents, and a video presentation.
Dylan Thomas' Writing Shed
On
the walking trail before reaching the house itself hinted at by
its roof among the cliff side trees is a green
wooden building, the Writing Shed - a former gatehouse, tiny and
cramped where the author spread the drafts of his work as he stared
out
the window to find just the right word
for what he wanted to say. On the walls are images of some of his favorite
authors and photographs that inspired him.
Visiting the Dylan Boathouse
The house
is open from May to October 10am to 5.30pm (with last admission at
5.00pm)
and November to April 10.30am - 3.30pm (with last admission
at 3.00pm). Admission cost is £3.75 for adults, £2.95 students
and seniors, and £1.75 for children over 7. A family ticket is
available for £9. Getting to and around the Dylan Boathouse has
a lot of stairs with no wheelchair access, except as far as the Writing
Shed. The Boathouse has a small tea café downstairs off the original
kitchen with patio seating in the garden. © Bargain
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Dylan
Thomas Boathouse
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SEE ALSO:
CAERPHILLY
CASTLE
ST DAVID’S BISHOP’S PALACE AND CATHEDRAL
MERLIN'S HILL - FORT & FARM B&B
