Swansea Pilotage Authority Collection

Swansea Pilot Authority Pay Sheets, 1938-1951; Swansea Pilotage Authority papers, 1935-1941; Invitation, 1925; Letters of acceptance and decline, 1925; Minutes of the Swansea Pilotage Authority, c.1932; General correspondence and papers of the Swansea Pilotage Authority, 1928-1944; Miscellaneous papers relating to Swansea Pilotage Authority, [1940s]

Prior to 1766 pilotage existed and was operated by fishermen and local seamen with special knowledge of the area. Bristol controlled all pilotage in the greater part of the Bristol Channel. Bristol exercised this power for pilotage into the ports of South Wales. Swansea obtained independent control in 1791 due to the Swansea Harbour Act. The Swansea Pilotage Authority was therefore formed in 1791. The Pilot House served the needs of Swansea's sea pilots for the greater part of the 20th century. Pilots have been working out of Swansea ever since sea trading routes were established in the early Middle Ages, although they were not properly established by committee until the Swansea Harbour Act, 1791.

The collection was originally box listed at Swansea Museum. This catalogue lists the items chronologically under the headings stated in Scope and content.

No restrictions.

The records were originally held at The Royal Institution of South Wales, Swansea. They were transferred to West Glamorgan Archive Service in the Spring of 2004 as part of The Royal Institution of South Wales Collection.

Compiled by Katie Millien for the West Glamorgan Archive Service.

A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the West Glamorgan Archive Service. The catalogue can be accessed online. Detailed catalogue

Usual copyright regulations apply.

All records transferred to the West Glamorgan Archive Service have been retained.

Accruals are not expected.