In 1980, the Welsh National Eisteddfod (named after Dyffryn Lliw, see below) was held at the Elba sports complex in the village. The Eisteddfod stone (Gorsedd stones) is located on the roundabout (grid ref. 585966) on the B4295 road to Penclawdd.
From 1974 to 1966, Gowerton was part of the district of Lliw Valley (Dyffryn Lliw) within West Glamorgan.
People from Gowerton are often referred to as "starch". When the local area processed steel for export, the steel owners and white collar workers lived in the Gowerton area; hence the name "starch". On the other hand, many of the manual workers resided in neighbouring Penclawdd and are known by the affectionate term "donks".[citation needed]
Gowerton once had five church or chapel buildings: St John's Church (built 1882), Tabernacl (opened 1893) Temple United Reformed Church (opened 1888), Bethel (opened 1873) and Bethania (opened 1891). However, only two, St John's Church and Temple URC, still remain. Bethel has lain in ruins for two decades and both Tabernacl and Bethania have been demolished.
Transport
Bus services are provided by First Cymru and NAT.[4] These depart Gowerton from Hill Street or Sterry Road.
Gowerton railway station is on the West Wales Line, between Swansea and Llanelli. Gowerton once had two railway stations, but today only one remains. This was made single-track in 1986. Work began in November 2012 to restore the double track to Gowerton by mid-2013, this has now been completed.[6]
