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Lifestyle
Robert Dalling

Why people from Morriston are known as monkeys

If you live in Morriston, chances are you'd have been called a monkey at some point, or perhaps proudly call yourself one.

The nickname has lived on for generations in the Swansea suburb, dating back to the first half of the 20th century, and has a fascinating history which boils down to two main possible explanations.

And it appears in 2019, it is still a cause of debate even today.

Some insist it is related to the huge amount of monkey puzzle trees which once existed in the area.

But others claim its origins come from an era in the 30s, 40s and 50s where, after a visit to the cinema, there would be a parade, which would be referred to as the 'monkey parade', where men and women would walk up and down Woodfield Street to meet each other.

Woodfield Street where boys and girls would line up for a 'monkey parade' (Jonathan Myers)

It was given the nickname to differentiate from something similar which would take place in Swansea city centre.

Other legends claim sailors who had travelled the world would go as far as Morriston on barges and bring monkeys with them.

We mythbust some of the things people say about Swansea:

Famous claims about Swansea

They'd be spotted walking them up Woodfield Street, so the story goes.

A reference to the nickname can be found in Morriston Park, where wood sculptures of monkeys have been carved into sycamore trees.

Chairman of the Friends of Morriston Park, Steffan Phillips, explained his take on its history.

"The first story I had heard was from my grandparents, several generations ago," he said.

"It was to do with what was known as the Monkey Parade.

"Boys and girls would go to the cinema on Saturday nights and afterwards walk up and down the streets and look at each other, it would be a place where people would meet.

"But people get very angry about whether it's this or whether it's another interpretation that it is to do with the monkey puzzle trees. There was loads of them around Morriston.

"It obviously boils down to whatever you think, but I've always thought it was nice to have both.

"Some people have suggested the monkey term attached to the parade was not people being rude about Morriston but because of the trees, so it might be something to do with both. The exact reason we don't know."

The only monkey puzzle tree left in Morriston at Corner of Vicarage Road and Clasemont Road (Jonathan Myers)

Mr Phillips explained the feeling of pride in the nickname locally.

He said: "If you ask me whether I'm a Swansea Jack or Morriston monkey, I would say I'm a monkey.

"I think it's nice to have two origins rather than one or the other.

"We had a new monkey tree planted in the park recently which was well attended by the community, otherwise there's only one monkey tree left in Morriston, on the corner of Vicarage Road and Clasemont Road.

"There's a local band called the Shrinking Violets who have written a song called Monkey Town to do with it.

"Being called a Morriston Monkey is part of the pride of being from Morriston, it's linked to the rugby club as people say 'Come on Monkeys' and it goes back years, there's so much history and pride in it.

"You get people coming round saying 'So you're a monkey' and the response is 'Yeah, it's brilliant."

Councillor Robert Francis-Davies, ward member for the area, added: "There was a monkey tree in Morriston which was very prominent and I think it's to do with that. There are many different versions of it. It's like Swansea Jacks, there's different interpretations of that.

"People turn around and say 'I'm from Morriston, I'm a Morriston monkey from monkey town'."

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