The City & County of Swansea local authority have established a geological heritage trail round the surviving historic core of the city. In a small booklet to guide visitors along the trail the comment is made: "The geological aspect is probably the least appreciated or understood but which is nevertheless one of the most fascinating." The booklet points out: "We are surrounded by stoneÖ In a city like Swansea, where the inheritance of Victorian architecture is still very prevalent, there are rich pickings for the would-be \'urban geologist\'."

And it is not just local stones. The arrival of the railways in the 1850s enabled architects to build in stone from all over the UK and Europe. Those stones identified in the booklet include Portland limestone from Dorset in the Midland Bank and the railway station, where there is also granite from Cornwall, local Pennant sandstone in the Unitarian Church (pictured above) and, along with granites, on several ancient streets, granite in Castle Buildings repaired after Blitz damage during the War, Bath limestone in what used to be Castle Cinema and the various stones of the castle itself.

Among the sponsors of the booklet, written by Richard Porch, are Gwrhyd Specialist Stone Quarry and, from London, the Geologisits\' Association Curry Fund.