Simply put, Marino (the house that would become Singleton Abbey) was a house built for Edward King in the latter half of the 1700s. In the early 1800s it was purchased by John Henry Vivian and transformed into the building known as Singleton Abbey (though never actual an Abbey or even a church). Through the 100 years of Vivian family ownership the building played host to Royal Visits and much spectacle, before finally being bought by the then Swansea Corporation, fore runners of the Swansea Borough Council.
After a few years lacking a purpose, in the 1910-1920s the building became home to Swansea University and after quite a few more years of lacking the caring touch, is looking somewhat better in recent years.
Located at the eastern end of the Swansea University Singleton Park Campus, the building is almost hidden away – tucked in by the view-obfuscating Library buildings, along with the likes of Kier Hardie and James Callaghan buildings west of it, some students may go their entire degree without finding their way there.
