The Royal Commission’s Medwyn Parry to lead motorcycle cavalcade on visit to UK Thankful Villages

Royal Commission’s staff wish everyone taking part a safe journey.

It all began with a conversation about a year ago about the forthcoming 100th anniversary of the start of World War 1. The conversation was between Medwyn Parry from Reader Services and myself, Deanna Groom, Maritime Officer.

‘Now Medwyn, what are the really iconic World War I sites in Wales that we should start thinking about doing more survey work on or researching?’, I said.

‘Well, there are sites such as the practice trenches at Bodelwyddan and Penally. Toby Driver has taken some wonderful aerial photographs of those recently’, Medwyn replied.

‘We should do something about the shipping losses around the coast from submarine attacks… but are there any other really great stories yet to be told?’, I said

‘Well, there are the Thankful Villages…’, Medwyn said.

And so Medwyn told me the story of the 51 villages where every soldier who went to war, fought through the real horrors of trench warfare, actually came home safely.

Now Medwyn Parry with fellow motorbike enthusiast, Dougie Bancroft, are about to set off on a 9 day, 2500 miles journey, to visit to each of those villages and deliver a special commemorative plaque. Many of the villages have parties planned to welcome them to celebrate their village’s unique status and the reasons they have to be thankful within their communities today.

The charities benefiting from the fundraising include The Royal British Legion, who support former and serving military personnel, their families and dependants.

The Royal Commission’s staff would like to wish everyone taking part a safe journey and every success.

The event begins on Saturday 27 July at Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, Ceredigion, at 8am, and passes through Herbranston, Pembrokeshire, and Colwinston, Glamorgan, on the same day. The ride is due to finish back at Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn, Ceredigion, at around 19.30pm on Sunday 4 August.

Search online for Thankful Villages 2013 news feeds and for more information on the schedule.

To learn more about these practice trench complexes and to see some of  Toby’s images, follow these Coflein links:

• http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/268142/images/BODELWYDDAN+PARK+ARMY+PRACTICE+TRENCHES/
• http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/268143/images/PENALLY+FIRST+WORLD+WAR+PRACTICE+TRENCHES/

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Learning About The Upland Heritage of Gwynedd

Delegates ascending the magnificent incline at Gorseddau slate quarry to inspect its upper workings.

The Archaeology in the Uplands event held on 10th-11th May in Snowdonia was a resounding success for all concerned. Organised jointly between the Royal Commission, the Snowdonia National Park Authority and the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust, the event featured a packed dayschool on Friday 10th May at Plas Tanybwlch followed by a guided walk to the slate quarrying landscape of Gorseddau on the Saturday.

On Friday over 60 delegates joined Royal Commission staff at Plas Tanybwlch for a dayschool opened by Councillor Caerwyn Roberts OBE, Chairman of the Snowdonia National Park Authority, followed by an address by Dr David Gwyn. The day began with reports of the most recent surveys completed for the Uplands Archaeology Initiative in north, mid and south Wales, before a series of afternoon talks from specialists from Wales, England and Scotland about various aspects of the archaeology, history, paleoenvironment and management of the upland heritage of north-west Wales.

On the following day, two minibuses of delegates accompanied Royal Commission archaeologists to the slate quarrying landscape around Gorseddau quarry above Porthmadog, in the expert company of Dr David Gwyn of Govannon Consultancy who lead the tour. Despite a few rain showers there was plenty of sunshine and an excellent day was enjoyed by all learning about the history, worker’s lives, transport networks and fluctuating business fortunes of Gorseddau quarry, the abandoned industrial village of nearby Treforys, and the unique Ynysypandy slate mill.

David Gwyn explaining the archaeology and history of Ynysypandy slate mill.

The massive corbelled wall protecting the line of the slate tramway at Gorseddau from the slate tips above.

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Thankful Villages Run 2013

Aerial view of one of the three Thankful Villages in Wales, Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn,
AP_2004_0642   NPRN:33047

This summer Royal Commission staff member Medwyn Parry and co-rider Dougie Bancroft will be undertaking a motorbike journey to visit all 51 “Thankful Villages” in the United Kingdom. These are villages where there is no war memorial, because all of those who went away to fight in the Great War were fortunate enough to return home alive.

The trip will start at Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, near Aberystwyth, on 27 July 2013 and will finish at the same point nine days and 2,500 miles later, on 4 August.

There are three Thankful Villages in Wales – Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, Cardiganshire; Colwinston, Glamorgan; and Herbrandston, Pembrokeshire – where they also returned from the Second World War, making it the only “Double Thankful” village in Wales.

Medwyn has been amazed by the outstanding generosity of complete strangers who have embraced the spirit of the project. The aim is to raise £51,000 for the Royal British Legion. As far as he is aware, nobody has visited all 51 villages during one journey.

Those who live in the Thankful Villages are tremendously proud of their status. Medwyn & Dougie plan to meet with residents – especially descendants of those who returned from WWI.

The Welsh Government First Minister, Carwyn Jones, has issued a statement, giving his support to the ride.

Further details can be found on the website: thankfulvillagesrun.com

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Rhys ap Thomas and the fatal blow that killed Richard III on Bosworth Field

One of my responsibilities as People’s Collection Wales Officer is to respond to enquiries by members of the public who want to know more about the items we’ve uploaded. Yesterday morning, beneath our photograph of the effigy of Rhys ap Thomas in St Peter’s Church, Carmarthen, was the following highly topical question: ‘Is this the man who felled Richard III?’

In the news and on Monday night’s Channel Four documentary, we had confirmation that the skeleton, recently discovered under the car park in Leicester, was that of Richard III, killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

Not being an expert myself, I asked around my medievalist colleagues and was told that although there is no firm evidence that he was the man who killed Richard, Rhys ap Thomas was an important Welsh magnate who closely supported Henry Tudor. He and his retainers would have formed the close guard around Henry during the battle of Bosworth in 1485. That, together with the fact that he was knighted by Henry on the battle field, and later claims that he used a poleaxe to kill Richard, certainly make him one of the prime candidates to have delivered that fatal blow.

By Helen Rowe.

See Rhys ap Thomas’s effigy on People’s Collection Wales.

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The Story of Wales: Wales and Britain

Aerial photograph showing wartime damage in central Swansea.
AFR10857  NPRN 33145

The sixth and final episode of the BBC Wales series ‘The Story of Wales’ will be shown tonight on BBC2 at 7pm. Following the events and changes in Wales from World War II to the present day, it covers a host of topics including the World War II bombing of Swansea, the start of the NHS under Aneurin Bevan, the steel industries at Port Talbot, Ebbw Vale and Shotton, the Welsh language movement and the steps towards independent Welsh government. This popular series has been valuable in increasing understanding of the history of Wales and has sparked debate what it means to be Welsh in the twenty-first century. The episodes are viewable on BBC iPlayer for the next few days and a DVD is now available through the Open University.

Links to sites featured in episode 6:

• Swansea (including photographs showing the effects of WWII bombing)
• Llyn Celyn, Tryweryn
• Shotton Steelworks
• Ebbw Vales Steelworks
• Port Talbot Steelworks
• First purpose built Mosque in Wales
• Former Welsh Office building
• Senedd, Cardiff Bay
• Millenium Centre

With final chapters on Post-war Wales by Richard Suggett and Into the Future by Peter Wakelin, and covering every period of Welsh history, the Royal Commission’s centenary publication, Hidden Histories:Tysorau Cudd, is the perfect informative companion for anyone interested in the life and heritage of Wales. Authoritive information on all aspects of the historical environment of Wales are available from our many publications which are always lavishly illustrated from the superb visual resources held in the National Monuments Record of Wales. All books are reasonably priced with a special 10% discount to Friends. For further information, please visit the Royal Commission’s website or telephone 01970 621200.

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The Story of Wales: A New Beginning

Big Pit Coal Mine, Monmouthshire
DI2006_0875  NPRN 433

The fifth episode in the BBC Wales series ‘The Story of Wales: A New Beginning’ will explore how the discovery of steam coal in the Rhondda led to massive immigration to the valleys of South Wales and the development of the docks at Cardiff and Barry during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It will show the opulent castles at Cardiff and Penrhyn, built from the fabulous wealth created by the coal and slate industries in north and south Wales. This episode will also cover sport, entertainment, male voice choirs, and the darker side of industrialisation – poverty, mining accidents, strikes and lockouts.


Links to sites featured in episode 5:

• Big Pit, Blaenavon
• Tower Colliery
• Barry Docks
• Penrhyn Slate Quarry
• Penrhyn Castle
• Cardiff Castle
• The James, or 'Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau' Memorial
• Park and Dare Theatre, Treorchy
• Universal Colliery, Senghenydd

One again, for those who are interested, many of these topics are superbly covered in the Royal Commission’s centenary publication, Hidden Histories: Tyrsorau Cudd, which has two excellent sections on both Victorian Society and Early Twentieth Century. In addition, our latest publications, which include Fields of Play: The Sporting Heritage of Wales and Cymru Hanesyddol o'r Awyr / Historic Wales From the Air, offer much to increase our understanding of this rapidly changing age. Copies of all our publications are available through our bookshop with a special 10% discount to Friends. For further information, please visit the Royal Commission’s website or telephone 01970 621200.


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The Story of Wales: The Furnace of Change

RCAHMW 3D model of the engine house at Hafod Copperworks, HMC805, nprn:- 33710

Following last week’s showing of the first three episodes of “The Story of Wales”, the remainder of the series will be shown this week on BBC2 at 7pm. Tonight Episode 4, “The Furnace of Change”, will look at how the Industrial Revolution and the copper and iron trades turned Wales into a global player, from the mining of copper on Parys Mountain, Anglesey, and its smelting and export at ‘Copperopolis’, Swansea, to the transformation of the iron industry under the Crawshays at Merthyr Tydfil. This episode will also explore the subsequent social turmoil, riots and uprisings at Merthyr Tydfil and Newport, and in the countryside with the Rebecca Rioters.

Links to sites featured in episode 4:

• Parys Mountain Copper Mines
  
• Hafod and Morfa Copperworks, Swansea
  
• Cyfarthfa Ironworks, Methyr Tydfil
  
• Cyfarthfa Castle, Merthyr Tydfil
  
• Chartist uprising monument and mural, John Frost Square, Newport
  
• Carmarthen Workhouse – stormed by Rebecca rioters in 1843

Finally, the Royal Commission's superbly illustrated book, Hidden Histories: Tysorau Cudd, has an interesting section “On the First Industrial Nation” by Stephen Hughes and Dr Peter Wakelin with ten essays covering this fascinating topic. In addition, enthusiasts who are interested in the industrialization of Wales will also like the Royal Commission’s definitive book on: Copperopolis: Landscapes of the Early Industrial Period in Swansea. Copies of all our publications are available through our bookshop with a special 10% discount to Friends. For further information, please visit the Royal Commission’s website or telephone 01970 621200.

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The Story of Wales: England and Wales

Castell Gwydir, Sir Gaernarfon
DS2007_340_012  NPRN 26555

Bydd trydedd raglen “The Story of Wales” yn cael ei dangos heno ar BBC2 am 7pm.  Yn dwyn y teitl “England and Wales”, mae’r rhaglen hon yn trafod Cymru yn yr Oesoedd Canol ac yn canolbwyntio ar sut y bu i Harri VII gipio coron Lloegr a sefydlu’r llinach Duduraidd. Mae sawl adeilad pwysig yn cael sylw yn y rhaglen hon, gan gynnwys cartref teuluol y Tuduriaid, Plas Penmynydd ar Ynys Môn, Castell Gwydir, a ailgodwyd gan Meredith ap Ieuan ap Robert ar ôl Rhyfeloedd y Rhosynnod, ac, yn olaf, Mathafarn yn Sir Drefaldwyn, eiddo Dafydd Llwyd ym 1485, lle yr arhosodd Iarll Richmond (y Brenin Harri VII yn ddiweddarach) y noson cyn brwydr Maes Bosworth.

Cysylltau i’r safleoedd sy’n cael sylw yn y 3edd raglen:

• Plas Penmynydd
• Castell Gwydir
• Mathafarn
• Castell Caerffili
• Castell Penfro
• Abaty Ystrad Fflur

I’r rheiny sydd â diddordeb, mae’r Athro Ralph Griffiths yn gosod y cefndir yng nghyhoeddiad canmlwyddiant y Comisiwn Brenhinol, Trysorau Cudd : Hidden Histories, yn ei drafodaeth awdurdodol ar yr Oesoedd Canol, a pharheir â’r stori yn y bennod ar “Cymru Fodern Gynnar” gan Richard Suggett. Efallai yr hoffai gwylwyr sydd â diddordeb mewn dysgu mwy am adeiladau Cymru yn yr Oesoedd Canol a’r cyfnod modern cynnar, gan gynnwys Gwydir, ddarllen Cartrefi Cefn Gwlad Cymru : Introducing Houses of the Welsh Countryside gan Richard Suggett a Greg Stephenson, pris £14.95, neu £13.50 gyda’r disgownt o 10% sydd ar gael i Gyfeillion. I gael mwy o wybodaeth, ewch i siop lyfrau ar-lein y Comisiwn Brenhinol neu ffoniwch 01970 621200.

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The Story of Wales: England and Wales

Gwydir Castle, Caernarfonshire
DS2007_340_012  NPRN 26555

Episode 3 of “The Story of Wales” will be shown tonight on BBC2 at 7pm.  Entitled “England and Wales”, this episode discusses Wales in the middle ages and focuses on how Henry VII captured the English crown and established the Tudor dynasty. Several important buildings are featured in this episode and include the Tudor family home, Plas Penmynydd in Anglesey, Gwydir Castle, rebuilt by Meredith ap Ieuan ap Robert following the Wars of the Roses, and finally Mathafarn in Mongomeryshire, owned by Dafydd Llwyd in 1485, when the Earl of Richmond (later to become King Henry VII) stayed there the night before the battle of Bosworth Field.

Links to sites featured in episode 3:

• Plas Penmynydd
• Gwydir Castle
• Mathafarn
• Caerphilly Castle
• Pembroke Castle
• Strata Florida Abbey

For those who are interested, Professor Ralph Griffiths sets the scene in the Royal Commission’s centenary publication, Hidden Histories : Trysorau Cudd with an authoritive discussion on the Middle Ages and the narrative is then continued by Richard Suggett in his chapters on “Early Modern Wales”. Viewers of tonight’s programme who are interested in learning more about the buildings of medieval and early modern Wales, including Gwydir, may like to read Cartrefi Cefn Gwlad Cymru : Introducing Houses of the Welsh Countryside written by Richard Suggett and Greg Stephenson, price £14.95 or £13.50 including the 10% discount available to Friends. For further information, please visit the Royal Commission’s online bookshop or telephone 01970 621200.
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The Story of Wales: Power Struggles

Crannog Llyn Syfaddan, Brecknockshire
AP_2005_1162  NPRN 32997

Ar ôl darlledu rhaglen gyntaf y gyfres “The Story of Wales” neithiwr, bydd yr ail raglen yn cael ei dangos heno ar BBC2 am 7pm. Mae’r rhaglen hon, “Power Struggles”, yn trafod Cymru’r Oesoedd Canol Cynnar ac yn ymdrin â phynciau diddorol megis adeiladu Clawdd Offa yng nghanol yr wythfed ganrif gan Frenin Mercia, a Theyrnas Gymreig Brycheiniog yn y ddegfed ganrif. Mae hefyd yn edrych ar gyfreithiau Hywel Dda a phriodas yn yr Oesoedd Canol, yn ogystal â Rhys ap Gruffydd, Ustus De Cymru, a’r Eisteddfod gyntaf erioed a gynhaliwyd yn ei gastell yn Aberteifi.

Cysylltau i’r safleoedd sy’n cael sylw yn yr 2il raglen:

• Clawdd Offa
• Crannog Llyn Syfaddan
• Castell Aberteifi

Mae cyhoeddiad canmlwyddiant y Comisiwn Brenhinol, Trysorau Cudd, sydd hefyd ar gael yn y Saesneg o dan y teitl Hidden Histories, yn cynnwys adran ddiddorol ar “Cymru’r Oesoedd Canol Cynnar”, yn ogystal â thrafodaeth awdurdodol ar “Yr Oesoedd Canol” gan yr Athro Ralph Griffiths, cyn-Gadeirydd y Comisiwn Brenhinol. Os oes gan wylwyr ddiddordeb yn yr Oesoedd Canol, efallai y bydd ganddynt ddiddordeb hefyd yng nghyfres Uwchdiroedd y Comisiwn Brenhinol sy’n cynnwys The Western Brecon Beacons: The Archaeology of Mynydd Du and Fforest Fawr, a Mynydd Hiraethog: The Denbigh Moors. Gellir cael copïau o’n holl gyhoeddiadau drwy ein siop lyfrau, ac mae disgownt arbennig o 10% ar gael i Gyfeillion. I gael mwy o wybodaeth, ewch i wefan y Comisiwn Brenhinol neu ffoniwch 01970 621200.

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