Medieval History Resources

A new video resource that brings the history of the Welsh language to life in 4 minutes. From its origins in the Brythonic language and the earliest written versions through the Acts of Union and the Industrial Revolution to the establishment of the Urdd and Welsh-medium schools in the twentieth century, this video goes from the year 40 to 2022, when the language was used for the first time in the biggest sporting stage, the football World Cup. “Today, over half a million speak the language and the Welsh Government wants to have one million Welsh speakers by 2050 so that the Welsh language becomes an integral part of everyday life, in communities, school, at work and in digital technology.” A resource to be used widely with learners of all ages, and specifically for Welsh Second Language A Level Unit 5 (The Welsh Language in Society).   Welsh subtitles can be selected on video in YouTube (English subtitles available soon). Funded by Welsh Government.

There were no witch hunts in Wales. A surprisingly small number of 'witches' were found guilty and hanged in Wales. Only five, compared to more than 200,000 women who were hanged or burned in western Europe after being accused of 'witchcraft' between 1484 and 1750. There are several ‘old wives tales’ or superstitions about witches where the Welsh experience is mistakenly combined or confused by English or British lore and history. The Coel Gwrach project is an attempt to ensure that Gwen, Rhydderch, Lowri, Agnes and Margaret get their place in history through the medium of Welsh, their own language rather than the language of the court, but also so that that their stories get a second chance to be heard in society.

This material presents an account of China by naturalist and traveller Thomas Pennant (1726–98). The work forms part of Pennant's multivolume manuscript 'Outlines of the Globe', kept at the National Maritime Museum.

This is a Welsh-language resource presenting standard editions of the poetry composed by Welsh poets between 1282 and the middle of the sixteenth century. This collection is aimed at anyone who wants to learn more about Medieval Welsh poetry – University students and researchers, and also anyone who wants to learn more about the history of our bardic tradition, or about the history of some particular area long ago. If you want to learn more about one poet in particular, one could start by reading the Preamble to his work, before turning to the poems themselves. There is plenty of help in paraphrases and notes to help with the interpretation.