This week on Darn Bach o Hanes; the story of Cardiff’s tsunami, Rhodri ap Dyfrig and his collection of badges, the story of Darwin’s journey in Wales and the story of the killing of Richard de Clare in 1136.
In 1607 a big tsunami came over Cardiff and Dewi Prysor goes to look at an old map of Cardiff by John Speed. Dewi also looks at a pamphlet from 1607 which tells the story of the tsunami.
Dewi goes to Cardiff University to talk to the professor Wyn James about the pamphlet. Pamphlets like these were very popular; but they printed the pamphlets in England.
Rhodri ap Dyfrig lives in Aberystwyth and he likes to collect badges. Rhodri keeps about 100 badges in an old shoe box. These are political badges and children’s badges. Lisa Gwilym goes to talk to Rhodri about his collection.
Dewi also goes to the little village of Clatter in Powys to see where the name came from. In 1836 the name of the place was Clatter Gate, a name which refers to the sound that the gates of the tollgates did when opening and closing. And that’s where the name came from.
In 1831 Charles Darwin and his teacher Adam Sedwick went on a journey through north Wales to study the geology of the area. The two travelled through north Wales using a map and a compass. Rhys Mwyn follows the journey of the two men.
Rhys talks to the local historian, Meurig Lloyd Davies about the journey. Meurig takes Rhys to caves where Darwin and Sedwick studied geology on their journey. People say that the journey through north Wales had an influence on Darwin’s journey to South America. Darwin wrote his book ‘On the Origin of Species’ after his journey to South America.
Frank Olding from Blaenau Gwent Council tells the story of the Norman lord, Richard de Clare in 1136. De Clare had been staying in Abergavenny castle and he was on his way back to his castle in Ceredigion. When de Clare was travelling through the Mynydd Du area two Welshmen, Morgan and Iowerth ap Owain attacked and killed him.
Every week on Darn Bach o Hanes Dewi Prysor goes to St Fagans National History Museum and chooses a special relic. You have to guess what the relic is.
