Author: archiveswales

A historic property listing for Gwrych Castle, made famous by this year’s series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has been uncovered, ahead of Explore Your Archive Week (Saturday 21st – Sunday 29th November 2020). Gwrych Castle 1910, North East Wales Archives The 19th century castle and estate, which is based near … Continue reading Historic property listing for ‘I’m a Celebrity’ castle uncovered as part of Explore Your Archive week

World Digital Preservation Day Every year, the Digital Preservation Coalition holds a World Digital Preservation Day with the aim of drawing attention to the complex strategic, cultural and technological issues involved in ensuring sustained access to digital content. This year has brought into particular focus the global reliance on digital information, infrastructure and connectivity and … Continue reading Keeping the Good for Good: Preserving the Laws of Hywel Dda at the National Library of Wales

Gwent Archives holds a marriage settlement between Nathaniel Wells and Harriet Este, which details the names of the 146 enslaved men, women and children on one of his plantations. Nathaniel Wells was born in 1779 on a plantation on St Christopher Island (St Kitts). He was born a slave, but went on to become the … Continue reading Black History Month: Nathaniel Wells

An extremely rare piece of Wales’ Black history is available digtially after being published online for the first time earlier this year. William Hall, an escaped slave and resident of Cardiff, published his life story from Bute Street in 1862. Published on the city’s Bute Street in 1862, William Hall’s “Personal Narrative” is a shocking … Continue reading A unique piece of Wales’ Black history from Cardiff online: William Hall’s Slavery Narrative

https://youtu.be/qx2fpnTG7j8 Archives are re-opening across Wales. However to keep visitors and staff safe we’ve had to make changes. Here's what to expect when we welcome you back. Contact the archive before you set out, you will need to make an appointment to visit. You will also need to order all your documents in advance of … Continue reading Archives are re-opening across Wales

During the eighteenth century the movement to abolish the Slave Trade and slavery in the British colonies was strongest in urban centres. Large towns and cities were often home to cultural and philosophical societies where the urban elite could debate the major issues of the day. Urban centres were also well served by newspapers: the … Continue reading The events leading up to the emancipation of an American slave at Swansea

Glamorgan Archives holds crew agreements and log books for ships registered at the Port of Cardiff for the years 1863-1913 (ref.: DCA).  The following incidents illustrate two extraordinary occurrences recorded in these logs. The master of the Talca (official number 50438), Charles Woollacott, a Devonshire man, aged 41, must have wondered at the events which … Continue reading Subordination and Devastation: Two Sea Voyages from the Port of Cardiff

In 2010, Swansea was officially designated a City of Sanctuary, a testament to Swansea’s long tradition of providing shelter and a safe space for persons fleeing war, famine and persecution. A neglected collection in the archives throws new light on one episode in this continuing narrative. Reproduced in countless exhibitions, books and television documentaries, photographs … Continue reading The experience of Basque refugee children in Swansea in the 1930s