Echoes of the Past

Mari James is the Library Development Officer at St. David's Cathedral, and she talks about the life of St. David (Dewi Sant), the history of the Cathedral, and the role that it has played in the history of Christian worship, in Wales and beyond.

We are grateful to the Dean and Chapter of St David's Cathedral for permission to use the recording of Choral Scholars, Lawrence Pethick and Adrian Harris, chanting at the weekly Prayers at the Shrine of St David on 14th January 2022.

Tomos Jones is the Community Archaeologist for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, and he describes a brief history of Nevern Castle and the results of recent archaeological investigations that have taken place. Notable among this work is that by Dr Chris Caple and the team from Durham University who undertook excavations at the site between 2008 and 2018.

Cân y Ffordd Euraidd (The Song of the Golden Road) is a radio ballad created in response to the Preseli Heartlands from Crymych to Cwm Gwaun. The project has taken the form of a series of workshops and walks from the communities that reside at the foot of the Preselis. These sessions were an opportunity to get to know the place from different perspectives. These ramblings were be followed by weekend of music-making where participants and musicians were invited to give voice to the songs of the place. Speech, sound and song have been incorporated into the final ballad, an oral record of a unique place, that we hope future generations can continue to appreciate and enjoy for years to come.

Mae’r prosiect Cân y Ffordd Euraidd wedi creu baled radio mewn ymateb i Ein Cymdogaeth Werin o Grymych i Gwm Gwaun. Mae’r prosiect wedi cymryd ffurf cyfres o weithdai a theithiau cerdded o’r cymunedau sydd yn byw wrth droed y Preselau. Roedd y sesiynau cychwynnol yn gyfle i ddod i adnabod y lle o wahanol bersbectifau. Dilynodd y crwydradau yma gan benwythnos dwys o gerddora pan wahoddwyd cyfranogwyr a cherddorion i roi llais i ganeuon y lle. Yna, cafodd llais, sain a chân eu hymgorffori i’r faled radio derfynol, cofnod llafar o le unigryw, un y bydd y cenedlaethau i ddod yn gallu ei werthfawrogi a’i fwynhau am flynyddoedd yn y dyfodol.

Credydau Baled Radio | Radio Ballad Credits

For full credits and to access a transcripted version of the ballad:

Am gredydau llawn ac i gael mynediad at fersiwn wedi'i thrawsgrifio o'r faled:

Cân y Ffordd Euraidd (The Song of the Golden Road) is a radio ballad created in response to the Preseli Heartlands from Crymych to Cwm Gwaun. The project has taken the form of a series of workshops and walks from the communities that reside at the foot of the Preselis. These sessions were an opportunity to get to know the place from different perspectives. These ramblings were be followed by weekend of music-making where participants and musicians were invited to give voice to the songs of the place. Speech, sound and song have been incorporated into the final ballad, an oral record of a unique place, that we hope future generations can continue to appreciate and enjoy for years to come.

Mae’r prosiect Cân y Ffordd Euraidd wedi creu baled radio mewn ymateb i Ein Cymdogaeth Werin o Grymych i Gwm Gwaun. Mae’r prosiect wedi cymryd ffurf cyfres o weithdai a theithiau cerdded o’r cymunedau sydd yn byw wrth droed y Preselau. Roedd y sesiynau cychwynnol yn gyfle i ddod i adnabod y lle o wahanol bersbectifau. Dilynodd y crwydradau yma gan benwythnos dwys o gerddora pan wahoddwyd cyfranogwyr a cherddorion i roi llais i ganeuon y lle. Yna, cafodd llais, sain a chân eu hymgorffori i’r faled radio derfynol, cofnod llafar o le unigryw, un y bydd y cenedlaethau i ddod yn gallu ei werthfawrogi a’i fwynhau am flynyddoedd yn y dyfodol.

Credydau Baled Radio | Radio Ballad Credits

For full credits and to access a transcripted version of the ballad:   

Am gredydau llawn ac i gael mynediad at fersiwn wedi'i thrawsgrifio o'r faled:

Gareth Mills is a volunteer at Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre, and describes his work researching some of the personal stories of Pembrokeshire people linked to the second world war build up of US military forces in the county in the build up to D-Day in June 1944.

Echoes of the past is a podcast about Pembrokeshire, about history and culture, and about the importance of this corner of Wales to the wider world.

Edward Perkins has links to heritage activities in communities across Pembrokeshire and talks about some of the facets of Pembrokeshire's history that fascinate him the most.

Pembrokeshire Community Heritage Week 2021 is a series of virtual events happening from Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June celebrating the best of our community history.

Echoes of the past is a podcast about Pembrokeshire, about history and culture, and about the importance of this corner of Wales to the wider world.

Mark Lewis is the curator of Tenby Museum and Art Gallery and he talks about his role and about some of the issues currently faced by the Museum and also about the importance of the Museum's relationship with its audience and the community.

Pembrokeshire Community Heritage Week 2021 is a series of virtual events happening from Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June celebrating the best of our community history.

Echoes of the past is a podcast about Pembrokeshire, about history and culture, and about the importance of this corner of Wales to the wider world.

Sophie Jenkins works with some of PLANED's culture and heritage projects, but in another role she works for the Canolfan Llwynihirion Brynberian overseeing some of their community projects.

Pembrokeshire Community Heritage Week 2021 is a series of virtual events happening from Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June celebrating the best of our community history.

Echoes of the past is a podcast about Pembrokeshire, about history and culture, and about the importance of this corner of Wales to the wider world.

Tomos Jones is the Community Archaeologist with Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and he talks about his role in safeguarding the archaeology of the Park, about interpretation and the fact that the community are vital to the county's heritage.

Pembrokeshire Community Heritage Week 2021 is a series of virtual events happening from Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June celebrating the best of our community history.

Echoes of the past is a podcast about Pembrokeshire, about history and culture, and about the importance of this corner of Wales to the wider world.

Liz Rawlings is one of the founder members of Llangwm History Group and talks. In this 300 second soundbite she talks about her interest in history, the group's current projects, the impact of COVID and why Pembrokeshire's Community Heritage is so unique.

Pembrokeshire Community Heritage Week 2021 is a series of virtual events happening from Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June celebrating the best of our community history. 

Echoes of the past is a podcast about Pembrokeshire, about history and culture, and about the importance of this corner of Wales to the wider world.

Mark Lewis, curator of Tenby Museum and Art Gallery - Wales' oldest independent museum, and Emma Lewis from PLANED describe the development of Tenby as tourist destination from the 1800s to the present day.

William Roblin was the last person to be hanged in Pembrokeshire, 200 years ago, on 23 April 1821. He was accused of the murder of William Davies on 19 August 1820, and following a man-hunt across the county was imprisoned before being tried and found guilty.

There are a number of contemporary accounts of events discussed in this abridged version of a talk given via Zoom on the 200th anniversary of the hanging, 23 April 2021.

Echoes of the past is a podcast about Pembrokeshire, about history and culture, and about the importance of this corner of Wales to the wider world.

Ian Macrae is a research volunteer for Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust, who are based at Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre.

Pembroke Dock itself, but also many other communities around the county have a number of historic connections to many British Army regiments. Through these connections, the county has played its own role in military engagements across the globe. In this podcast we find out a little about some of this history.

Another opportunity to hear the talk given by Prof Mike Parker-Pearson of University College London, as part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Archaeology Day event in November 2020.

In 2017 and 2018 the Stones of Stonehenge Project, led by researchers from University College London and the universities of Southampton, Bournemouth and the Highlands & Islands, carried out excavations at Waun Mawn in North Pembrokeshire to discover if the four monoliths there are all that is left of a prehistoric stone circle.

Another opportunity to hear the talk given by Dr Simon Hancock FSA, curator of Haverfordwest Town Museum, as part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Archaeology Day event in November 2020.

Views about migration and refugees are important components of political discourse in twenty-first century Britain. While it might appear a phenomenon of pre-and post Brexit Britain the historical record suggests otherwise. The communities of Pembrokeshire have been subject to repeated waves of migration from the early modern period whether as a result of conquest, economic opportunities or escape from political turmoil and warfare.

Saundersfoot Bay Heritage Regeneration Trust exists to preserve, protect and safeguard the rich industrial and cultural heritage around the coastal area of Saundersfoot, Wiseman's Bridge and Amroth. Before this area became a favourite holiday spot for people across Wales and beyond, the area was renowned for the quality of its coal.

Information researched and provided by: Neil Sefton (Chair SBHRT), Mary Sefton (Secretary), Tessa Pearson, Joyce Lewis, Pauline Davies, Michael Slade and Sue Boughton-Thomas.

Additional recording contributions from: Audrey Hilling, Duncan Hilling, Peter Williams, Joyce Lewis and children from Stepaside Community Primary School.

Thanks also to Carys Mills (Harbour development / Welcome Centre advisor), Alan Jones (Script Editor) and Michael Slade (Recording & Editing).

The recordings took place at the Saundersfoot Regency Hall Community Centre.

Gareth Mills, historian and tour guide at Pembroke Castle, talks about William Marshall, the man who has been described as 'the greatest knight' and the man who had the stone castle at Pembroke built. Among his many achievements, William Marshall is said to have served five medieval English kings, including Richard the Lionheart and King John.

John Evans, historian, author and patron of Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre, talks about the military aviation connections of Pembroke Dock. He describes the stories of men and women who served and how that town grew to being one of the largest flying boat stations in the world during the Second World War Battle of the Atlantic, when it was the home to the iconic Short Sunderland flying boat.

Mark Lewis, curator of Tenby Museum and Art Gallery - Wales' oldest independent museum, describes the life of renowned UK artist Augustus John and his family links and life in and around the seaside town of Tenby in Pembrokeshire.

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Echoes of the past is a podcast about Pembrokeshire, about history and culture, and about the importance of this corner of Wales to the wider world. Each episode will feature a local expert and will look at a different subject, a different part of Pembrokeshire and a different point in time.