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Logo The Cymru Cycles gyda draig goch a chroes Geltaidd.
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THE CYMRU CYCLES

TOOL TIPS

The Cymru Cycles introduces the history of Wales through six connected periods, but there is always more to discover. This section provides a starting point for exploring each cycle in greater depth.

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Rather than simply listing useful websites, these guides explain where to find reliable information, how to search for it and how to interpret the results. Whether you are exploring geological maps, archaeological records, medieval monasteries, historical archives or industrial heritage, the aim is to help you continue your own journey through the history of Wales.

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The resources have been organised according to the six Cymru Cycles, with each section highlighting the organisations, museums and online collections that are most useful for investigating that particular period.

NATURAL CYMRU

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British Geological Survey
BGS Geology Viewer

The BGS Geology Viewer is the best place to begin if you want to understand the physical landscape of Wales. It provides an interactive geological map showing both the solid bedrock beneath the surface and the younger deposits left by rivers, glaciers and the sea.

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Whether you are visiting a mountain, beach, quarry, waterfall or river valley, the Geology Viewer allows you to identify the rocks beneath your feet and discover when they formed.

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How to investigate a location

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  1. Open the BGS Geology Viewer.

  2. Enter the name or postcode of a location in Wales. You could search for a mountain, village, beach, quarry, cave or historic site.

  3. Zoom in until the coloured geological units become visible. Each colour represents a different geological formation.

  4. Turn on Bedrock Geology to investigate the solid rocks beneath the landscape. For example:

    • the volcanic rocks of Eryri;

    • the Old Red Sandstone of Bannau Brycheiniog;

    • the Carboniferous Limestone of Gower;

    • the slate-bearing rocks of northwest Wales.

  5. Turn on Superficial Deposits to examine younger material left by more recent geological processes. Look for deposits such as:

    • glacial till;

    • river terrace deposits;

    • alluvium;

    • peat;

    • blown sand;

    • landslip deposits.

  6. Open the map legend. The legend updates as you move around the map, displaying the geological formations currently visible.

  7. Select the name of a geological formation to open its entry in the BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units. This explains the rock type, geological age, environment of deposition and geographical distribution.

 

Understanding the results

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The name of a geological formation may seem unfamiliar at first, but most entries contain three important pieces of information:

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  • the formal name of the formation;

  • the geological period in which it formed;

  • the type of rock present.

 

For example, you may discover that a landscape is underlain by Old Red Devonian sandstone, Arenig Ordovician volcanic tuft or Oxwich Head Carboniferous limestone.

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Begin with the plain description of the rock before exploring the more technical geological terminology. Remember that the colours on the map simply distinguish different formations—they do not indicate rock type on their own.

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For readers wishing to explore beyond the Geology Viewer, the British Geological Survey also provides the more advanced GeoIndex viewer, containing borehole records, geological memoirs and additional geological datasets.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

While the British Geological Survey explains the rocks beneath Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru reveals the ancient life preserved within those rocks.

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The museum holds one of Britain's finest collections of Welsh fossils, minerals and rocks. Its website combines museum collections with articles explaining how life evolved through geological time, making it an excellent resource for understanding the changing environments that once existed across Wales.

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How to investigate Welsh fossils

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  1. Open the Amgueddfa Cymru – Geology section of the museum website.

  2. Begin by reading one of the introductory articles about Welsh geology or palaeontology. These provide helpful background before exploring the collections themselves.

  3. Use the website search to explore either:

    • a geological period, such as Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous or Jurassic;

    • a fossil group, such as trilobites, graptolites, brachiopods, corals, ammonites or fossil plants;

    • or a Welsh locality where important fossils have been discovered.

  4. Browse the collection records to examine photographs and descriptions of individual fossil specimens.

  5. Read about:

    • when the organism lived;

    • the environment in which it lived;

    • how it became fossilised;

    • and what it tells us about the geological history of Wales.

  6. If the article or specimen record mentions a particular locality, compare it with the BGS Geology Viewer to identify the rock formation in which the fossil occurs.

 

Understanding the results

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Every fossil represents more than a preserved organism, it records an ancient environment.

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For example:

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  • trilobites and graptolites indicate ancient seas;

  • corals suggest warm tropical marine environments;

  • fossil plants reveal ancient forests and swamp landscapes;

  • ammonites indicate Jurassic oceans;

  • dinosaur remains provide evidence of terrestrial environments that once existed in Wales.

 

Rather than studying fossils individually, try linking them to the surrounding geology. Combining museum resources with the BGS Geology Viewer allows you to reconstruct the ancient landscapes in which those organisms lived.

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Many of the specimens featured online can also be seen in the geology galleries at National Museum Cardiff, making the museum an excellent destination for anyone wishing to continue their exploration beyond the website.

Natural Resources Wales

Natural Resources Wales is responsible for protecting many of Wales's most important landscapes, habitats and species. Its website contains interactive maps, conservation information and official documentation covering thousands of protected sites across the country.

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It is particularly useful for understanding why a landscape is important today, whether because of its geology, wildlife, habitats or a combination of all three.

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How to investigate a protected landscape

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  1. Open the Natural Resources Wales page titled Find Protected Areas of Land and Sea.

  2. Enter the name, address or postcode of the location you wish to investigate.

  3. Open the Layer List and enable the layers most relevant to your interests. These include:

    • Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs);

    • National Nature Reserves;

    • Special Areas of Conservation;

    • Special Protection Areas.

  4. Select one of the highlighted areas to identify the protected site.

  5. Record the site's official name. This may differ from the name commonly used for the surrounding mountain, beach or nature reserve.

  6. Search for that official site name within the Natural Resources Wales designated-sites database.

  7. Read the site's citation and supporting documents to discover exactly why it has been protected.

 

Understanding the results

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Not all protected sites are designated for the same reasons.

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Some are protected because of their geology, while others are important for their habitats, plants, animals or birds. Many contain several nationally important features.

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When reading a site citation, look for references to:

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  • geology;

  • geomorphology;

  • palaeontology;

  • caves;

  • glacial landforms;

  • coastal processes;

  • river systems;

  • ancient woodland;

  • peatland;

  • rare plants;

  • breeding birds;

  • mammals, reptiles or invertebrates.

 

The citation explains why that location is nationally significant and often identifies the key features that visitors should look for when exploring the landscape.

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Remember that protected status does not automatically provide public access. Always check access rights, public footpaths and local guidance before visiting.

ANCIENT CYMRU

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Coflein

Coflein is the online database of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. It contains records for more than one hundred thousand archaeological sites, historic buildings and landscapes across Wales, making it one of the most valuable resources for exploring prehistoric archaeology.

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Each record may include photographs, excavation reports, historic maps, aerial photographs, references to published research and links to nearby archaeological sites. While the amount of information varies from site to site, Coflein allows you to investigate far more monuments than those managed by Cadw.

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How to search for prehistoric archaeology

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  1. Open the Coflein website.

  2. Select Advanced Search. Although the basic search is useful if you already know the name of a site, the advanced search provides much greater control when exploring a particular archaeological period.

  3. Under Period, select the period you wish to investigate. Useful examples include:

    • Mesolithic

    • Neolithic

    • Bronze Age

    • Iron Age

  4. Under Monument Type, select the kind of site you are interested in. Examples include:

    • Chambered Tomb

    • Standing Stone

    • Stone Circle

    • Burial Cairn

    • Hillfort

    • Promontory Fort

    • Roundhouse

    • Hut Circle

    • Burnt Mound

    • Hill Slope Enclosure

  5. If you are interested in a particular part of Wales, enter a county, town or place name, or use the interactive map to narrow your search area.

  6. Browse the search results and open individual monument records.

  7. Within each record, examine:

    • photographs;

    • aerial imagery;

    • location maps;

    • archaeological descriptions;

    • references to excavations;

    • published sources.

  8. Use the interactive map to identify nearby prehistoric sites. Many monuments survive as part of wider prehistoric landscapes rather than in isolation.

 

Understanding the results

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Not every Coflein record contains the same level of detail. Some sites have been extensively excavated and researched, while others are known only from aerial photography, geophysical surveys or brief field observations.

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The archaeological description usually explains:

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  • what survives today;

  • when the monument was built;

  • how archaeologists interpret the site;

  • whether excavations have taken place;

  • and how confident researchers are about its date or function.

 

Many records also contain an NPRN (National Primary Record Number). This is simply the unique identification number assigned to that monument within the Coflein database and is useful when searching for further information in archaeological publications.

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If you encounter unfamiliar terminology, remember that many archaeological site types have more than one accepted name. For example, a chambered tomb may also be described as a megalithic tomb, portal dolmen or Neolithic burial monument, depending on its form and the publication being consulted.

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Coflein is particularly powerful when exploring landscapes rather than individual monuments. After finding one site, examine the surrounding area to discover nearby standing stones, cairns, field systems or hillforts that together reveal how prehistoric communities used the landscape.

CADW

While Coflein aims to record every known archaeological site in Wales, Cadw focuses on protecting and interpreting the nation's most significant prehistoric monuments. Its website provides historical background, visitor information and interpretation for many of the best-preserved sites in Wales, making it an ideal companion to the archaeological records found within Coflein.

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Cadw is particularly useful when planning visits. Its monument pages explain why a site is important, how it fits into Welsh prehistory and what features visitors should look for when exploring it. Many entries also include reconstruction illustrations, photographs and downloadable guides that help bring the archaeology to life.

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How to explore prehistoric monuments

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  1. Open the Cadw History Map.

  2. Enter the name of a town, village or area of Wales that you would like to explore. Alternatively, zoom directly into the interactive map.

  3. Filter the results to display Prehistoric monuments. Depending on the area you are exploring, this may include:

    • chambered tombs;

    • standing stones;

    • stone circles;

    • burial cairns;

    • hillforts;

    • prehistoric settlements;

    • defended enclosures.

  4. Select a monument from the map to open its information page.

  5. Begin by reading the historical overview. This usually explains:

    • when the monument was built;

    • who built it;

    • its original purpose;

    • how archaeologists interpret the site today.

  6. Study the photographs and illustrations carefully before visiting. These often highlight archaeological features that are easily overlooked when viewed on the ground.

  7. Read the visitor information, including:

    • directions;

    • parking;

    • public access;

    • opening arrangements;

    • accessibility;

    • nearby Cadw sites.

  8. Explore the surrounding area using the History Map. Many prehistoric monuments survive within larger archaeological landscapes containing several related sites. Visiting multiple monuments in the same area often provides a much clearer understanding of how prehistoric communities used the landscape.

 

Understanding the results

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Unlike Coflein, Cadw does not attempt to record every archaeological site in Wales. Instead, it concentrates on monuments that are considered nationally important and are often protected as Scheduled Monuments.

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Because of this, the information is generally written for a wider audience and focuses on explaining the significance of a site rather than providing detailed archaeological records. This makes Cadw an excellent place to begin if you are unfamiliar with a monument or are planning your first visit.

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Many monument pages also include interpretation drawings or artistic reconstructions. These are particularly valuable for prehistoric sites where little survives above ground today. A low grass-covered mound or an earthwork may once have been an impressive tomb, ceremonial monument or defended settlement, and the reconstructions help visitors visualise how these places originally appeared.

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Cadw also provides context that is often missing from archaeological databases. Rather than describing a monument in isolation, the website frequently explains how it relates to wider developments such as the introduction of farming during the Neolithic, the emergence of metalworking in the Bronze Age or the construction of defended hillforts during the Iron Age.

Castell Henllys Iron Age Village

Archaeological sites rarely survive exactly as they appeared when they were inhabited. Timber buildings decay, thatched roofs disappear and many hillforts are now visible only as earthworks beneath grass or woodland. While excavation records can explain what archaeologists have discovered, they do not always make it easy to imagine how prehistoric communities actually lived.

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Castell Henllys Iron Age Village bridges that gap. Built on the site of a genuine Iron Age hillfort in Pembrokeshire, it is the only reconstructed Iron Age village in Britain located within the original archaeological monument. The buildings have been reconstructed using evidence recovered during archaeological excavations and traditional building techniques, allowing visitors to experience an Iron Age settlement at full scale.

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Rather than replacing the archaeological evidence, Castell Henllys helps visitors understand how that evidence is interpreted.

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How to use Castell Henllys as an archaeological resource

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  1. Begin by exploring the history of Castell Henllys on its website before visiting. Learn when the hillfort was occupied, how it was excavated and why it was chosen for reconstruction.

  2. Study the reconstructed roundhouses and examine how they were built. Pay particular attention to:

    • the circular timber framework;

    • wattle-and-daub walls;

    • thatched roofs;

    • central hearths;

    • storage areas;

    • entrances and internal layout.

  3. Compare the reconstructed buildings with the archaeological evidence displayed on the site. Consider which parts are supported directly by excavation and which represent informed interpretation based upon wider archaeological research.

  4. Explore the hillfort itself. Look beyond the reconstructed buildings and examine the earthwork defences, entrances and overall layout of the settlement within the surrounding landscape.

  5. If possible, attend one of the site's demonstrations or educational events. Activities such as ironworking, weaving, cooking and woodworking help illustrate the technologies and skills that archaeological remains alone cannot fully explain.

 

Comparing Castell Henllys with other Iron Age sites

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Once you have explored Castell Henllys, use Coflein or Cadw to investigate other Iron Age hillforts across Wales.

 

Choose sites such as:

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  • Tre'r Ceiri;

  • Caerau Hillfort;

  • Pen Dinas;

  • Moel y Gaer;

  • Dinas Dinlle.

 

As you explore these monuments, compare them with Castell Henllys by asking:

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  • How large is the hillfort?

  • How many defensive banks and ditches does it possess?

  • Where are the entrances located?

  • Are there visible traces of roundhouses?

  • Why was this particular location chosen?

  • How does the surrounding landscape compare?

 

Although every hillfort is different, many share common features that become much easier to recognise after visiting a reconstructed settlement.

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Understanding the results

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Reconstructions are not exact copies of the past. Archaeologists rarely recover every detail of a prehistoric building, and some elements must be reconstructed using evidence from similar sites elsewhere in Britain and Europe.

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For this reason, it is useful to think of Castell Henllys as an interpretation based upon archaeological evidence rather than a perfect recreation of Iron Age life.

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Its greatest value lies in helping visitors visualise archaeological discoveries. Circular stains in the soil become timber posts, postholes become complete roundhouses and shallow earthworks become thriving prehistoric communities. By combining excavation evidence with experimental archaeology, the site demonstrates how archaeologists transform buried remains into a picture of the past.

DARK-AGE CYMRU

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St. Davids Cathedral

St Davids Cathedral is far more than a medieval cathedral. Its website provides one of the best introductions to the origins of Christianity in Wales, the life of Saint David and the development of the monastery that grew into one of medieval Europe's most important pilgrimage destinations.

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Alongside the history of the cathedral itself, the website explains the traditions surrounding Saint David, the importance of pilgrimage, the early monastic community and the manuscripts that preserve many of the stories from this period. It is an excellent place to begin exploring the religious history of Dark-Age Wales.

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How to investigate early Christianity

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  1. Open the St Davids Cathedral website.

  2. Begin by reading about Saint David, paying particular attention to:

    • his life and traditions;

    • the founding of the monastery;

    • the growth of pilgrimage to St Davids.

  3. Explore the history of the cathedral site. Notice how the present medieval building developed from a much earlier religious community founded during the early medieval period.

  4. Read about pilgrimage and consider why St Davids became one of the most important Christian destinations in western Europe.

  5. Explore the cathedral's collections and articles relating to manuscripts, early Christianity and the history of the Welsh Church.

  6. Compare what you have learned with other early religious centres discussed throughout the Dark-Age Cymru Cycle, including Llanilltud Fawr, Llandaff, Llanbadarn Fawr and Clynnog Fawr.

 

Understanding the results

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Much of what survives at St Davids today is medieval rather than Dark Age. However, the importance of the site lies in its continuity. The cathedral occupies the location of Saint David's monastery, preserving the history of a religious community that influenced Wales for centuries.

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As you explore the website, try to distinguish between the traditions surrounding Saint David and the archaeological or documentary evidence that survives.

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Together, these different sources provide a fuller understanding of the growth of Christianity in Wales.

Celtic Inscribed Stones Project

The Celtic Inscribed Stones Project, developed by University College London, records the early medieval inscribed stones of western Britain. It is one of the most valuable resources available for investigating the memorial stones, crosses and Ogham inscriptions that survive across Wales.

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Many of these monuments date from the fifth to ninth centuries and preserve the names, languages and beliefs of the people who lived during the centuries following the end of Roman rule.

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How to investigate inscribed stones

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  1. Open the Celtic Inscribed Stones Project website.

  2. Browse the interactive map or search for a particular county, town or monument.

  3. Open an individual stone record and examine:

    • photographs;

    • drawings;

    • the original inscription;

    • English translation;

    • archaeological description;

    • references to published research.

  4. Compare Latin inscriptions with Ogham inscriptions. Notice how the two writing systems were used in different regions and by different communities.

  5. Read about the archaeological context of each monument. Some survive within churchyards, while others were discovered in fields, cemeteries or reused within later buildings.

  6. Compare the location of the stone with nearby churches or monasteries using Coflein to understand how these monuments formed part of wider early Christian landscapes.

 

Understanding the results

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Inscribed stones are among the earliest written records produced in Wales after the Roman period. They commemorate individuals, preserve personal names and demonstrate the spread of Christianity across western Britain.

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Many inscriptions are short, but they provide important evidence for language, literacy, family relationships and religious belief during the early medieval period.

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When studying an inscription, look beyond the text itself. Consider where the stone originally stood, who commissioned it and what it reveals about the community that created it. Comparing several stones from different parts of Wales often reveals regional differences in language, decoration and religious practice.

Coflein

While the previous resources focus on early Christianity and inscribed stones, Coflein allows you to explore the wider archaeological landscape of Roman and early medieval Wales.

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Unlike the Ancient Cymru Cycle, where Coflein is particularly useful for finding prehistoric monuments, here it becomes a tool for investigating the churches, monasteries and royal centres that shaped post-Roman Wales. Many of these sites have remained in continuous use for over a thousand years, meaning their earliest history is often preserved beneath later buildings.

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How to investigate Roman and early medieval archaeology

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  1. Open the Coflein website and select Advanced Search.

  2. Under Period, choose either Roman or Early Medieval.

  3. Rather than searching for prehistoric monument types, investigate sites such as:

    • churches;

    • monasteries;

    • ecclesiastical enclosures;

    • holy wells;

    • inscribed stones;

    • Roman forts;

    • Roman roads;

    • royal courts (llys).

  4. Open the archaeological record and read the description carefully. Much of the earliest evidence survives beneath later churches or settlements and is explained within the written interpretation rather than the photographs.

  5. Explore the interactive map to identify nearby Roman and early medieval sites. Following Roman roads, river crossings and valleys often reveals how later communities developed within earlier landscapes.

  6. Compare archaeological records with the information found through the St Davids Cathedral website and the Celtic Inscribed Stones Project. Together, these resources help connect documentary traditions, carved monuments and archaeological evidence.

 

Understanding the results

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The Roman and early medieval periods are closely connected. Roman forts were abandoned or reused, new churches were established and kingdoms emerged within landscapes already shaped by centuries of Roman occupation.

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When reading a Coflein record, look for references to:

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  • Roman occupation;

  • post-Roman reuse;

  • early Christian foundations;

  • ecclesiastical enclosures;

  • inscribed stones;

  • evidence for successive phases of occupation.

 

Rather than studying individual sites in isolation, compare Roman and early medieval monuments within the same area. This helps reveal how Wales evolved from a Roman province into a landscape of churches, monasteries and emerging Welsh kingdoms.

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Coflein is an invaluable resource throughout The Cymru Cycles. Its database records monuments and historic buildings from every period of Welsh history, including prehistoric tombs and hillforts, medieval castles and monasteries, Tudor houses, industrial mines and railways, and even twentieth-century military sites.

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The search techniques introduced in the Ancient and Dark-Age Cymru Cycles can be applied throughout the website. Simply change the Period and Monument Type filters to investigate different chapters of Welsh history. As your knowledge grows, Coflein becomes one of the most powerful tools available for exploring the landscapes, archaeology and built heritage of Wales.

MEDIEVAL CYMRU

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Monastic Wales

Monastic Wales is one of the most comprehensive online resources dedicated to the monasteries of medieval Wales. It brings together detailed histories, archaeological plans, photographs and historical research for abbeys, priories and friaries throughout the country.

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Rather than simply describing individual buildings, the website explains why each monastery was founded, which religious order occupied it, who supported it and how it influenced the surrounding landscape.

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How to investigate medieval monasteries

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  1. Open the Monastic Wales website.

  2. Browse the interactive map or search by county, monastery name or religious order.

  3. Open an individual monastery page and examine:

    • the foundation date;

    • the founder or patron;

    • the religious order;

    • the site's history;

    • architectural plans;

    • photographs;

    • suggested further reading.

  4. Compare monasteries belonging to different religious orders, including:

    • Cistercians;

    • Benedictines;

    • Augustinians;

    • Franciscans;

    • Dominicans.

  5. Notice how their locations differ. Cistercian abbeys were often established in remote valleys where they could develop large agricultural estates, while friaries were usually founded within medieval towns to serve growing urban communities.

  6. Compare several monasteries across Wales and consider how geography, patronage and politics influenced their development.

 

Understanding the results

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Every monastery tells a different story.

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When reading a monastery record, ask yourself:

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  • Why was the monastery founded?

  • Which ruler, prince or noble family supported it?

  • Which religious order lived there?

  • How did the monastery make its living?

  • What survives today?

 

Rather than viewing monasteries simply as places of worship, think of them as centres of education, administration, farming, craftsmanship and political influence.

 

Comparing different religious orders reveals how varied medieval monastic life could be across Wales.

Castle Studies Trust

The Castle Studies Trust supports archaeological research into castles throughout Britain, publishing excavation reports, digital reconstructions and articles explaining how castles developed over time. Its work goes beyond visitor interpretation, demonstrating how archaeologists investigate medieval fortifications and reconstruct buildings that no longer survive.

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The Trust's projects combine historical records, excavation evidence and modern technology to answer questions about castle construction, defence and daily life.

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How to investigate medieval castles

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  1. Open the Castle Studies Trust website.

  2. Browse recent research projects or search for a particular Welsh castle.

  3. Begin by reading the project summary before exploring the accompanying reports and illustrations.

  4. Examine:

    • archaeological plans;

    • reconstruction drawings;

    • excavation photographs;

    • drone imagery;

    • architectural analysis.

  5. Compare castles from different periods, including:

    • native Welsh castles;

    • Norman castles;

    • Edwardian castles.

  6. Consider how castle design changed through time. Compare:

    • defensive walls;

    • gatehouses;

    • towers;

    • great halls;

    • domestic accommodation;

    • service buildings.

 

Understanding the results

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Castles were continually altered throughout the medieval period. They expanded, adapted and changed ownership as military technology and political circumstances evolved.

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The Castle Studies Trust explains how archaeologists identify these different building phases and reconstruct structures that have disappeared. Rather than viewing castles as static monuments, you begin to see them as places that evolved over generations.

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When comparing different castles, remember that they were built for different purposes. Some controlled frontiers, others served as royal residences, administrative centres or symbols of lordly authority. Understanding these differences helps explain why no two castles are exactly alike.

Tretower Court and Castle

While castles often dominate our image of the Middle Ages, most members of the Welsh gentry lived in manor houses rather than great fortresses. Tretower Court and Castle provides one of the finest opportunities to understand this aspect of medieval society.

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Located near Crickhowell, Tretower combines the remains of a Norman castle with one of Britain's best-preserved medieval manor houses. Carefully restored interiors allow visitors to experience domestic life during the fifteenth century, illustrating how noble families lived, worked and entertained within a medieval household.

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How to investigate medieval daily life

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  1. Begin by exploring the history of Tretower Court and Castle on the Cadw website before visiting.

  2. As you walk through the manor house, pay particular attention to:

    • the great hall;

    • private chambers;

    • kitchens;

    • service rooms;

    • gardens;

    • defensive features.

  3. Compare the manor house with the adjoining castle. Consider how their functions differed. One served primarily as a fortified residence, while the other became a comfortable home for a wealthy family.

  4. Think about how the building reflects medieval society. Ask yourself:

    • How were servants and household members organised?

    • Where did the lord receive guests?

    • Which rooms were public and which were private?

    • How did the household prepare food and manage daily life?

  5. If possible, attend one of the site's living-history events or demonstrations. These often include medieval crafts, cooking, combat, music and domestic activities that help bring the archaeological evidence to life.

 

Understanding the results

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Unlike many ruined castles, Tretower allows visitors to experience a medieval building as a functioning home rather than simply as an archaeological monument.

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The restored interiors demonstrate that medieval architecture was not only about defence. Comfort, hospitality, administration and family life were equally important parts of a noble household.

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As you explore the manor house, compare what you see with the castles discussed throughout the Medieval Cymru Cycle. Consider how the lives of princes, marcher lords, monks, merchants and landed gentry differed, and how each group shaped the medieval landscape of Wales.

TUDOR CYMRU

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National Library of Wales

The National Library of Wales holds one of the world's most important collections relating to Welsh history. Its online collections include manuscripts, maps, books, estate records, paintings, photographs and many thousands of digitised documents, making it an essential starting point for anyone researching Tudor Wales.

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Rather than focusing on archaeological remains, the Library allows you to investigate the people, places and events recorded by those who lived during or shortly after the Tudor period.

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How to investigate Tudor Wales

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  1. Open the National Library of Wales website.

  2. Begin by using the main search function. Rather than searching broadly for "Tudor Wales", search for:

    • a place;

    • a family;

    • a monastery;

    • an individual;

    • or a specific historical event.

  3. Useful searches include:

    • Acts of Union;

    • Dissolution of the Monasteries;

    • Council of Wales and the Marches;

    • Herbert family;

    • Vaughan family;

    • Wynn family;

    • St Davids;

    • Denbigh;

    • Carmarthen;

    • Pembroke.

  4. Explore the different collection types. Depending on your search, you may discover:

    • manuscripts;

    • historic maps;

    • estate papers;

    • illustrations;

    • rare printed books;

    • letters;

    • family archives.

  5. Read the accompanying catalogue descriptions carefully. These often explain when a document was created, who produced it and why it is historically important.

  6. If you discover an unfamiliar person or place, make a note of it and investigate it further through Archives Wales or People's Collection Wales.

 

Understanding the results

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Many Tudor documents were not written for historians. They were created for practical purposes such as administering estates, recording legal disputes, collecting taxes or managing government.

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When reading a catalogue entry, ask yourself:

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  • Who created this document?

  • Why was it written?

  • Who was expected to read it?

  • What does it reveal about life in Tudor Wales?

 

Individual documents often tell only part of the story. Comparing several records from different collections usually provides a much broader understanding of the people and communities being studied.

Archives Wales

While the National Library preserves nationally significant collections, many original Tudor records remain within local archive services throughout Wales. Archives Wales provides a single search portal allowing visitors to explore the catalogues of county and regional archives from across the country.

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This makes it one of the best resources for investigating the history of a particular place, family or community.

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How to investigate local history

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  1. Open the Archives Wales website.

  2. Enter the name of the town, village or parish you wish to investigate.

  3. You can also search for:

    • family names;

    • churches;

    • manor houses;

    • estates;

    • monasteries;

    • local officials.

  4. Browse the catalogue results and note the different archive services holding relevant material.

  5. Look for collections such as:

    • estate papers;

    • parish records;

    • deeds;

    • wills;

    • court records;

    • manorial documents;

    • family collections.

  6. Read the catalogue descriptions carefully. Even if documents have not been digitised, the catalogue often explains their contents, dates and historical significance.

  7. If a collection is particularly relevant to your research, follow the link to the holding archive to learn how the material can be viewed or requested.

 

Understanding the results

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Unlike online articles, archive catalogues describe original historical documents rather than interpreting them.

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Many catalogue entries are brief, but they often contain valuable clues about the survival of local records. A single estate collection may include hundreds of years of correspondence, financial accounts, maps and legal papers relating to one part of Wales.

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Searching by place rather than historical period often produces the best results, as Tudor documents are usually catalogued within wider family or estate collections.

People's Collection Wales

People's Collection Wales brings together photographs, documents, memories, recordings and local history contributed by museums, archives, community organisations and members of the public. Although much of the material is later than the Tudor period, it provides valuable context for understanding how Tudor buildings, landscapes and traditions survived into more recent centuries.

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It is particularly useful for exploring the history of individual towns, villages and historic buildings.

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How to investigate local heritage

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  1. Open the People's Collection Wales website.

  2. Search using the name of a place rather than simply "Tudor".

  3. Useful searches include:

    • historic houses;

    • churches;

    • market towns;

    • castles;

    • bridges;

    • manor houses;

    • local families.

  4. Browse photographs, articles and community collections relating to your chosen location.

  5. Compare modern photographs with older images to see how buildings and landscapes have changed over time.

  6. Use the references provided within articles to identify additional sources, museums and local history organisations.

 

Understanding the results

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People's Collection Wales often tells the local stories that are absent from national histories.

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Rather than concentrating on kings or major political events, it highlights the history of individual communities, buildings and landscapes. Many Tudor buildings continued to evolve over later centuries, and these collections help trace that development through photographs, local research and community knowledge.

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When using the website, remember that the most rewarding approach is often to investigate a particular place. Searching for a town or village frequently reveals connections between historic buildings, local archives and surviving Tudor heritage that would be difficult to discover elsewhere.

INDUSTRIAL CYMRU

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Welsh Mines Society

The Welsh Mines Society is dedicated to researching and preserving the non-coal mining heritage of Wales. Its publications and online resources cover the country's rich history of copper, lead, zinc, silver and gold mining, together with the geology that made these industries possible.

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It is particularly valuable because it highlights industries that are often overshadowed by Wales's coalfields.

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How to investigate Welsh mining

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  1. Open the Welsh Mines Society website.

  2. Browse the list of mining districts or search for a particular mine.

  3. Explore information relating to:

    • copper mines;

    • lead mines;

    • zinc mines;

    • gold mines;

    • mineral processing;

    • mining technology.

  4. Read the historical summaries and examine site photographs.

  5. Compare different mining regions across Wales and consider how local geology influenced the minerals that were extracted.

  6. If visiting a former mine, compare the site's geology with the information provided in the British Geological Survey Geology Viewer introduced in the Natural Cymru Cycle.

 

Understanding the results

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Every mining district developed because of its underlying geology.

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As you explore the Society's resources, consider:

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  • Which minerals were extracted?

  • Why did mining develop in this location?

  • How was the ore processed?

  • What remains of the mine today?

 

Comparing different mining districts quickly reveals the remarkable diversity of Wales's mineral industries beyond coal.

National Slate Museum

Located within the former Dinorwig Quarry workshops at Llanberis, the National Slate Museum preserves one of the world's most important industrial heritage sites. Its collections explain how slate was quarried, processed and transported, while demonstrating the skills that made Welsh slate famous across the globe.

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The museum combines preserved machinery with reconstructed workshops, historic buildings and demonstrations of traditional slate splitting.

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How to investigate the slate industry

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  1. Explore the National Slate Museum website before visiting.

  2. Learn about the development of the Welsh slate industry and the importance of quarries such as Dinorwig and Penrhyn.

  3. During your visit, examine:

    • water-powered machinery;

    • engineering workshops;

    • slate splitting demonstrations;

    • quarry transport;

    • workers' facilities.

  4. Compare the different stages of slate production, from extraction within the quarry to the finished roofing slate.

  5. Consider how the slate industry shaped the surrounding communities, language and culture of northwest Wales.

 

Understanding the results

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The slate industry depended upon a combination of geology, engineering and skilled craftsmanship.

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When exploring the museum, think about how each stage of production required different skills and technologies. The surviving workshops demonstrate that quarrying involved far more than simply removing rock from the mountainside—it required complex engineering, transport systems and highly specialised workers.

Big Pit National Coal Museum

Big Pit preserves one of Wales's historic coal mines and provides one of the world's most authentic introductions to underground mining. Guided by former miners, visitors descend into the original workings to experience the conditions in which generations of Welsh miners worked.

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The museum also explores the technological, social and economic importance of coal within industrial Wales.

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How to investigate the coal industry

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  1. Explore the Big Pit National Coal Museum website before visiting.

  2. Learn about the history of the South Wales Coalfield and the development of deep coal mining.

  3. During your visit, take the underground tour to experience:

    • mine roadways;

    • coal seams;

    • ventilation systems;

    • safety equipment;

    • working conditions.

  4. Visit the surface exhibitions to examine:

    • mining machinery;

    • miners' equipment;

    • rescue technology;

    • historical photographs;

    • personal stories.

  5. Compare these exhibits with the photographs and oral histories found on People's Collection Wales.

 

Understanding the results

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Coal mining transformed Wales economically, socially and politically.

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The museum demonstrates not only the engineering required to extract coal but also the risks faced by miners and the close-knit communities that developed around the collieries.

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Listening to former miners explain their experiences provides a perspective that cannot be gained from written records alone.

National Wool Museum

The National Wool Museum tells the story of one of Wales's oldest and most widespread industries. Long before coal and steel dominated the Welsh economy, woollen cloth was produced in towns and villages across the country. During the Industrial Revolution, water-powered spinning and weaving transformed this traditional craft into a major rural industry, supplying blankets, flannel and woven fabrics to customers throughout Britain and beyond.

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Located within the former Cambrian Mills at Dre-fach Felindre, the museum preserves original machinery alongside demonstrations of traditional textile production. It provides an excellent introduction to the technology, craftsmanship and communities that shaped the Welsh woollen industry.

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How to investigate the textile industry

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  1. Explore the National Wool Museum website before visiting to learn about the history of wool production in Wales.

  2. Discover how raw fleece was transformed into finished cloth by following each stage of production:

    • sheep farming;

    • washing and carding;

    • spinning;

    • dyeing;

    • weaving;

    • finishing.

  3. During your visit, observe the restored machinery and working looms. Notice how water power was used to drive many of the machines within the mill.

  4. Compare hand production with mechanised manufacturing. Consider how industrial machinery increased production while changing the nature of work within Welsh communities.

  5. Explore the exhibitions explaining the lives of mill owners, skilled weavers and factory workers, together with the growth of the rural textile industry across west and mid Wales.

  6. Compare what you learn with nearby woollen mills, fulling mills and former textile communities using People's Collection Wales to understand how the industry shaped individual towns and villages.

 

Understanding the results

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Unlike coal mining or slate quarrying, the woollen industry depended upon transforming a renewable agricultural resource into finished products. Success relied not only on machinery but also on generations of highly skilled craftspeople whose knowledge was passed down through families and communities.

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As you explore the museum, consider:

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  • Why did textile mills develop beside fast-flowing rivers?

  • How did water power transform production?

  • What skills remained dependent on hand craftsmanship?

  • How did textile mills influence the growth of surrounding villages?

  • Why did many mills decline during the twentieth century?

 

The National Wool Museum demonstrates that industrial Wales was far more diverse than its mines and quarries alone. By preserving both the machinery and the stories of the people who operated it, the museum provides an invaluable insight into one of the industries that clothed Wales and the wider world for centuries.

Rail Map Online

Industrial Wales depended upon an extensive network of railways, tramroads and canals that connected mines, quarries, ironworks and ports. Although many of these routes have disappeared from the modern landscape, Rail Map Online allows visitors to rediscover them.

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Its interactive maps are particularly useful for understanding how industrial sites were connected and why particular industries developed in certain locations.

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How to investigate industrial transport

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  1. Open Rail Map Online.

  2. Search for the area you wish to investigate.

  3. Turn on layers showing:

    • dismantled railways;

    • mineral railways;

    • tramroads;

    • stations;

    • canals.

  4. Follow individual routes across the landscape and identify the industries they once served.

  5. Compare the historic railway network with modern satellite imagery using Google Maps or Google Earth.

  6. Look for surviving features such as:

    • embankments;

    • cuttings;

    • bridges;

    • tunnels;

    • inclines;

    • former station buildings.

 

Understanding the results

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Many industrial landscapes only make sense when viewed alongside their transport networks.

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A quarry, colliery or ironworks rarely existed in isolation. Railways and canals connected these industries to ports, towns and international markets.

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Comparing historic transport routes with today's landscape often reveals how industrial Wales was organised and explains why many settlements developed where they did.

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