When you think of a witch, what comes to mind? Green skin? Pointy Hat? Broomstick? Black cat? These are all iconic characteristics of ‘witches’ as we have come to know them in twenty-first-century popular culture, but in the Early Modern period the word ‘witch’ meant something else. The existence of witches was feared throughout the…
welsh history
Historygram – The Best Instagram Accounts for Welsh History
Lockdown has been a great opportunity to revisit some of the old features on the Hisdoryan blog. While reviewing my old Historygram posts, I was shocked to discover I hadn’t written about the great Welsh history Instagram accounts out there. So if you fancy touring historical Wales through the medium of social media during lockdown, follow…
Guest Post – Taffs Well Thermal Spring
Long-time followers of the Hisdoryan blog will know that I love my Welsh history – it’s what I studied at university. So I’m really pleased to welcome my friend and fellow blogger Katrina from Real Girls Wobble to talk about some of her local Welsh history – and learn a few new things along the…
My Top 7 Welsh History Books
It’s the most common question I get asked by my followers – what Welsh history books would you recommend? I am flattered to be asked! And always so happy that someone wants to learn more about Welsh history! So here’s my roundup of my personal favourite Welsh history books. I have purposely shied away from…
Chirk Castle – An Underrated Gem
Chirk Castle isn’t your ordinary Welsh castle. In the late 13th Century Edward I started building many castles in North Wales to consolidate his conquest. Today most of them are empty shells, where you have to use your imagination to conjure up the furniture and people that once filled the walls. But not Chirk. Chirk…
Review: Women’s Suffrage in Wales by Lisa Tippings
The stars have aligned on the Hisdoryan blog. It’s officially Women’s History Month. It’s also Welsh History Month on the blog. And I’ve just finished reading Women’s Suffrage in Wales by Lisa Tipping. The timing is perfect for a review. I’ve always been into Women’s History, and I’m so glad the field of study is…
10 Welsh Women That Changed The World
If you live in Wales you cannot have missed the fact that this past week the BBC have (quite rightly) been celebrating Hidden Heroines – the monumental Welsh women largely forgotten to history whose incredible achievements helped shape modern Wales. There is a reason for this celebration. There is currently no outdoor statue of a…
My Top 8 Welsh Churches
Wales is a country full of chapels and churches. Our places of worship are often sited in wild, remote, sacred and utterly beautiful landscapes, much like their Celtic Christian ancestors. Throughout my study of Welsh History at university, it became clear to me that this ‘remoteness’ and being on the periphery of England has resulted in Wales maintaining…
The Crooked Church – St Martin’s Church, Cwmyoy
If you go down to the Black Mountains today, you’re in for a big surprise. Most people will head straight for either imposing Llanthony Priory in its picturesque setting, or the nearby Church of St Issui at Partishow with its famous wall paintings. However, there is a hidden treasure of a church that tops them all…
Saint Fagans National Museum of History – Part 2
Welcome back to the second part of my blog post about fabulous Saint Fagans – the UK’s first ever open-air museum, situated near Cardiff in Wales. The first blog post featured my personal favourites out of the wonderful collection of shops, industrial buildings and places of worship you can explore at Saint Fagans. I would…