On July 1st 1826, Telford's Conwy Suspension Bridge was opened.
It was one of the first road suspension bridges in the world, replacing the ferry at the same point and at the time, was the only crossing of the river, and was consequently the only way to access the ferry that leaves for Ireland. The bridge is located close to Conwy Castle and therefore, Telford matched the bridge's supporting towers with the castle's turrets.
The Treachery of the Blue Books. On this day 1847, the infamous 'Blue Books' a report on the state of education in Wales were presented to the Government.
A public enquiry was carried out as a result of pressure from Welshman William Williams, MP for Coventry, who was concerned about the state of education in Wales. The enquiry was carried out by three Englishmen, R.R.W Lingen, Jellynger. C. Symons and H. R. Vaughan Johnson, who met to discuss their findings at The Lion Hotel in Builth Wells. Because none of them spoke Welsh, they relied on the information of witnesses, mostly Anglican clergymen at a time when Wales was mostly Nonconformist.
The report concluded; * That schools in Wales were extremely inadequate. * That teachers should only speak English in areas where children only spoke Welsh. * Welsh speaking children had to rely on the Nonconformist Sunday Schools to acquire literacy. * That the Welsh were ignorant, lazy and immoral as a result of the use of Welsh and Nonconformity.
There was a furious reaction in Wales where they were referred to as “Brad Y Llyfrau Gleision” The Treachery of the Blue Books and they are thought to have been instrumental in the birth of the modern Welsh self-government movement. Saunders Lewis suggested that they were “the most important nineteenth century historical document we possess”
… Brad y Llyfrau Gleision. Ar y diwrnod hwn 1847, cyflwynwyd y 'Llyfrau Gleision' drwg-enwog, adroddiad ar gyflwr addysg yng Nghymru, i'r Llywodraeth.
Cynhaliwyd ymchwiliad cyhoeddus o ganlyniad i bwysau gan y Cymro William Williams, AS Coventry, a oedd yn bryderus am gyflwr addysg yng Nghymru. Cynhaliwyd yr ymchwiliad gan dri Sais, R.R.W Lingen, Jellynger, C. Symons a H. R. Vaughan Johnson, a gyfarfu i drafod eu canfyddiadau yng Ngwesty'r Llew yn Llanfair-ym-Muallt. Gan nad oedd yr un ohonynt yn siarad Cymraeg, roeddent yn dibynnu ar wybodaeth tystion, clerigwyr Anglicanaidd yn bennaf ar adeg pan oedd Cymru'n Anghydffurfiol yn bennaf.
Daeth yr adroddiad i'r casgliad;
* Bod ysgolion yng Nghymru yn hynod o annigonol. * Y dylai athrawon siarad Saesneg yn unig mewn ardaloedd lle'r oedd plant yn siarad Cymraeg yn unig. * Roedd yn rhaid i blant sy'n siarad Cymraeg ddibynnu ar Ysgolion Sul yr Anghydffurfwyr i gaffael llythrennedd. * Bod y Cymry yn anwybodus, yn ddiog ac yn anfoesol o ganlyniad i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg ac Anghydffurfiaeth.
Bu ymateb ffyrnig yng Nghymru lle cyfeiriwyd atynt fel “Brad Y Llyfrau Gleision” Brad y Llyfrau Gleision a chredir eu bod wedi bod yn allweddol yng ngenedigaeth mudiad hunanlywodraeth fodern Cymru. Awgrymodd Saunders Lewis mai nhw oedd “y ddogfen hanesyddol bwysicaf o’r bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg sydd gennym” …
On July 1st 1780, Anthony Bacon acquired the lease of the Hirwaun ironworks.
The Ironworks at Hirwaun near Aberdare was founded by John Mayberry in 1757, but its profit and renown began when the entrepreneur Anthony Bacon acquired government contracts to supply weapons and ammunition in 1780.
On 1st July 1941, 35 people were killed and 46 were injured when huge parachuted land mines fell on the Maindee area of Newport. Alfred Searle, a local solicitor and his housekeeper were among the fatalities when his house 'Gaerwood' suffered a direct hit.
King Charles's investiture as Prince of Wales took place at Caernarfon Castle on 1st July 1969 although he had been created Prince of Wales on 26 July 1958. Prince Charles spent ten weeks leading up to his Investiture learning about Welsh culture and language and during the ceremony he gave his replies in both English and Welsh. The investiture was watched by millions on TV and attracted large and excited crowds in Caernarfon. The Welsh borough of Swansea was granted city status to mark the occasion.
However, the ceremony also aroused considerable controversy. Many Welsh people saw it as being associated with the subjugation of the Welsh people in the 13th century, when Llywelyn ap Gruffudd was deposed of the title by Edward l of England.
We had the day off school,got a mug and a book of poetry.
1968 John Lennon's first full art exhibition "You Are Here" opens at Robert Fraser Gallery in London
1969 John Lennon and Yoko Ono are admitted to hospital after he crashes his car near Durness in the Scottish Highlands
Does the spelling of Wales and Welsh in their own language depend on the context or a grammar rule? I've noticed elsewhere (perhaps on road signs!) both Cymru and Gymru, and now you show us Nghymru as well.
@ArishMell the famous Mutations…designed to make things easier to say. yng Nghymru is a nasal mutation. Where Cymru becomes Gymru that’s a soft mutation
