Guide to the Curriculum Cymreig -- Welsh History
The following links will direct teachers to internet resources within Wales on the Web that may be of use to the teaching of the Curriculum Cymreig and to schools in general. Many websites include material that are created for use in schools or have facilities that cater for school visits. These websites have an education icon at the bottom of the resource description.
Websites that do not have an education icon also contain valuable educational material. Even though they do not contain material created specifically for schools, they could still make a great contribution to the provision of the Curriculum Cymreig both in primary and secondary schools in Wales. It is especially useful for those looking for material relating to Wales that can be used in their teaching. This page also contain links to relevant sections of NGFL Cymru.
Visit our guides on local history or historical periods for an overview of educational material relating to Welsh history
Links within Wales on the Web relating to Welsh history include:
- Historical periods
For resources covering all periods in Welsh history such as Celtic and Roman period. There are also many resources on the two World Wars within this section. - Local history
Wales on the Web has hundreds of quality websites relating to history in your local area. - Organisations
For resources such as the National Museum and Galleries of Wales, National Library of Wales, Cadw, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales and History Forum for Wales. - Exhibitions
Many online exhibitions exist in Wales such as from the National Library of Wales. They include Campaign! (looking at a century of political and social campaigning in Wales), Illingworth Cartoons (many political cartoons from the famous cartoonist), David Lloyd George and Celtic Voices (containing a variety of resources relating the Celtic Languages.) - Education : comprehensive works
For resources with a plethora of educational information on history from Welsh organisations. Includes competitions for schools such as the Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative. - Archaeology
Many archaeological websites are listed here including CARN and Coflein databases from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales. - Castles
Wales is often known as land of the Castles. This section contains castle websites in Wales including the excellent Castles of Wales website and the Channel 4 educational resources on Caernarfon, Caerphilly and Raglan. The section also includes resources on Iron Age Hill Forts such as Castell Henllys. - Historic buildings
For resources on Margam Park (Neath Port Talbot) and Tredegar House (Newport) and many other famous buildings in Wales. Also, contains links to BBC Restoration series and associated websites such as Newbridge Memo or the S4C's website on y Tŷ Cymreig (The Welsh House). - Family history/geneology
For a wide variety of family history websites. - Biography
For biographies of scientists, sportsmen and women, politicians, composers, singers, artists, authors and actors. Also, links to more general resources on famous Welshmen and women such as 100 Welsh Heroes and Welsh Biography Online. - The coal industry
Mining dominated life in the Welsh Coalfield. Many resources exist looking at mining, its disasters, strikes and social life during this period. Resources include Cwm: Coalfied Web Materials and the Gathering the Jewels resource on the Senghennydd Disaster. - The slate industry
Slate mining dominated life in north Wales. Listed is the Slateside resource looking at industry and its effect on social life in the area. - Museums
For resources on museums in general or in your local area.
History teaching material within NGFL Cymru
Recommended websites covering all aspects of Welsh history include:
- Gathering the Jewels is a collection of images of Welsh life, illustrating the natural and social history of Wales throughout the ages. Contents of images include historic letters, paintings, artefacts and photographs, gathered from museums, libraries, record offices and archives throughout Wales.
- BBC Wales History presents the history of Wales from 24,000 BC to the modern day. The website contains a wealth of material on all aspects of Welsh history.
- Celticinfo.com contains information on travel, history and tradition, language and literature, castles, politics as well a whole range of interesting facts and figures about Wales. It also has online access to Peter Williams' Brief History of Wales from pre-Roman times to the Devolution Referendum of 1997.