91Èȱ¬

Just caught up with first show & absolutely loved it, great job, da iawn!; so proud of our history. Can anyone tell me where the waterfall is (section of the show where Huw talks about King Arthur and Merlin?).

I want to thank everybody who has helped to make this wonderful series. I am thoroughly enjoying the story and I am really looking forward to the next chapter. I have learned so much already and it has made me eager to learn more. Our family spend every summer exploring Welsh castles and we are always looking for a clear explanation of their history. The Story Of Wales is the most enjoyable and exciting telling of our nation's past that has ever been told. Also, the camera work captures the breathtaking beauty of Wales idyllically. Thank you all.

(I posted this on the wrong page earlier. Apologies for a repeat post)

NatalieTH,

Thanks for your positive comments. The fantastic waterfall featured in episode one of The Story of Wales is called Sgwd Yr Eira Falls (Fall of Snow), and is in Ystradfellte, Powys.

Wales History

is the series coming to dvd

Although a well presented program some facts were misleading. Caractacus was not a Welshman but a leader of a either the Trinovantes or Cantuvellauni who came from the east of what is now England. Is this the Welsh version of Braveheart?

Excellent Huw , I have only watched the 1st one and I find it really interesting. Got the right bloke to present which is always a plus ! Da Iawn !

Excellent series Huw...when is it due to be shown on a UK wide channel? I think the Neil Oliver 'History of Scotland' series was shown on 91Èȱ¬ 2 in England and given the average English person's woeful ignorance of Welsh history surely this merits similar treatment?

To reiterate whats already been said, a great series that should be told UK wide. Will the series be issued on DVD, I hope so?

Hi David,

Thanks for your comment. We're hoping that The Story of Wales will be shown on network this year. Can't say when though.

Wales History

Fascinating series, beautifully produced, superbly written,presented and filmed. The 91Èȱ¬ at its very best. Clear, informative,humourous and with excellent pace and level of detail. A remarkable story of a wonderful place.

Very much looking forward to catching this evening's episode on iPlayer shortly, seeing as I'm over the border and can't receive direct. The story of Welsh coal had major impact on my family history, as it must have done to many. I've enjoyed the series to date.

Just watched tonights programme - what a load of south Walian bias! No mention of Gresford or the huge losses in ne Wales or the real cost of slate and the demise of north Wales communities. Very disappointed with very poor research!

Excellent series Huw. Why wasn't I taught this in school? I loved it and made me feel even more proud to be Welsh. When is this coming out on DVD?

This is an excellent series. But I have one complaint...in a 6 hour series on the history of Wales, how come there is not room for the Welsh revival in 1904 ?. This affected the world; let alone Wales !. How come there was not even a mention of Evan Roberts ?. Families and towns were changed by this. Surely this is part of the nations history ?. We still sing "bread of heaven" at the rugby !. Are we so concerned about not offending non-Christians ?. Despite this criticism, it's still a great series.

A great but too quick review of the history. I met John Gower the writer of The Story of Wales and then read the book. Unfortunately TV always soundbites the deep and meaningful. So start again or make a Wels Downton Abbey. I suggest David Edwards book, The Ebb & Flow. Historical, scenic, Georgian, dangerous and enticing.

I belong to a South Wales mining forum, where the series has brought some comment about the factual mining history to say the least, you may wish to see it;

An excellent series, just seen in England on the iPlayer. But I was both puzzled and surprised at the portrayal of the importance of sea-links with other Celtic countries as new information, with an interview with a professor to emphasise the point, the new outlook. Professor E.G. Bowen's long-standing "Saints Seaways and Settlements in the Celtic Lands" is a classic work on this very topic, presented in a vivid way through well-researched maps which would lend themselves to an excellent presentation on television. Are presenters and scholars not aware of the extensive, exciting, research carried out by Professor Bowen of The University of Wales, Aberystwyth, in this very field?
Please bring out a DVD!

Very interesting and watch-able series. But why the obsessive use of the present tense in all the narrative to describe historical events? I find this distracting and irritating trait all too prevalent in recent programmes and the way in which many historians seem to talk. Is it all part of dumbing down to make history more engaging to the masses? Or is it the American influence? Either way, I think it's unnecessary.

As an expat living amongst the heathen English for 25 years I really enjoyed this series Hugh was great-good to see him outside the newsroom! Lets have more of his patriotic documentaries.

Great Series. There is so much scope for a follow on about unknown Welshmen. How about Timothy Richard who established the first western university in Cina - still going strong- established the world's first international famine relief organisation, introduced modern medical practises to China & tried to establish the industrial revolution there in the 1860's. Huw can get all the info he needs from the book titled "Tim China"

Great program spoiled by some inacuracies, at the time in history Huw Edwards was talking about there was no place called Wales or Scotland or England, just Britain populated by various tribes, wales didn't exist until around the 1500's, although there was a principality in the 1200's

Well done to 91Èȱ¬ and well done to Huw for the excellent presentation.

Loving your presentation of the history of Wales! Pitched perfectly, factual, fascinating, interesting, just the right amount of CGI to enhance the facts and not distract, unlike Andrew Marr's History of the World which is slow and seems to be pitched at a primary school level with over used reconstruction and CGI completely distracting from relating the story. Well done Hugh! Hope you receive the alcolades you deserve!

An excellent series.
rsvgp, I think you'll find that Huw commented that Caradoc (Caractacus) was a Brython (Briton) for in those days of Roman occupation there were no Welsh and there was no Wales. The country was called Wales by the Saxons. The modern English word is a corruption of the Saxon word "walas" which meant a non-Saxon or foreigner. Valais in Switzerland stems from the same root. In modern German a citizen of Wales and Valais is called a Waliser.

My parents lived for a short time at Hendre Bolon in 1930 a smallholding near the Hepste falls and this is marked on the O.S. map. Then moved to live at Hendrefydd, also on the map. Wild goats were seen on the mountain near Ystrad fellte and was told they had escaped from drovers on way to market.I attended the new school built 1930 ? named after a local poet at Pontneathvaughan , Pontneddfechan,now closed for lack of pupils I am told.We visited a popular picnic site Dinas Rock where stood a carved stone chair called Arthur's seat. Then to a small farm at Tycroes Carmarthenshire in 1933 where I soon learnt to speak Welsh as most children did and were bi-lingual . Lessons were given in English with translations to help. Recommend a book by George Borrow " Wild Wales"

This programme is a brilliant insight into the Welsh story. And much credit goes to Huw Edwards whose knowledge, credibility and enthusiasm ensure it is exactly what it should be - and emotional, committed roist through the pages of an amazing story. My few years living and working in Wales and with the Welsh were great fun and I am so pleased that this is not some dry, dusty chronology. Thanks you all.

Great programme tonight.. having recently researched my family history and found ancestors who moved from rural Carmarthenshire in the early 1800's to the industrial Tawe valley - in particular
the Tin works in Pontardawe - this struck a chord. Diolwch yn fawr Huw!

The show is by far the best historical programme ever made.I love Wales and love to visit historical sites and have found I have many more to visit after watchingnthis programme. The programme is put accross in the most brilliant way and is great for children to have a clear understanding of the vital history of Wales and how the country was shaped from the very start. Huw Edwards and in deed the entire team working on this are sure to get awards, and it will do wonders for the tourism of wales. it is worth pointing out that the Caractacus issue (lets say) can in no way be regarded as a mistake (many of my freinds have asked) or as misleading. True Caractacus was a King of britain and was part of the Cantuvellauni, however it is worth remembering he was born c 10 AD, and many british legends of him are shall we say hazy and he went in to the Welsh legends more than those of Britain. Most historical facts of an age so long ago can be taken many ways and it is true to say that he may well have gone for many a wander over the welsh borders as he made the trip to Rome on at least one. Sorry for the ramble there and cant wait to buy the DVD. WELL DONE......

I am not Welsh but I am enjoying the programme very much.

One question, what is the music accompanying the series, it is really lovely?

Episode 4. Huw. Richard Price, American War of Independence. "English Crown". At the time it was the British Crown. James VI of Scotland became James I of England in 1603. Furthermore in 1707 there was Union between Scotland and England.

Marvellous historical tour of Wales. Congratulations. Only found the programme by chance so have missed a few episodes - most TV (91Èȱ¬ included) is rubbish so I rarely switch the TV on. Nor can I view the episodes with i-player because I am not in the UK, so hope there will be a repeat in the near future. From an appreciative Englishman.
PS Why do you have a spellchecker on these comments using American spelling? Symptomatic of much that is wrong at the Beeb

I've been fascinated by this informative series. However, I am surprised that there was no examination of the origins of the Welsh people. Where did they come from before they arrived in Britain? This is especially an interesting question in the light of recent revelations. Based on the examination of the DNA of Welsh people, especially those of the North West of Wales, where there has been less inter-marriage with people of non-British origin (Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Viking...), it has been shown that these Welsh share as much as 80% of their DNA with the Basques! If the Welsh are truly of Basque origin, it poses the question, why don't they speak Basque?

My enjoyment of this series was marred by having to puzzle over Huw Edwards's strange use of the present tense when describing the past. On occasions he found it dificult to keep it up, and couldn't resist the more normal past tense, only to pull himself up sharp again and resume his battle with the English language. It was really very distracting. Why did Huw put us - and himself -- through this ordeal?

I have loved watching this program, it showed not only the many hardships that the Welsh people have endured but also the many gifts that have been provided by Wales. Not only to the UK but to the greater world also. I would have loved to have heard also about our understanding of herbs through the written information on the Sons of Myddfy and how this too reached out to different parts of the world, but on the whole Huw Edwards has done a fantastic job! I am not a fluet Welsh speaker but my grandparents were. They were born and lived in Llanelli as did I in my younger years. My grandmother reaching the grand old age of 99 only died two years ago and was filled with the wisdom of a life that was truly lived. Living with both my Grandparents as well as my my parents, I was brought up on stories of the many hardships and poverty that my Grandparents generartion had had to deal with in their younger days, but also the stories of community and family unity that pulled everyone through it. I am greatful that I was born into such a rich culture as Wales! Diolch yn fawr Huw!....

My god even when telling the history of Wales the 91Èȱ¬ cannot attack Thatcher even on this issue.
They are keen to tell you the few unemployed under the remnants of an old Labour government.
But Thatcher "Swept to power" and everyone was wealthy. Despite being decimated under the witch.
If it were not for the arranged Falklands war with her fascist dictator friends in south America she would have been booted out.
Don't the 91Èȱ¬ realise one day all this crap will come out and the police will come a knocking.
Remember the names of those involved people for the inquiry.

As a Scot married to a Welshman (originally from Tredegar - hats off to Aneurin) I found this programme so informative. Wonderful to hear the Welsh place names pronounced by a Welsh speaker. Huw's fronting of this series was immaculate and he has such an easy grace.

Thank you 91Èȱ¬ -

Excellent series. Reminded me - up to a point - of my O Level Welsh History. As an exile, pleased to say that some of my English friends enjoyed it too.

Two observations by way of very minor criticism:

1. There was no mention of the Welsh Knot - the punishment for speaking Welsh at school.
2. Also no mention of the colony in Patagonia. An attempt to preserve Welsh language and
culture from English incursions.

By the way rsvgp (above), at the time of the Roman invasion, there was no England. What would become England (in the Dark Ages) was settled by established Celtic (i.e. Welsh) tribes.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Story of Wales presented by Huw Edwards who brought the story and the camera together as one. In particular I enjoyed how Queen Elizabeth encouraged them to see her as a friendly Royalist by issuing the Welsh Bible to each church and how Wales embraced the Church of England.
I felt proud and thrilled on learning of how the Welsh culture and traditions moved with the times to its modern day beliefs and how, although still keeping its Welsh acclaim, it has a strong link to England.
It saddens me to see the Islamic extremists cling to their past traditions and cultures; when they could move onwards. How can we help them to look forward like the Welsh people did? Maybe all Islamic people need is Huw Edwards to talk to them about their country in an enlightening way and showing them how they are gaining new cultures and traditions. How we all can join together in the world’s search for harmony.

whilst a very good series it was effectively the story of "south wales"as there was so little input about north wales where i come from. No mention of the coal mines at gresford,llay, point of air and so on. No mention of the gresford disaster of 1934?or the importance of the steelworks of Shotton and brymbo. One brief mention of the closing of Shotton. No mention of the production of nylon at courtaulds.No mention of the roman influence at Chester and the building of the A5 road to Anglesey.the Programmed did very little to tell the story of the whole of wales.hugely dissapointing

Very interesting series, much enjoyed by me (Welsh) and my English husband. My family consisted of farmers and miners in different parts of the country and much of the later programmes rang true.
Why was the story of the development of religion in Wales hardly mentioned? Perhaps another programme or series (to be shown in whole of Britain) could be produced, ideally with Huw Edwards as the presenter, as he is so at ease in the whole Welsh environment.