Introduction to the British Isles

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Introduction to the British Isles

• Wales

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Some facts and figures

• Just over 20 000 km²
• 200 km east to west
• 250 km north to south
• Population 2.94 million (2001 census)
• 80 of the land dedicated to agriculture
• Highest mountain Mt. Snowdon (1,085 m)
• 1,300 kilometres of coastline

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Steam Railway Snowdonia National Park
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Longest place name

• Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysili
  ogogogoch
• (St. Marys Church in a hollow of the white hazel
  near to the rapid whirlpool and St. Tysills
  Church of the red cave)
• aka Llanfair PG

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The counties of Wales
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Important dates

• 750 AD Offas Dyke boundary between Mercia and
  the Welsh kingdoms

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• 1110 Little England Henry I moves Flemish
  settlers to a farming settlement in South
  Pembrokeshire

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• 1284 Edward I annexes Wales migration from
  England to Wales. Castles such as Caernarfon
  built to protect English Interests

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• 1536 Act of Union with England under Henry VIII
• 1770s Religious refugees flee to Wales, including
  French Huguenots
• 1788 Welsh convicts sent to Australia
• 1841 Irish flee to mainland Britain as a result
  of the Great Famine. Nearly 30 000 settle in
  Wales
• 1850s Rural Welsh move to the cities by 1900,
  63 of the population concentrated in Glamorgan
  and Monmouthshire

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Who are the Welsh?

• Celtic tribes from Europe came to settle the
  whole of the British Isles 500-100 BC, alongside
  the original Iron Age population.
• Celtic language behind the modern Welsh language
• Roman and Saxon invasions pushed the original
  Britons into the land area of Wales
• Inward and outward migration has added new layers
  of population

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The origin of the word Wales

• Variation on Anglo-Saxon word meaning foreigners.
  Cf. Walloon
• The Welsh word for the country is Cymru
  (friends/comrades) cf Cumbria

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Symbols of Wales
Y Ddraig Goch
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Daffodils narcissus obvallaris
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Leeks
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• St. David (1st March)
• Male voice choirs
• National anthem Land of my Fathers
• Rugby
• Pobol Y Cwm
• Food laverbread, welsh tea cakes, bara brith
• Welsh lovespoon

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Famous Welsh people

• Henry VII
• Dylan Thomas
• RS Thomas
• Tom Jones
• Max Boyce
• Catherine Zeta Jones
• Anthony Hopkins

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Cool Cymru

• 1990s Music Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia,
  Stereophonics, Super Furry Animals (Newport as
  the new Seattle)
• - Films Justin Kerrigan (Human Traffic)
• - Fashion Julien Macdonald

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Manic Street Preachers
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Welsh languageCymraeg

• 20 of the population consider Welsh as their
  mother tongue
• Concentration in the north-west
• Welsh and English official languages
• Welsh medium education
• Welsh compulsory in schools
• Welsh language radio and television
• Bilingual roadsigns

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Industry in Wales

• Early 20th century coal, steel (south), slate
  (north), fishing, maritime industry
• Main industries today are tourism and public
  services
• Manufacturing less heavy industry, more
  electronics, technology-related industry

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• Economic deprivation, especially South Wales
  valleys (former mining areas)
• 2003 Average gross income 17 900 GBP (cf 21 600
  in England, 19 500 in Scotland)

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Leisure activities

• Visiting the pub (58 say its their favourite
  activity)
• Sport (35 do sport on a regular basis)
• DIY, Gardening
• Music Welsh festivals such as Eisteddfod

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Devolution in Wales

• 1925 Plaid Cymru founded
• 1979 referendum rejected by 80
• 1997 referendum 50.3 in favour (Assembly, not
  parliament), 49.7 against
• 1999 Welsh Assembly 60 AMs (40 constistuency 20
  from party lists, using alternative party vote)
• Main responsibilities health, education,
  economic development, rural affairs
• No power over defence, foreign affairs,
  taxation, policing
• Welsh Assembly elections 2003 Labour 30 AMs, PC
  12, Conservatives 11

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• Still 40 MPs at Westminster, Secretary of State
  for Wales a member of the cabinet
• Budget of 14 billion GBP
• Different policy decisions from Westminster
  include abolition of Key Stage 1 and 2 tests for
  school children (at 6-7 and 10-11) free
  prescription charges for under 25s plans to
  abolish prescription charges completely by 2007
  appointment of Childrens Commissioner

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• First minister Alun Michael (1999 - 2000
  resigned over sex scandal)
• Rhodri Morgan (2000 - )

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• Welsh Assembly building at Cardiff Bay new
  chamber designed by Lord Richard Rogers, opened
  on St. Davids Day, 2006

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Quiz

• What is the capital of Wales?
• What is the Welsh flag called?
• What is the population of Wales?
• What percentage of the population speak Welsh?
• Where is the Welsh Assembly?
• What percentage of the population voted in favour
  of the Assembly in 1997?
• How big is Wales?
• Who annexed Wales to England?
• Under which monarch was the Act of Union in 1536?
• Which two counties home the majority of the
  population?
• What is the population of Wales?
• What percentage of Welsh land is dedicated to
  agriculture?
• Who designed the new chamber at the Welsh
  Assembly?
• Who is the patron saint of Wales and which date
  is his feast day?
• What are the national emblems of Wales?

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• Cardiff
• Y Draig Goch
• 2.94 million
• 20
• Cardiff Bay
• 50.3
• 20 000 km²
• Edward I

• What is the capital of Wales?
• What is the Welsh flag called?
• What is the population of Wales?
• What percentage of the population speak Welsh?
• Where is the Welsh Assembly?
• What percentage of the population voted in favour
  of the Assembly in 1997?
• How big is Wales?
• Who annexed Wales to England?

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• Henry VIII
• Glamorgan and Monmouthshire
• 80
• Tourism
• Lord Richard Rogers
• St. David 1st March
• Leeks and daffodils

• Under which monarch was the Act of Union in 1536?
  
• Which two counties home the majority of the
  population?
• What percentage of Welsh land is dedicated to
• agriculture?
• What is the largest industry today?
• Who designed the new chamber at the Welsh
  Assembly?
• Who is the patron saint of Wales and which date
  is his feast day?
• What are the national emblems of Wales?