The following organizations, while not directly linked to our Society, could be useful sources of information on Owain Glyn Dŵr and the history of his period.
Owain Glyndŵr Centre, Machynlleth
The Owain Glyndŵr Centre is a Mecca for all who are interested in Glyn Dŵr and his history. It is located on a site which is associated with the location of Glyn Dŵr’s parliament and contains a reproduction of the Pennal Letter. Books and historical memorabilia may be purchased at the centre.
National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
Describes itself, justifiably, as “... one of the great libraries of the world”. It holds a comprehensive collection of books on Owain Glyn Dŵr and Welsh history. It also has a vast collection of documents and has digitised an impressive range of documents in its collections.
The History Forum for Wales is an umbrella organisation for independent societies involved with Welsh history. It organizes displays at various events such as the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Their website gives a full list of affiliated societies, with contact details, etc.
Princess Gwenllian (1282 - 1337) was the only child of Llywelyn the Last and Eleanor de Montfort. Llewelyn (the last native Prince of Wales) was killed by Edward I’s men in 1282 when Gwenllian was only six months old and she was abducted to a Priory at Sempringham in Lincolnshire. There she served as a nun for 54 years until her death.
Located in a remote valley in Powys, Cwm Hir was a large Cistercian abbey whose 75m nave was exceeded by only Durham and Winchester cathedrals in Britain. After Llewelyn the Last (the last native Prince of Wales) was killed by Edward I’s men in 1282 he was beheaded and his head was sent to London to be displayed on the Tower. His body was taken in secret to Cwm Hir Abbey and buried there.
According to tradition Hywel Dda called a great assembly of lawyers and leaders from all over his kingdom to the ‘Ty Gwyn-ar-Daf’ (the white house on the Taf), now known as Whitland, to study the laws of various provinces and to draw up a unified legal code for Wales. These laws, the ‘Laws of Hywel’ as they became known, are described as one of the wonders of Welsh history, and examples are displayed on slate plaques decorated with enamels in and around the gardens at the Centre.
Set up in 1997, this is the only Welsh Society devoted exclusively to the study of Welsh battles.
The annual commemorations of the death of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in 1282 take place on the second weekend of December each year in Cilmeri and Abbey Cwm Hir.
