Graham Watkins
The Robber’s Grave
In the early 1800s Montgomery was a thriving market town. A plaque on Broad Street tells us that in 1840 over 50 tradesmen were based in...
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Graham Watkins
Dec 31, 201814 min
Giving Something Back
I belong to a writer's group in Llandovery whose ages range from seventeen to even older than me - and I'm a fossil. Last year the group,...
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Graham Watkins
Dec 12, 20183 min
Fort Williamsburg - A toy fort with real cannon.
When in 1549, John Wynn was King Edward VI’s standard bearer the king rewarded him with a gift of Bardsey Island. In the 17th Century,...
537 views
Graham Watkins
Nov 26, 20184 min
Castell Gwrych - A monster folly.
In the 19th Century, gothic revival architecture was the height of fashion. The new Houses of Parliament were built in the gothic style...
310 views
Graham Watkins
Nov 9, 20186 min
The Smugglers of Culver hole.
In 1702, a new crown treasury department was established, the Salt Office. A tax on salt had existed since 1644 but an expensive war with...
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Graham Watkins
Oct 25, 20184 min
Dafydd Gam - The Cross Eyed Knight
Fluellen: "If your Majesty is remembered of it, the Welshmen did good service in a garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their...
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Graham Watkins
Oct 8, 20187 min
The Press Gangs of Swansea
In 1803 a Royal Naval Officer named William Harries visited the tiny hamlet of Llangynnwr in Carmarthenshire. With him were several burly...
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Graham Watkins
Sep 26, 20184 min
Hywel's Law
After the Romans departed, Wales split into small kingdoms. One of them was the kingdom of Seisyllwg. Ruled from Dinefwr (Llandeilo),...
310 views
Graham Watkins
Sep 13, 20184 min
The Princess of Rhuddlan.
Rhuddlan castle was a fine palace. Inside the castle there were great state rooms where a petty king and his family lived, protected by...
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Graham Watkins
Aug 26, 20183 min
Dry Bridge Lodge
Strangers travelling along a minor road south west of Mostyn are surprised to find themselves driving under a house. The structure, known...
796 views
Graham Watkins
Aug 13, 20184 min
The Salt Smugglers of Mawddach
The Salt Smugglers of Mawddach "The only thing worse than a smuggler is the excise man who tries to catch him!" Dr. Samuel Johnson 1709...
187 views
Graham Watkins
Aug 5, 20182 min
Six foot three Mr. Jones slept with his feet sticking out of the window.
Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne when a rather unusual house was built in Conwy. To keep the cost down, the builder wanted a site...
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Graham Watkins
Jul 21, 20185 min
The Curse of Nant Gwrtheyrn
Gwrtheyrn was a British King who lived in Kent during the 5th Century. He was a timid man and his kingdom was weak. He employed...
1,840 views
Graham Watkins
Jul 5, 20184 min
Researching family history can throw up some surprises.
The gravestone was leaning against the wall of the church. I walked over and read the inscription, 'Watkin Watkins, Farmer, Departed this...
242 views
Graham Watkins
Jun 18, 20183 min
Henry Paget's Leg
Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, a battle which changed the course of European history, deposed an emperor and...
250 views
Graham Watkins
May 31, 20183 min
So why did Mr. Jones build a funny looking castle?
The practice of erecting a memorial to a loved one is common enough but when William Jones’ wife Elizabeth died in 1787 he felt that...
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Graham Watkins
May 12, 20182 min
Eliseg or Elisedd - so whose pillar was it?
Elisedd ap Gwylog was a 1st Century King of Powys and a descendant of Brochweil Ysgithrog, so named because of his fang like teeth and...
258 views
Graham Watkins
Apr 19, 20186 min
Davies’ Stone
The A4069 is a narrow country road that snakes its way over the Black Mountain from Llangadog to Brynamman. A good surface, hairpin bends...
332 views
Graham Watkins
Mar 17, 20184 min
C3P0 seen in haunted Welsh lighthouse.
Talacre Lighthouse. Where the supernatural rule and strange things happen. From early times the River Dee has been a major trade route....
346 views
Graham Watkins
Feb 22, 20186 min
The French Invasion of Wales
It was early in the morning and the frost was thick on the ground. The horseman frantically drove his animal on. He was frightened of...
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