I'm a big fan of Robert Harris' historical novels but the idea that this would have happened in a 1914 Anglesey pub is silly.

Here's what I was thinking of. Same year but earlier tnan Merthyr.

Newspaper ad for Michael Jackson at Cardiff Arms Park 1988.

David Lloyd George appeals to Wales' military history in a 1914 speech to his "fellow-countrymen" about the role he felt they should be playing in the Great War.

New report showing the growing trend for Welsh language house and street names.

"No Irish or Welsh need apply". Letter in the Middlesex County Times, 1960.

So long and thanks for all the memories. #JoeAllen

A free Welsh History Postgrad conference in Cardiff 3-4 June. Everyone welcome!

The new Tom Jenkins album is out and it's brilliant. With folk/indie songs about coal, rugby, history, family and the land, it's both very Welsh and very universal. I'm really proud to have contributed a few words to the album artwork. Give it a listen.
open.spotify.com/album/6LPOtr...

Top 10 countries of birth of people in Wales recorded as Welsh monoglots 1911.

Top 10 countries of birth in Wales, 1911 census.

Dydd Gwyl Dewi hapus i bawb. Happy St David's Day everyone.

Had a fun afternoon teaching in the Swansea uni archives. Got to see Richard Burton's book bag. Unfortunately none of the students had heard of Burton...

Major-General Thomas Wynford Rees. Born Holyhead, raised Barry. Spoke 7 languages including his native Welsh. Decorated in WW1. In WWII commanded in Iraq & North Africa & Burma. Headed security in Punjab during Indian independence. After the war headed the Cwmbran new town project. Quite the life.

Cardiff anti-fascist graffiti.

Thanks to everyone who came out on a cold Friday night to hear me talking at Risca Museum. A great venue full to the brim with all sorts of industrial history objects.

Thanks to everyone who came to my public history talks in Llantwit Major and Cowbridge last week. Next up Risca museum on Friday evening discussing my book on the Welsh Not.

My book 'Welsh Not' is now out. It explores both the perception and treatment of language in 19th-century education & the wider reasons for linguistic change in Wales.

£20 in paperback or a free pdf here: uwp.co.uk/app/uploads/...