Research into the LGBTQ+ history of Wales
Proud Writing is a project run by LGBTQ+ author/historian Norena Shopland in collaboration with Cerian Wilshere-Davies, Youth Engagement Facilitator for Amgueddfa Cymru. The writing workshops consisted of an initial four sessions and proved so popular that additional sessions were added. Each workshop consisted of a short text taken from historic newspapers from Welsh Newspapers Online … Read More “Proud Writing free eBook” »
(For Welsh see below) Amgueddfa Cymru has been collaborating with Welsh LGBTQ+ Historian Norena Shopland to run a Creative writing project that focuses on creatively responding to pieces of Wales’ often hidden or forgotten LGBTQ+ history. We are inviting people to submit prose, poems, or artwork inspired by the four historic texts in this pack … Read More “Proud Writing Call Out:” »
Norena Shopland Postcards are always a good and relatively cheap way to build up any collection. While it is harder to find those representing sexual orientation and gender identity, it is possible to find some items, particularly of more well-known people, such as the Ladies of Llangollen around whom a whole merchandising business grew up … Read More “Read the back” »
1931 On 14 July Illtyd Harrington is born in Merthyr Tydfil. Harrington was deputy leader of the Greater London Council (1981–84). He was openly gay and lived for fifty years with his partner, Christopher “Chris” Downes, who worked as a theatrical dresser for Laurence Olivier and Maggie Smith. 1933 Stephen Spender (1909–1995), was an English … Read More “1930s” »
In the Welsh Costume display at St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff is a small blue teapot. It was made about 1900, and would have been sold as a souvenir. On one side it depicts three women in Welsh costume, and on the other it shows the Ladies of Llangollen. The Ladies are … Read More “Ladies of Llangollen Teapot” »
1831 Sarah Ponsonby (1755–1831) one of the Ladies of Llangollen died on 9 December. Her partner, Eleanor Charlotte Butler had died two years earlier they were buried together at St Collen’s Church, Llangollen 1837 On the 18th ult. Llanberis, aged 76, Catherine Thomas; she had been celebrated by most of the modern Welsh tourists as the far famed … Read More “1830s” »
1829 Eleanor Charlotte Butler (1739–1829) one of the Ladies of Llangollen died on 2 June 1829. When her partner Sarah Ponsonby died two years later they were buried together at St Collen’s Church, Llangollen
1804 It is with concern we hear, that Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Ponsonby are in danger of being expelled their beautiful and long enjoyed residence in the Vale of Llangollen, by the purposed erection of a Cotton Mill and Manufactory in their immediate neighbourhood, under the director of Mr. Bidulph, Banker, Charing-Cross. Our readers … Read More “1800s” »
1705 Pontfaen is a small rural village and parish in the community of Cwm Gwaun, north Pembrokeshire and includes the country house of the Laugharne family. Francis Jones studied this family in the paper Pontfaen (1977) and records information on Vaughan Lausharne (1678-1705) who died aged 27 and unmarried. Laugharne’s will, dated 6 April 1705, … Read More “18th Century” »
