Institute for the Study of Welsh Estates / Sefydliad Ymchwil Ystadau Cymru

05/10/2026

Llongyfarchiadau i Daisy Hughes ar ennill Bwrsariaeth Avril Rolph yng Nghynhadledd Flynyddol Archif Menywod Cymru a gynhaliwyd yn Abertawe ar 4 Hydref 2026. Roedd Daisy – ymchwilydd PhD ac aelod o Sefydliad Ymchwil Ystadau Cymru – yn un o wyth ymgeisydd, gan gynnwys dwy fyfyrwraig arall o Brifysgol Bangor: Claire Lober (PhD, Adran y Gymraeg) ac Isabella Marston (MA, Hanes). Cytunodd y beirniaid – Christine Chapman (Archif Menywod Cymru), Dr Steve Thompson (Uwch-ddarlithydd yn Adran Hanes Prifysgol Aberystwyth) a Shan Robinson (Archifau a Chasgliadau Arbennig Prifysgol Bangor) – fod safon y bwrsariaeth eleni yn arbennig o uchel a bod pob ymgeisydd yn haeddu canmoliaeth.
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Congratulations Daisy Hughes on winning the Avril Rolph Bursary at the Archif Menywod Cymru / Women's Archive of Wales Annual Conference which took place in Swansea on 4th October 2026. Daisy a PhD researcher and member of the Institute for the Study of Welsh Estates / Sefydliad Ymchwil Ystadau Cymru was one of 8 contestants which included two other Bangor University students Claire Lober (Ph.D. Adran Gymraeg) and Isabella Marston’s (M.A. History). Adjudicators Christine Chapman Womens Archive Wales, Dr. Steve Thompson, Senior Lecturer, Department of History, Aberystwyth University, and Shan Robinson Archives and Special Collections, Bangor University, all agreed that the standard of this year's Bursary was especially high and that each entrant was deserving of commendation.

04/10/2026

Early Medieval Estates and Boundaries in Monmouthshire: Presentation and Workshop
24 February, 2027 at 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Dr Andy Seaman (Cardiff university), Scott Lloyd (RCAHMW) and Dr Ben Guy (Cambridge University) are collaborating on a AHRC project called “Pushing the Boundaries of Early Medieval Wales : An edition of the Earliest Welsh Charters”.

The project is examining approximately 180 early charters, and the good news is that some of them relate directly to the area of Monmouthshire around St Arvans, Chepstow and Tintern. The aim of the project is to produce new editions and translations of the charters, reconstruct and map the boundaries of the estates they relate to and create a digital atlas which will be publicly accessible via the Historic Boundaries of Wales website.

We will start the session by giving an overview of the ‘Pushing the Boundaries of Early Medieval Wales’ project and introducing some open access resources that are relevant to Monmouthshire. We will then look at some early medieval charters from the Chepstow – St Arvans – Tintern area and work through our approach to reconstructing and mapping their bounds.

To book email [email protected]

03/10/2026

Did you know we’ve recorded 112 different bird species across the Bodrhyddan Estate so far this year? 🐦

From the gardens and woodland to parkland, meadows, the River Clwyd and up to the coast, Bodrhyddan is full of birdlife if you stop and listen.

Using the Merlin app, we’ve spotted and heard woodpeckers, jays and nuthatches, kingfishers, red kites and many more.

Have you had any brilliant bird sightings or stories on or near the Bodrhyddan Estate? We’d love to hear them in the comments.

02/10/2026

DARLITH ARBENNIG AR GASTELL SAIN FFAGAN // SPECIAL LECTURE ON ST FAGANS CASTLE

28/11/2026

Ymunwch â Dr. Bethan Scorey am ddarlith arbennig yng Nghastell Sain Ffagan i ddathlu rhyddhau ei llyfr newydd, St Fagans Castle: the Architectural and Social History of a Welsh Country House, sydd wedi'i addasu o'i thraethawd doethurol a gwblhawyd yma yn Sefydliad Ymchwil Ystadau Cymru.

Bydd dwy sesiwn: un am 11:00–12:30 ac un arall am 13:30–15:00. Bydd y ddarlith, o'r enw 'A Faire Howse Within the Old Walls of a Castle', yn para am oddeutu 50 munud, gyda chyfle i ofyn cwestiynau a chymryd rhan mewn trafodaeth wedyn. Bydd cyfle hefyd i brynu copi o'r llyfr, wedi'i lofnodi.

Mae lleoedd yn gyfyngedig felly rhaid archebu tocyn o flaen llaw: defnyddiwch y ddolen a ddarperir: https://amgueddfa.cymru/sainffagan/digwyddiadau/12985/T-Del-o-Fewn-Muriau-Hen-Gastell-Darlith-Arbennig-ar-Gastell-Sain-Ffagan/

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Join ISWE graduate Dr. Bethan Scorey for a special lecture at St Fagans Castle to celebrate the release of her new book, St Fagans Castle: the Architectural and Social History of a Welsh Country House, which is adapted from her PhD thesis.

There will be two sessions: one at 11:00–12:30 and another at 13:30–15:00. The lecture, titled 'A Faire Howse Within the Old Walls of a Castle', will last for approximately 50 minutes, followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion. There will also be an opportunity to purchase a signed copy of the book.

Booking is essential: please use the link provided: https://museum.wales/stfagans/whatson/12985/A-Faire-Howse-Within-the-Old-Walls-of-a-Castle-A-Special-Lecture-on-St-Fagans-Castle/

Amgueddfa Cymru / Sain Ffagan: Amgueddfa Werin Cymru - St Fagans National Museum of History / University of Wales Press / Bangor University History Prifysgol Bangor Hanes

02/10/2026

Really excited to be contributing towards this year’s Gŵyl Daniel Owen Festival in Flintshire, with a lecture on Literature and Libraries in the Mansions of Mold and District, held jointly with Mold Civic Society.

* When: Thursday 22 October 2026 ar 7:30 pm
* Where: St David’s Community Hall, St David’s Lane, Mold CH7 1LH
* Tickets: Non-members of Mold Civic Society £5

More information here: https://www.danielowenfestival.com/en/literature-and-libraries-in-the-mansions-of-mold-and-district/

Bangor University History Prifysgol Bangor Hanes

30/09/2026

29/09/2026

We’re incredibly excited to share the news that one of our brilliant ISWE doctoral researchers, Alex Ioannou, passed his PhD viva earlier today, with an interdisciplinary thesis on ‘Reframing Eryri in praxis: Anticipating future needs for renewed understandings, relations and approaches to landscape in the Welsh decision-making process’.

Huge thanks to Prof. Maggie Roe (Newcastle) and Dr Sophie Wynne-Jones (Bangor) for examining the work. The project was supervised by Dr Shaun Evans and Dr Norman Dandy, and supported by The Drapers’ Company.

Llongyfarchiadau enfawr Alex! We’re all enormously proud of you!!

To find out more about Alex’s research visit: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/iswe/reframing-eryri-in-praxis

Bangor University History Prifysgol Bangor Hanes

25/09/2026

Coming soon!

'St Fagans Castle: The Architectural and Social History of a Welsh Country House' by Bethan Scorey is the first comprehensive study of St Fagans Castle, richly illustrated with over sixty photos and pictures.

Publishing on 15 November!

📚️ https://www.uwp.co.uk/book/st-fagans-castle-scorey/