Bore da, bawb!
I hope you are well!
It has been quite the week for both myself and Welsh Histories and, as a result, this week’s newsletter has a couple of very interesting things to share with you. Why waste your time anymore than is necessary? Let’s just get to it!
As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, Welsh Histories has teamed up with Make It A Flowchart to conduct some research on various topics related to Welsh history, Welsh independence (a subject which has been in the news a wee bit lately) and so on. Well, I am delighted to share some of the data. These polls are still open and therefore the results could change, so please consider the following statistics as temporary rather than definite.
Poll 1: Favourite Welsh History Topic
The above chart demonstrates that, currently, the most popular and sought after Welsh history topic is that of the Welsh/Anglo Wars (20.2%). I found this data fascinating, mostly because this is typically a Welsh history topic which (at least in my own schooling experience, many moons ago) is not touched upon in Welsh schools.
The two subjects which are easily the most drilled into us in the Welsh and British education system are the Tudors and the World Wars, which in this survey both came in dead last (4.6 and 6.4%, respectively). This demonstrates that there is a real desire for a greater focus on the subjects which have been neglected in our collective schooling experience and, therefore, I shall be making more content based around these more desired topics.
Poll 2: Link Between Welsh Independence & Welsh History Interest
The above data was collected in an attempt to assess the connection between an interest in Welsh history and a desire for Welsh independence. 94% of the 300+ people polled so far have declared that they are a history enthusiast (what is most surprising is that 6% of those visiting a website called “Welsh Histories” are not history enthusiasts). When the question then narrows down an interest in history to an interest in Welsh history, this number unsurprisingly drops from 94 to 75.4%, with 24.6% declaring they are not Welsh history enthusiasts (audible gasp). This number barely alters with the third question, with “yes” dropping by a mere 0.1% and “no” rising by that same number (maths).
Again, the data collected so far is not final and this is all subject to change. We will be conducting this survey for a few more weeks to see what alters. This is an exclusive scoop for Patreon subscribers only, so hopefully you enjoy the data.
Gwenllian Statue Petition Debated by Senedd Committee
As was also alluded to last week, the Welsh Histories campaign for a statue commemorating Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd was to be discussed by the Senedd Petitions Committee this week. As can be seen in the video above, this took place on Thursday 24th September and appears to have gone down quite well. Whilst a couple members of the Committee believed that the petition should be returned to me alongside some advice on where I could seek independent funding for the statue (this worried me for a few moments, I confess), it was ultimately agreed that the Committee would send the petition onto the Welsh government with a request for funding from them. Hurray!
Now, while this is good news, it does not guarantee success. Whereas I remain certain that this statue will be erected one way or the other, it is not yet a guarantee the government would say yes (though, as specified in the video, a Gwenllian statue does suit Plaid Cymru government, so chances are good). It is also not a guarantee that the Welsh government would provide the complete funding required. So, while this is a move in a positive direction, this is just the beginning. As always, I will keep you updated on this!
Anything Else?
Well, not really. I am still working on the logistics of the monthly quizzes, so stay tuned for that. The magazine, also, will certainly be returning in the next month or so, also. Dates will be confirmed soon!
As always, take care and have a lovely weekend. See you next week!
Niklas is the founder, owner, manager, editor, writer, video creator, voice over artist, and so forth, of Welsh Histories. He is passionate about the preservation of Welsh culture; the rejuvenation of the Welsh language and the promotion of Welsh history. Niklas currently resides in Pune, Maharashtra, with his beloved wife.