Welsh Journals

COUNTY HISTORY SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS 1960-61 I. SOUTH WALES In Brycheiniog, vol. VI (1960), the Brecknock Society refers with understandable pride in its annual report to the high academic standards maintained by its journal since it first appeared in 1955. Both as a repository for local antiquities and folk-lore, and as an artistic production the present volume, edited by Professor D. J. Davies, is as attractive as ever, and a worthy testimony to the remarkable work of Breconshire County Council in fostering interest in the history and geography of the county. No one could complain of lack of variety in this volume. Mr. C. A. Ralegh Radford provides the lengthiest contribution, with a detailed description of the history and architecture of the castle and court at Tretower, profusely illustrated as usual with plans and photographs. It is encouraging to read of the progress made in preserving this important group of buildings, under the aegis of the Ministry of Works. Another important article is Mr. Peter Thomas's study of Parliamentary elections in the county and borough constituencies of Breconshire between 1689 and 1832, the golden age of the Welsh gentry and of the Morgans of Tredegar in particular. Two other contributions deal with the agriculture of the county. Mr. H. T. Davies analyses the series of soils to be found in Breconshire, with a study of the geological bases of their formation and distribution: an elaborate soil map provides a key to the whole. Mr. J. P. Dodd continues his investigations of the crop returns of 1854. Finally, there are two contributions in Welsh, Mr. Bob Owen's list of Breconshire emigrants to America in the period 1654-1784, and Tre-fin's charming poem on the Usk valley, 'Cwm Wysg, cwm rhwysg yr haf'. The index provided at the end of Brycheiniog is a feature that other local history publications might well adopt. Ceredigion, cyf. IV, rhif. 1 (1960), the journal of the Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society, fully maintains the impetus provided by the jubilee number of the previous year. It is encouraging to read of the Society's increased membership and of its healthy financial position. As in the past, the current number of its journal, under the editorship of Mr. Gildas Tibbott, has a wealth of fascinating and informative detail. Mr. W. J. Lewis continues his exploration of the history of Aberystwyth into the early nineteenth century. Between 1800 and 1820 'quality' visitors from outside first became aware of the delights of 'the Brighton of Wales', as Wigstead described the town. The citizens responded, not merely with improvements in municipal planning and transport that are still visible today, but also with varied entertainment, theatricals, and even race meetings. Even at this period, however, Mr. Lewis notes the emergence of Nonconformity, soon to lead a reaction against the manners and