 History & Heritage
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The Later Middle Ages
(A.D. 1100 - 1720)
Under the rule of Gruffudd ap Cynan, Gwynedd flourished and his son Owain (d. 1170) considerably extended
the boundaries of Gwynedd. The earliest surviving stone churches on Anglesey date from this time, many
churches being built in the Romanesque style.
During the 13th century Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (the Great), 'Prince of Aberrfraw and Lord of Snowdon'
brought much of Wales under his control. This was a time of great reform with the building of the
earliest Franciscan friaries in Wales and the adaptation of Augustinian 'Rule', bringing Wales into line
with contemporary European monasticism.
Llywelyn's grandson, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd (Llywelyn the Last) received oaths of homage and allegiance
from most of the Welsh princes and named himself 'Prince of Wales'. In 1267 he signed the Treaty
of Montgomery with Henry III of England which acknowledged him ruler of the greater part of Wales,
but bound him to pay homage to England.
Llywelyn, however, refused to pay homage to war-mongering King Edward I and was drawn into disastrous wars between 1276 and 1283
which resulted in Gwynedd returning to British rule. Edward's reign was characterised by
construction of a number of massive castles, the reorganisation of the region into British-style
boroughs and counties (including the creation of the county of Anglesey) and the final insult -
the naming of his eldest son 'Prince of Wales'.
Welsh rebellions followed, the last in 1400, led by Owain Glyndwr who was aided by the French and English
families opposed to the Lancastrian rule. He opted for guerilla warfare techniques rather than pitched
battles and won small victories before being eventually defeated by Henry IV's gifted son (later Henry V).
This was also at time of economic growth with large estates and stately homes appearing, due much more
to the vibrant property market than ancestry.
The Tudor Kings and Queens of England brought better relations between the two countries, (Henry VII
was a descendant of one of the most important dynastic families of Anglesey), and there was a considerable
period of settled prosperity.
The Industrial Revolution - Modern Day
(1730 onwards)
Coal, copper, slate and tin production led to industrial centres replacing fragmented rural communities.
These centres were hotbeds of nonconformism with trade unions and the support of the Labour Party.
Methodism also helped the Welsh to create a new identity and nationalism soared.
Plaid Cymru, (the Welsh National Party), was formed in 1925 and the Welsh language was made legally
acceptable in 1942. Today, Plaid Cymru holds several seats in the House of Commons and the Welsh
language and culture are flourishing.
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