The Historical Association
Swansea Branch

Writing Swansea History

Talk by Gerald Gabb

Wednesday 28 July 2010 at the Uplands Bookshop, Uplands, Swansea

HA Swansea was pleased to offer the July talk in conjunction with the Uplands Bookshop in the Uplands district of Swansea. And to give the talk we were very pleased to have Gerald Gabb who, until his retirement was Education Officer with the Swansea Museum and is now editor of The Swansea History Journal (previously known as Minerva).

Gerald was introduced to those present by Dr John Law, chair of the branch, and the subject of Gerald’s talk was ‘Writing Swansea History’. He spoke to a very attentive audience about the historians and antiquarians who have recorded the history of Swansea from its earliest foundation in the Middle Ages down to the twentieth century. He recalled names such as W H Jones and Colonel Llewelyn Morgan of the early-twentieth century, together with W C Rogers and Bernard Morris of

later decades. Lesser known authors, such as Michael Price and Nigel Robins, were referred to along with Stephen Hughes who penned Copperopolis, probably the definitive history of the metallurgical industries of Swansea.

The talk was delivered in a light, easy style which made the listening comfortable and enjoyable.

In thanking Gerald, branch vice-chair Colin James said that many local historians had found their way into the study of history through the accounts and photographs of old Swansea as are found in Gerald’s own books (an example is pictured right). His thanks were echoed by all present.

Thanks were also expressed to the Uplands Bookshop for kindly hosting the event and it was hoped that similar events will follow.

Branch Chair at Irish Colloquium

Dr John Law has been asked to open and close an interdisciplinary colloquium on ‘Early Modern Women in Continental Europe’ to be held at Trinity College, Dublin from 3 to 4 September; he will speak on ‘The Contribution of Women to the Study of the Italian Renaissance in the Nineteenth Century’.

The colloquium marks the launch of the ‘Forum for the Study of Early Modern Women in Continental Europe’. It is being organised with the collaboration of Trinity’s Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies and with the support of the Society for Renaissance Studies.

Dr John Law