Tywyn and District History Society Forum

The next meeting, on Monday April 20th at 7PM at Tywyn Baptist Church, is the society's AGM followed by a programme of members' choice of topic. New membership and membership renewal will be available at this meeting. Topics of the talks 10 of the worst disasters in Welsh history Fanny Talbot, who w...

TYWYN & DISTRICT HISTORY SOCIETY At their meeting of the 16th March, three society members gave contrasting presentations to follow up February's talk by Dr Leah Reynolds on the topic of the Romans in Wales. The first talk by Liz Deakin, entitled Roman Holiday, was a wide-ranging and complex acc...

At their meeting on 19th January the society continued the theme of 'one-occupation' towns in Wales. There were two excellent presentations by members, Hilary Harrison and Freddie Collier. Hilary's focus was on Betws-y-Coed from its early history as a Roman lead-mining settlement to its present day ...

At their meeting on 19th January the society continued the theme of 'one-occupation' towns in Wales. There were two excellent presentations by members, Hilary Harrison and Freddie Collier. Hilary's focus was on Betws-y-Coed from its early history as a Roman lead-mining settlement to its present day ...

Dr Reynolds is a lecturer at Cardiff University and this is her field of expertise. She will be looking at all aspects of the subject, with a focus on their interaction with the Celtic tribes.

At their meeting on Monday December 15th the speaker, Dr Quentin Deakin, gave a talk on 'The rise, fall and survival of one-occupation towns in north and mid Wales. As examples he chose Blaenau Ffestiniog, Porthmadog, Amlwch, Holywell, Newtown and Talgarth and described how each had its own unique p...

At their meeting on Monday December 15th the speaker, Dr Quentin Deakin, gave a talk on 'The rise, fall and survival of one-occupation towns in north and mid Wales. As examples he chose Blaenau Ffestiniog, Porthmadog, Amlwch, Holywell, Newtown and Talgarth and described how each had its own unique p...

The next meeting of the society, on January 19th, continues the theme of 'One occupation towns', with contributions from members looking at other such towns in Wales.

The speakers for the society's meeting on November 17th 2025, Quentin and Liz Deakin, gave paired presentations entitled 'New Lanark to New Harmony - Utopias'. Quentin's talk continued the story of Robert Owen's innovations at New Lanark which attracted international acclaim for the improved workers...

What happens when the occupation that kept the local economy of a town alive ceases to thrive? Blaenau Ffestiniog is the often quoted example, but there are several others just in north and mid Wales. Dr Deakin explores the wide range of examples. The picture isn't always as disastrous as it sounds ...