The Treachery of the Blue Books.

On this day 1847, the infamous “Blue Books” a report on the state of education in Wales were presented to the Government

A public enquiry was carried out as a result of pressure from Welshman William Williams, MP for Coventry, who was concerned about the state of education in Wales.  The enquiry was carried out by three Englishmen, R.R.W Lingen, Jellynger. C. Symons and H. R. Vaughan Johnson, who met to discuss their findings at The Lion Hotel in Builth Wells.  Because none of them spoke Welsh, they relied on the information of witnesses, mostly Anglican clergymen at a time when Wales was mostly Nonconformist.

The report concluded;  

*  That schools in Wales were extremely inadequate.

*  That teachers should only speak English in areas where children only spoke Welsh.

*  Welsh speaking children had to rely on the Nonconformist Sunday Schools to acquire literacy.

*  That the Welsh were ignorant, lazy and immoral as a result of the use of Welsh and Nonconformity.

There was a furious reaction in Wales where they were referred to as “Brad Y Llyfrau Gleision” The Treachery of the Blue Books and they are thought to have been instrumental in the birth of the modern Welsh self-government movement.  However Saunders Lewis suggested that they were “the most important nineteenth century historical document we possess”  

Alun Lewis was born on 1st July 1915 in Cwmaman near Aberdare in the South Wales coalfield.  He was one of the best- known poets of The Second World War.

He read history at the University of Aberystwyth where he started writing poetry, before embarking on a career in teaching  at Lewis Boys' School, Pengam. In spite of his pacifist inclinations, he joined the army in 1940, suffering experiences which rekindled the depression he had suffered in his 20s, and inspired a fresh period of writing. In 1944, while on active duty against the Japanese, he died of a gunshot wound caused by his own hand weapon, although it was unclear. whether this was an accident or an intentional act of suicide

During his lifetime, Lewis published only one collection of poetry, entitled Raiders' Dawn, and one short story. These were followed by a further volume of poetry, and a collection of short stories, both published posthumously. There is no doubt that Lewis had he lived, would have become a significant voice in post-war literature in the English-speaking world.

Prince Charles's investiture as Prince of Wales took place at Caernarvon Castle on 1 July 1969  although he had been created Prince of Wales  on 26 July 1958.   Prince Charles spent ten weeks leading up to his Investiture learning about Welsh culture and language and during the ceremony he gave his replies in both English and Welsh.  The investiture was watched by millions on TV and attracted large and excited crowds in Caernarfon.  The Welsh borough of Swansea was granted city status to mark the occasion. 

However the ceremony aroused considerable hostility among nationalists who viewed it as being associated with the subjugation of  the Welsh people since the 13th century, when the last native Prince of Wales, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd was deposed by Edward l of England.

For action this day 1916 Group Captain Lionel Wilmot Brabazon Rees was awarded the Victoria Cross

The son of an army officer, Rees was born in Plas Llanwnda, Castle Street, Caernarfon in 1884 and attended Eastbourne College before entering the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. In 1912, he learned to fly at his own expense after which he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps.  During World War I, in the first hours of the Somme Offensive, Rees was on patrol when he engaged the enemy in a series of attacks.   The valour of his actions earned him the Victoria Cross. Its citation reads:

"On 1st July 1916 at Double Crassieurs, France, Major Rees, whilst on flying duties, sighted what he thought was a bombing party of our machines returning home, but were, in fact, enemy aircraft. Major Rees was attacked by one of them, but after a short encounter it disappeared, damaged. The others then attacked him at long range, but he dispersed them, seriously damaging two of the machines. He chased two others but was wounded in the thigh, temporarily losing control of his aircraft. He righted it and closed with the enemy, using up all his ammunition, firing at very close range. He then returned home, landing his aircraft safely"

After the war, Rees was based in the Middle East with the RAF. He had a keen interest in archaeology, and while flying on the Cairo to Baghdad route, he took some of the earliest archaeological aerial photographs of sites in eastern Transjordan (now Jordan) and is considered a father of the archaeological studies of this area, as well as a pioneer of aerial archaeology.

On July 1st 1826, Telford's Conwy Suspension Bridge was opened.

It was one of the first road suspension bridges in the world, replacing the ferry at the same point and at the time, was the only crossing of the river, and was consequently the only way to access the ferry that leaves for Ireland.  The bridge is located close to Conwy Castle and therefore, Telford matched the bridge's supporting towers with the castle's turrets.

On 1st July 1941, 35 people were killed and 46 were injured when huge parachuted land mines fell on the Maindee area of Newport.   Alfred Searle, a local solicitor, and his housekeeper were among the fatalities  when his house 'Gaerwood' suffered a direct hit.

On July 1st 1780, Anthony Bacon acquired the lease of the Hirwaun ironworks.

The Ironworks  at Hirwaun near Aberdare was founded by John Mayberry in 1757, but its profit and renown began when the entrepreneur Anthony Bacon acquired government contracts to supply weapons and ammunition in 1780. The goods were initially transported to the port of Cardiff by mules and packhorses.   The Hirwaun Ironworks saw their peak of prosperity when in 1819, they were purchased by the industrialist William Crawshay of Cyfarthfa, who expanded the works. The region's mining industry also prospered through providing the necessary coke for the blast furnaces at the ironworks.

The village of Hirwaun thrived, and by 1830, nearly 900 men were employed at the Hirwaun works, and the first steam engine in the locality was constructed to serve the works.

However, following the depression of 1829 the ironworks declined and the Crawshay family closed the site in 1859.