On Sunday August 19th, 1274, Edward I of England was crowned at Westminster Abbey.  It marked the beginning of a traumatic period in Welsh history.

Edward had inherited the throne of England when his father Henry III died in November 1272. Edward was, at this time, returning from his crusade in the Holy Land and only heard of his father’s death in January 1273 while in Sicily. Edward  headed home, but was in no rush to get back to England as his right to rule was unquestioned and England and all the nobles had sworn loyalty to him. Edward landed at Dover on August 2nd, 1274 and his coronation was then organised.

In Wales at this time, Llywelyn ap Gruffyd enjoyed an advantageous situation in the aftermath of the Barons' War and had been conferred as Prince of Wales by Edwards father, Henry III, following the Peace of Montgomery in 1267 in which Llywelyn ap Gruffyd had pledged fealty to the English crown.  However Llywelyn's relationship with Edward was not as cordial as it had been with Henry III, and was made worse by continued conflicts with dissatisfied Marcher Lords, Llywelyn's younger brother Dafydd's defection to the English and Llywelyn's planned marriage to Eleanor, daughter of Simon de Montfort, leader of the Barons revolt against Henry III.  Needless to say, Llywelyn did not attend Edward's coronation.

When Edward called Llywelyn to Chester in 1275 to pay homage, Llywelyn refused  Citing ongoing hostilities and the English king's harbouring of his enemies.  . In 1277 King Edward branded Llywelyn  "a rebel and disturber of the peace" and declared his lands forfeit. Edward  launched a massive invasion to re-conquer South Wales.  He defeated Llywelyn and forced him to accept the peace of Aberconwy 1278.  Then, following a further rebellion, Llywelyn was killed by the English in 1282 and his brother Dafydd captured and executed. 

On 19th August 1214, marcher lord Roger de Mortimer of Wigmore Castle in Herefordshire, died. (picture is of a reconstruction of Wigmore Castle when originally built)

After the Norman invasion, the struggle for Rhwng Gwy a Hafren (Between Wye & Severn) the area comprising roughly of modern day Radnoshire was particularly fierce. Welsh forces under leaders such as Cadwallon ap Madog and Rhys ap Gruffydd (the Lord Rhys), were in regular conflict with the Norman marcher lords such as Roger de Mortimer.

Cadwallon ap Madog is known to have had three brothers killed by the Normans and he and his surviving brother, ended up in control of the two principal divisions of Rhwng Gwy a Hafren: Cadwallon ap Madog ruled Maelienydd and his younger brother Einion Clud ruled Elfael.

1175  - Cadwallon and Einion went with Rhys ap Gruffudd to Gloucester where he made a peace treaty with King Henry II, buying recognition from the king for his holding the land of Maelienydd.

1176  - Cadwallon profited from the death of his brother Einion Clud by annexing Elfael and was responsible for building and fortifying several castles in the area. He is reported as bringing destruction to the English Marches of Herefordshire and Shropshire.

1179  - Cadwallon appeared in the royal court to answer charges of waging war against the king and on his return home, he was met by men owing allegiance to Roger de Mortimer and was cut down and killed.  As Cadwallon was under a royal safe conduct, the king was outraged and imprisoned Mortimer in Winchester for two years.

1195  - Roger de Mortimer, with the backing of troops sent by King Richard I invaded Maelienydd.

1196  - Roger de Mortimer fought and lost the battle of New Radnor against Rhys ap Gruffydd, allegedly losing some forty knights and an innumerable number of foot in the fight.

1200  - Roger de Mortimer conquered Maelienydd and issued a new charter of rights to Cwmhir Abbey.

1214  - Roger de Mortimer became gravely ill and died.

Throughout the 13th century the territory was gradually reoccupied by the English Marcher Lords. However the territory was annexed by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in 1267 under the Treaty of Montgomery. But following his defeat at the hands of Edward I of England in 1282, most of the remaining landowners were dispossessed. Then in the 16th century, the area was to form the county of Radnorshire under the various  Laws in Wales Acts. 

A near disaster on 19th August 1956 marked the beginning of the end of the paddle steamer era.

The period after World War Two, was a boom time for the holiday trade of South Wales, with one of the main attractions being a trip one of the paddle steamers, Cardiff Queen and Bristol Queen, that regularly ploughed up and down the Bristol Channel, calling at places such as Cardiff Pier, Penarth Pier, Mumbles Pier, Barry and Tenby, carrying holiday maker eager for the chance of a trip on one of the new ships.

 Then on 19 August 1956 a bizarre accident occured that had a catastrophic affect on an industry already under pressure from cheaper foreign travel.  The Bristol Queen had just left Ilfracombe Pier  when, suddenly, there was a big bang. It was the noise of one of the paddle wheels sheering and the stricken steamer was being driven by a strong wind and tide towards the cliffs of Illfracombe, with no other form of propulsion, it was drifting helplessly.

Captain George of the Bristol Queen sent an emergency radio message to the Cardiff Queen, who happened to be approaching Illfracombe and arrived just in time to pass a  2,000 feet ropef line to the now  heavily wallowing Bristol Queen and an attemt at a tow began.A paddle steamer being towed by another paddle steamer was an incredibly difficult task, but with  slow and steady progress, both paddle steamers had moored in the Mumbles  just over four hours later, with thankfully no fatalities.  However the consequences were great, as everyone realised that if the Cardiff Queen had not been so close at hand the damaged paddler would have been driven onto the rocks and there would have been considerable loss of life.  Business slumped and eventually both boats were taken out of service and broken up. It was the end of an era, the end of paddle steamer cruising on the Bristol Channel.

On 19th August 1646, Raglan Castle surrendered to Parliamentary forces, during the English Civil War.

Construction of Raglan Castle began in the 1430s by Sir William ap Thomas (the Blue Knight of Gwent) who fought with King Henry V in 1415 at the Battle of Agincourt. 

The castle was inherited by Sir William's son (alsoWilliam) in 1445 who was known as Sir William Herbert and who was a supporter of  King Edward IV and the House of York during the Wars of the Roses.  He fought for the king at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross in 1461 and was rewarded by being made a Knight of the Garter, and chief justice of North Wales.  The in 1468, Sir William Herbert captured Harlech Castle, Wales's last Lancastrian stronghold and for which he was was made Earl of Pembroke. 

During the English Civil War in 1646, Raglan Castle suffered heavy damage when it was put under siege and finally captured by the parliamentarians, under Sir Thomas Fairfax. 

In 1938, Raglan Castle was placed in the guardianship of the Commissioners of HM Works and an extensive repair programme was carried out following the end of World War II. Today, it is maintained by CADW (Welsh Historic Monuments).

Born this day 1980 in Chepstow

Paul Parry  - former Wales soccer international.  InterestinglyParry suffers from aviophobia (a severe fear of flying), which, has caused problems during his career due to his inability to travel long distances.

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