Historical Talk at the National Library of Wales

Saturday, July 24 was a very memorable day for those who came to listen to the Revd. Dr. David Williams speaking about ecclesiastical and monastic seals at the National Library.

David is a well-known historian and an acknowledged expert in both the field of seals and of Cistercian history. He has published numerous books, including:

The Welsh Cistercians : Aspects of their Economic History (1969),
White Monks in Gwent and the Border (1976),
Atlas of Cistercian Lands in Wales (2000),
The Cistercians in the Early Middle Ages (1998),
The Welsh Cistercians (revised; 2001),
Welsh History through Seals (1982),
Catalogue of Seals in the National Museum of Wales (1988 and 1993),
The Five Wounds of Jesus (2004),
Images of Welsh History - Seals of the National Library of Wales (2008).

The seals in the National Library range from the 12th century to the 21st and are a reflection of Welsh history. David had chosen some very interesting and varied seals as his subject matter. He pointed out details of interest on the pictures of them on the screen as he spoke. We even learned about the development of bishops’ mitres over the centuries and were delighted when we were shown a very unusual seal of an Abbess of Llanllŷr which had been discovered recently in our very own county of Ceredigion.

The talk was thoroughly researched and presented in a clear and listener-friendly manner in the
“Drwm” lecture theatre at the National Library and we were then treated to a special display of some of the seals from the Library’s vast collections following the talk. A number of us then enjoyed a leisurely lunch with David at Pen Dinas – the National Library’s refectory.

We’re very grateful to David for such an inspiring talk – and also to the National Library for such excellent facilities and for hosting the talk.

Sgwrs Hanes yn Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru

Roedd dydd Sadwrn, Gorffennaf 24 yn ddiwrnod cofiadwy iawn i’r bobl a ddaeth i wrando ar y Parch. Ddr. David Williams yn siarad am seliau eglwysig a mynachaidd yn Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru.

Hanesydd adnabyddus yw David ac arbennigwr cydnabyddedig ym maes seliau ac ym maes hanes Sistersiaidd. Mae e wedi cyhoeddi nifer o lyfrau, gan gynnwys:

The Welsh Cistercians : Aspects of their Economic History (1969),
White Monks in Gwent and the Border (1976),
Atlas of Cistercian Lands in Wales (2000),
The Cistercians in the Early Middle Ages (1998),
The Welsh Cistercians (revised; 2001),
Welsh History through Seals (1982),
Catalogue of Seals in the National Museum of Wales (1988 and 1993),
The Five Wounds of Jesus (2004),
Images of Welsh History - Seals of the National Library of Wales (2008).

Mae’r seliau yn y Llyfrgell Genedlaethol yn rhychwantu o’r ddeuddegfed ganrif hyd at yr unfed ganrif ar hugain ac maent yn adlewyrchiad o hanes Cymru. Dewisiodd David rhai seliau diddorol ac amrywiol yn ddeunydd ei destun. Dangosodd manylion diddorol ar y lluniau ohonynt ar y sgrîn wrth iddo siarad. Cawsom ddysgu hyd yn oed am ddatblygiad hetiau esgobion dros y canrifoedd, ac roeddem wrth ein boddau pan ddangoswyd sêl Abades o Lanllŷr inni, a gafodd ei darganfod yn ddiweddar yn ein sir ni ein hun yng Ngheredigion.

Roedd ôl ymchwil fanwl ar y sgwrs a chyflwynwyd hi mewn modd eglur a gwrandawr-gyfeillgar yn theatr ddarlithio’r “Drwm” yn y Llyfrgell Genedlaethol, ac fe gawsom y fraint o weld rhai o’r seliau o gasgliadau helaeth y Llyfrgell yn dilyn y sgwrs. Aeth rhai ohonom i fwynhau cinio hamddenol yng nghwmni David ym Mhen Dinas – ffreutur y Llyfrgell Genedlaethol.

Rydym yn ddiolchgar iawn i David am sgwrs mor ysbrydoledig – ac i’r Llyfrgell Genedlaethol am gyfleusterau mor ardderchog ac am eu trefniadaeth ar gyfer y sgwrs a’u croeso cynnes i ni.