Portrait Of Glamorgan

Product Description

Up until local Government re-organisation in 1974, Wales had thirteen counties & arguably the most important of these was Glamorgan. Not only did Glamorgan boast two of the largest cities in the Principality (Cardiff & Swansea) but it was also the administrative centre of this ancient country. Glamorgan (not Glamorganshire) was originally an early medieval kingdom, with names & boundaries that varied over time. However, conformity arrived in the shape of Robert Fitzhamon, around 1090, who invaded & consolidated Glamorgan, dividing the spoils, so it is said, between his twelve followers. Glamorgan at this time stretched roughly from Neath in the west to Cardiff in the east, & from Merthyr Tydfil in the north to the Bristol Channel in the south. Gower was added into the Glamorgan boundary later. In 1974 Glamorgan was split into three new counties; Mid Glamorgan, West Glamorgan & South Glamorgan. This has all changed again, the county name all but disappearing completely, apart from the name of Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council. However, the old Glamorgan still lives on in the hearts & minds of many people & for the purposes of this book can be fairly conveniently divided into the northern industrial valleys, the agriculturally rich Vale of Glamorgan & the Gower peninsula, the first area of the United Kingdom to be nominated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The sheer variety of landscape that makes up Glamorgan can be fully appreciated in the 140 colour pictures by renowned photographer Nick Jenkins, that go to capture the very essence of this culturally rich region. The old county is explored from the northern uplands & deep valleys right down to the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, & from Gower in the west to Cardiff in the east, to present a fully rounded portrait of this fascinating landscape.