Glanmor Williams
Encyclopedia
Sir Glanmor Williams was one of Wales
's most eminent historians.
Sir Glanmor was born in Dowlais
, into a working-class family, and was educated at Cyfarthfa Castle
School. He studied at Aberystwyth
alongside Alun Lewis
and Emyr Humphreys
, becoming a specialist in the early modern period of Welsh history. His long academic career included 37 years at the University of Wales, Swansea
, between 1945 and 1982, and ten as vice-president of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
.
He joined Swansea University in 1945 and was Professor of History at Swansea University
from 1957 to 1982, his research interests focused on the Protestant Reformation and its impact on Welsh life and culture. His exceptional study of the Welsh Church after 1282, The Welsh Church from Conquest to Reformation, was published in 1962. In subsequent works, such as Owen Glendower (1966), Recovery, Reorientation and Reformation (1987), and Owain Glyndwr (1993), Williams documented how English subjugation of Wales was strengthened by the Tudor Acts of Union, and yet still offered scope for the growth and development of Welsh culture.
In Religion, Language and Nationality in Wales (1979), he described the origins of Welsh cultural and political nationalism. He wrote equally fluently in Welsh, with his best known works including: Dadeni, Diwygiad a Diwylliant Cymru (The Renaissance, the Reformation and the Culture of Wales, 1964), Grym Tafodau Tân (The Power of Fiery Tongues, 1984) and Cymru a'r Gorffennol: côr o leisiau (Wales and the Past: a choir of voices, 2000).
Glanmor Williams was Vice-Principal of Swansea University
from 1975 to 1978, and was also appointed to many committees in Wales and England. He served as President of the Baptist Union of Wales, National Governor of BBC Wales and Chairman of the Broadcasting Council for Wales (1965-71), on the board of the British Library
and its Advisory Council. Furthermore, he was actively involved in the Board of Celtic Studies, the Pantyfedwen Trust and Cadw
. He became a Fellow of the Society of Arts in 1979 and was awarded a CBE in 1981.
After his retirement from Swansea, he served as Chairman of the Ancient Monuments Board (Wales) from 1983 to 1995, Chairman of the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales (1986 to 90), and Vice-President of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (1986 to 1996). He became a Fellow of the British Academy in 1986 and was knighted in 1995.
Speaking after Professor Williams' death in Swansea in 2005, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard B Davies, said: "his influence on the study of Wales is incalculable. Just to meet him was a privilege."
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
's most eminent historians.
Sir Glanmor was born in Dowlais
Dowlais
Dowlais is a village and community of the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil, in Wales. As of 2001, it has a population of 6646.Dowlais is notable within Wales and Britain for its historic association with ironworking; once employing, through the Dowlais Iron Company, roughly 5,000 people, the works...
, into a working-class family, and was educated at Cyfarthfa Castle
Cyfarthfa Castle
Cyfarthfa Castle is the former home of the Crawshay family, historical ironmasters of Cyfarthfa Ironworks in Park, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Despite appearing superficially to be a fortified building it is a house built in the style of a large mansion...
School. He studied at Aberystwyth
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
alongside Alun Lewis
Alun Lewis
Alun Lewis , was a poet of the Anglo-Welsh school, and is regarded by many as Britain's finest Second World War poet.- Education :...
and Emyr Humphreys
Emyr Humphreys
Emyr Humphreys is a leading Welsh novelist, poet and author. He was born at Prestatyn in Flintshire, and attended University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He registered as a conscientious objector at the outbreak of the Second World War...
, becoming a specialist in the early modern period of Welsh history. His long academic career included 37 years at the University of Wales, Swansea
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
, between 1945 and 1982, and ten as vice-president of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
.
He joined Swansea University in 1945 and was Professor of History at Swansea University
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
from 1957 to 1982, his research interests focused on the Protestant Reformation and its impact on Welsh life and culture. His exceptional study of the Welsh Church after 1282, The Welsh Church from Conquest to Reformation, was published in 1962. In subsequent works, such as Owen Glendower (1966), Recovery, Reorientation and Reformation (1987), and Owain Glyndwr (1993), Williams documented how English subjugation of Wales was strengthened by the Tudor Acts of Union, and yet still offered scope for the growth and development of Welsh culture.
In Religion, Language and Nationality in Wales (1979), he described the origins of Welsh cultural and political nationalism. He wrote equally fluently in Welsh, with his best known works including: Dadeni, Diwygiad a Diwylliant Cymru (The Renaissance, the Reformation and the Culture of Wales, 1964), Grym Tafodau Tân (The Power of Fiery Tongues, 1984) and Cymru a'r Gorffennol: côr o leisiau (Wales and the Past: a choir of voices, 2000).
Glanmor Williams was Vice-Principal of Swansea University
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
from 1975 to 1978, and was also appointed to many committees in Wales and England. He served as President of the Baptist Union of Wales, National Governor of BBC Wales and Chairman of the Broadcasting Council for Wales (1965-71), on the board of the British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
and its Advisory Council. Furthermore, he was actively involved in the Board of Celtic Studies, the Pantyfedwen Trust and Cadw
Cadw
-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
. He became a Fellow of the Society of Arts in 1979 and was awarded a CBE in 1981.
After his retirement from Swansea, he served as Chairman of the Ancient Monuments Board (Wales) from 1983 to 1995, Chairman of the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales (1986 to 90), and Vice-President of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (1986 to 1996). He became a Fellow of the British Academy in 1986 and was knighted in 1995.
Speaking after Professor Williams' death in Swansea in 2005, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard B Davies, said: "his influence on the study of Wales is incalculable. Just to meet him was a privilege."
Publications
- Wales and the Reformation. (University of Wales Press)
- Grym Tafodau
- Owain Glyndwr
- The Welsh Church from Conquest to Reformation
- Religion, Language and Nationality
- Glanmor Williams: A Life
- Harri Tudur a Chymru (Henry Tudor and Wales) - a billingual book