If it's escaped your notice that September 18th is a very important day, where have you been.
The Scots are going to the polls today in a yes/no referendum about full independence. Over the last fortnight, an unnerved "no" campaign has wheeled out a rainbow coalition of big guns, fronted by former Labour PM Gordon Brown with current Conservative David Cameron as his wing man. Suddenly, to secure a "yes" Westminster was at pains to welcome "devo-max" and there was much speculation that were this to be the case in Scotland, so too would Wales benefit, with more powers.
It's interesting to see how things change. 23 years ago, when considering local government reorganisation, the then secretary of state of Wales said,
And 614 years ago, on this day, Owain Glyndŵr began his campaign as the last true prince of Wales to rid Wales of English rule. It started with the sacking and siege of Rhuthun/Ruthin. Of the siege, there is no doubt. It's oft said that Glyndŵr raised the town to the ground with fire but there has never been any evidence of an ash layer to prove Glyndŵr's pyrotechnics.
But at the same time as the secretary of state for Wales was opening discussions on local government reorganisation 23 years ago, so archaeologists had discovered a mix of soil and embers in a corner of Nantclwyd House (as it was called, back then). Trouble was, it was too small an area to prove conclusively that Glyndŵr torched the town.
The Scots are going to the polls today in a yes/no referendum about full independence. Over the last fortnight, an unnerved "no" campaign has wheeled out a rainbow coalition of big guns, fronted by former Labour PM Gordon Brown with current Conservative David Cameron as his wing man. Suddenly, to secure a "yes" Westminster was at pains to welcome "devo-max" and there was much speculation that were this to be the case in Scotland, so too would Wales benefit, with more powers.
It's interesting to see how things change. 23 years ago, when considering local government reorganisation, the then secretary of state of Wales said,
"The arguments put to me have failed to persuade me that there is any case for creating an Assembly"Also today, Conwy county borough council has followed Denbighshire in agreeing in principal to talk about a voluntary merger.
And 614 years ago, on this day, Owain Glyndŵr began his campaign as the last true prince of Wales to rid Wales of English rule. It started with the sacking and siege of Rhuthun/Ruthin. Of the siege, there is no doubt. It's oft said that Glyndŵr raised the town to the ground with fire but there has never been any evidence of an ash layer to prove Glyndŵr's pyrotechnics.
But at the same time as the secretary of state for Wales was opening discussions on local government reorganisation 23 years ago, so archaeologists had discovered a mix of soil and embers in a corner of Nantclwyd House (as it was called, back then). Trouble was, it was too small an area to prove conclusively that Glyndŵr torched the town.
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Denbighshire