4. Statement by the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport: Accessible Monuments for All

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:58 pm on 24 April 2018.

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Photo of Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas Independent 3:58, 24 April 2018

(Translated)

We do have a lengthy register of historical place names, which is available online, as the Member knows. It was decided not to pursue a legislative approach in this area, but that resource is clearly available, and, indeed, the desire to use indigenous, Welsh, Celtic or Latin names on lands and sites and holdings and houses in Wales has increased as compared with the use of English names over the past few years. But I’m not going to pursue that particular issue any further because I am mainly discussing monuments today.

The good news is that we are looking forward, in Cadw, not only to maintaining our current castles and monuments—and I assume we will have to make a contribution to this—but to take ownership of more castles in the future, including a castle built by Dafydd ap Gruffydd ap Llywelyn with income from the then English monarch. But later, Dafydd ap Gruffydd ap Llywelyn actually made a pact with his brother, and he then became the last Prince of Wales to build castles in Wales. Our intention, therefore, is to produce particular material for visitors that will focus on the historical monuments that have been built or invaded and occupied over a lengthy period of time by the Welsh princes. That, of course, includes what we’ve already done on Owain Glyndŵr in Harlech castle. If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit that castle recently, and particularly the interpretation provided there, it is a national interpretation, as it should be, by the Welsh Government, and Cadw on behalf of the Welsh Government, of what has happened there.

I’m not going to make any comment on what was done by Ministers in this post before me who made decisions, and decisions that were ultimately changed. I don’t think that would be appropriate.

But may I just say one other thing on Criccieth castle and Owain Glyndŵr? Certainly, Owain Glyndŵr succeeded in burning at least some of the stones in Criccieth castle. I had the privilege of seeing the remains of that fire recently, and I’m sure it would light a fire even in the heart of an old nationalist such as the Member who asked those questions.