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Wales was once an industrial country, with coal mines and steelworks, quarries and woollen mills throughout the country. The 20th century saw many changes as the core industries of Wales closed. These clips show the impact of this on the local communities, and the new employment opportunities brought about by the closure. Entrepreneurs have since introduced new companies and encouraged enterprise and business in Wales.
Please note that English subtitles are available for some of the Welsh-language clips, and we are in the process of adding subtitles to the remaining ones.
To browse the Wales Broadcast Archive yourself and find many more videos that can support your curriculum, click the button below. We currently have over 7,000 clips from BBC, ITV and S4C available online to all, and over 400,000 clips available to view in a clip corner.
David Allen reports on local industries in Newtown, Powys.
Language: English
David Allen reporting from Newtown, Powys on local industries including a woollen mill and motor component factory. Interview with Peter Garbett-Edwards, Secretary of the Mid Wales Industrial Development Association. 28/06/1966 Wales Today BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Newtown, Powys
CLIP Cymru: David Allen reports on local industries in Newtown, Powys.
The Hoover factory Merthyr Tydfil 1975
Language: English
Shots of the Hoover Factory in Merthyr Tydfil 30/04/1975 Wales Today BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Merthyr Tydfil
CLIP Cymru: The Hoover factory Merthyr Tydfil 1975
Adroddiad o Danerdy'r Cambrian, Wrecsam sy'n gwneud lledr ar gyfer pants poeth
Language: Welsh
Report from the Cambrian Leather Works, Wrexham showing how the skins are treated to create different types of leather including for fashionable hot pants. 02/06/1971 Heddiw BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Wrexham
CLIP Cymru: Adroddiad o Danerdy'r Cambrian, Wrecsam sy'n gwneud lledr ar gyfer pants poeth
Brynkir Woollen Mill
Language: English
Glyn Owen reporting from Brynkir Woollen Mill, Gwynedd. Views of the mill building and machines. Interview with Morris Jones, Director of the mill on the demand for Welsh woollen goods. 25/03/1965 Wales Today BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Bryncir, Gwynedd
Lerry Tweed Mills, Talybont
Language: English
David Allen interviewing John Hughes and his family, Lerry Mills, Talybont, Ceredigion where Welsh tweed is made on hand looms. 22/12/1966 Wales Today BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Talybont, Ceredigion
A programme for schools following the river Conwy and visiting Llanrwst
Language: English
A programme for schools following the river Conwy visiting a sheep sale in Llanrwst and showing scenes of the town and bridge. 09/10/1980 Journey down the Conwy river BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Llanrwst, Conwy
CLIP Cymru: A programme for schools following the river Conwy and visiting Llanrwst
The Old Smelt Foundry, Buckley, Flintshire
Language: English
Glyn Owen reporting from the Old Smelt, a conical tower at the foundry, Buckley, Flintshire including an interview with Myrddin Bevan-Evans, county archivist and Tom Goodwin, managing director of the foundry. 06/05/1965 Wales Today BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Buckley, Flintshire
Adroddiad am hanes diwydiannau Merthyr Tudful
Language: Welsh
Report about the history of Merthyr Tydfil including historical images of the iron and coal industry. Shots of women making tights in a factory, engineering apprentices and a modern shopping centre. 06/02/1972 Seven Sisters BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Merthyr Tydfil
CLIP Cymru: Adroddiad am hanes diwydiannau Merthyr Tudful
George Ashwell reports from the Elba Steelworks, Gowerton
Language: English
George Ashwell reporting from the Elba Steelworks, Gowerton which is threatened with closure. Interviews with William Rosser, Works Manager and Leslie Thomas, trade union representative. 30/01/1967 Wales Today BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Gowerton, Swansea
CLIP Cymru: George Ashwell reports from the Elba Steelworks, Gowerton
Patrick Hannan tells the story of Harry Cadwallader, blast furnaceman at the Ebbw Vale Steelworks
Language: English
Patrick Hannan narrates the story of Harry Cadwallader, a blast furnaceman at the Ebbw Vale Steelworks as the blast furnaces are closed. 21/07/1975 Harry Cadwallader's Last Day BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent
Adroddiad o Gresffordd: Pentref Glofaol dan Newid
Language: Welsh
A report from the mining village of Gresford, Wrexham, featuring the famous church, the old school, and the Griffin Inn. The video also includes a proposal to build a new road through the village. 22/02/1965 Heddiw BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Gresford, Wrexham
Tro ger hen gamlas ym Merthyr Tudful
Language: Welsh
Walking by an old canal in Merthyr Tydfil due to be replaced with a road bypass. Views of Chapel Row, the technical college, the Hoover factory, Quay Row, Abercanaid, Capel y Graig cemetery and Llwynyreos Inn. Former miner William Fire recalls his memories of the old canal. 29/06/1977 Heddiw BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Merthyr Tydfil
Adroddiad o Flaendulais ar effeithiau cau pyllau glo yn yr 1960au
Language: Welsh
A report from Seven Sisters and the impact on a mining village of coal mines closures in the 1960s. 06/02/1972 Seven Sisters BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Blaendulais, Neath Port Talbot
CLIP Cymru: Adroddiad o Flaendulais ar effeithiau cau pyllau glo yn yr 1960au
Vincent Kane explores the history of mining in the Rhondda valley
Language: English
Vincent Kane explores the history of mining in the Rhondda valley as Dai James and Jim Hopkins work underground in a colliery. 01/12/1965 The Long Street BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Rhondda Valley, Rhondda Cynon Taf
CLIP Cymru: Vincent Kane explores the history of mining in the Rhondda valley
Adroddiad ar ymarfer i efelychu achubiad glofaol yng Nghanolfan Achub Mwynfeydd Dinas, Tonypandy
Language: Welsh
Report on a training exercise to simulate a mining rescue at Dinas Mines Rescue Centre in Tonypandy. 14/08/1973 Heddiw BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Adroddiad o Drelewis, Merthyr Tudful am ddefnyddio dŵr i lanhau'r strydoedd o lwch glo
Language: Welsh
Report from Trelewis, Merthyr Tydfil on the need to use water to clean the streets of coal dust. Heddiw 14/05/1973 BBC Cymru Wales
Lleoliad: Trelewis, Merthyr Tydfil
CLIP Cymru: Adroddiad o Drelewis, Merthyr Tudful am ddefnyddio dŵr i lanhau'r strydoedd o lwch glo
The Miners' Gala Day parade in Cardiff
Language: English
Shots of the Miners' gala day parade around Cardiff. 28/05/1979 Gala Day BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Cardiff
Myfanwy Talog yn edrych ar farchnad stryd ym Mhontypridd
Language: Welsh
Myfanwy Talog looks ar various types of shops including a street market in Pontypridd. 25/09/1990 Hyn o Fyd BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf
CLIP Cymru: Myfanwy Talog yn edrych ar farchnad stryd ym Mhontypridd
Miners' Gala Day Cardiff
Language: English
Miners arriving in Cardiff for the Miners' Gala. An interview with two miners about changing attitudes towards miners. 28/05/1979 Gala Day BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Cardiff
CLIP Cymru: Miners' Gala Day Cardiff
Elfyn Thomas yn adrodd am ddŵr gafodd yng Nglofa'r Maerdy a'r helynt rhwng yr UCG a'r Bwrdd Glo
Language: Welsh
Elfyn Thomas reports on water found in Maerdy Colliery and the row between the NUM and the Coal Board about solving the problem. 06/01/1984 Newyddion BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Maerdy, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Adroddiad ar ganolfan siopa newydd ym Mhontypridd
Language: Welsh
Report on a new shopping centre in Pontypridd. 19/04/2001 Newyddion BBC Cymru
Location: Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf
CLIP Cymru: Adroddiad ar ganolfan siopa newydd ym Mhontypridd
New Year sales in Cardiff
A clip without commentary of Cardiff shoppers in the New Year Sales. 28/12/1982 Wales Today BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Cardiff
Emlyn Davies yn adrodd o Chwarel y Penrhyn, Bethesda a Chwarel Dinorwig, Llanberis
Language: Welsh
Emlyn Davies reporting from Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda and Dinorwig Quarry, Llanberis on the production of new slate products using automated processes. Interview with Dick Hughes, Dinorwig Quarry. 08/10/1971 Heddiw BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Llanberis, Gwynedd
CLIP Cymru: Emlyn Davies yn adrodd o Chwarel y Penrhyn, Bethesda a Chwarel Dinorwig, Llanberis
Emlyn Davies yn cyfweld Dick Hughes, Chwarel Dinorwig, Llanberis
Language: Welsh
Emlyn Davies interviews Dick Hughes, Dinorwig Quarry, Llanberis on the production of new slate products for export. 08/10/1971 Heddiw BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Llanberis, Gwynedd
CLIP Cymru: Emlyn Davies yn cyfweld Dick Hughes, Chwarel Dinorwig, Llanberis
Adroddiad o chwarel ithfaen ym Mhenmaenmawr a phroblemau llwch i dai cyfagos
Language: Welsh
Report by Emlyn Davies from a granite quarry in Penmaenmawr supplying rock and railway ballast in the UK and Europe and the problem of dust for neighbouring houses. Interview with the manager, Donald Jones and local resident, Leslie Evans. 07/05/1970 Heddiw BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Penmaenmawr, Conwy
CLIP Cymru: Adroddiad o chwarel ithfaen ym Mhenmaenmawr a phroblemau llwch i dai cyfagos
Eurig Wyn yn adrodd o Burfa Amoco, Aberdaugleddau ar adeiladu purfa newydd
Language: Welsh
Eurig Wyn reports from the Amoco refinery on the building of a new refinery. 11/05/1973 Heddiw BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire
CLIP Cymru: Eurig Wyn yn adrodd o Burfa Amoco, Aberdaugleddau ar adeiladu purfa newydd
Adroddiad ar ddrilio ffynnon olew archwiliadol ym Maesteg
Language: Welsh
Report on the drilling of an exploratory oil well in Maesteg by a Canadian company. 14/05/1973 Heddiw BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Maesteg, Bridgend
CLIP Cymru: Adroddiad ar ddrilio ffynnon olew archwiliadol ym Maesteg
Ian Skidmore walks around the docks and Mount Stuart Square in Cardiff Bay
Language: English
Ian Skidmore walks around the docks and Mount Stuart Square in Cardiff Bay. 06/10/1986 Home Brew BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Cardiff
CLIP Cymru: Ian Skidmore walks around the docks and Mount Stuart Square in Cardiff Bay
The changing face of Tiger Bay, Cardiff with a song by Vic Parker
Language: English
Report on the changing face of Tiger Bay in Cardiff with a song by Vic Parker. 01/03/1968 Tamed and Shabby Tiger BBC Cymru Wales
Location: Cardiff
CLIP Cymru: The changing face of Tiger Bay, Cardiff with a song by Vic Parker.