In an unique partnership between The National Library of Wales and ITV Cymru Wales, a new development has been announced to make thousands of clips from the ITV Cymru Wales archives freely available online. Previously, access to this extensive collection that forms part of the Wales Broadcast Archive was limited to on-site viewing at The National Library of Wales and eight dedicated ‘Clip Corners’ across the country, mostly located in libraries and archives.
Now, in an effort to open up this rich resource to a wider audience, a sizeable collection of clips are freely available online—offering unprecedented access to decades of Welsh history and culture from the comfort of your own home, or device. Already there are 4,900 clips up online and every month new clips will be added – the plan is to make more of ITV Cymru Wales’ collection available as it is digitised by the digitisation teams at the National Library of Wales.
The clips capture a wide range of stories, from local news to international events, starting in 1958. Many of the clips include behind-the-scenes moments and unedited footage, offering a rare glimpse into the context and character of the times. This release marks a major step forward in preserving and sharing the story of Wales through the lens of one of its most significant broadcasters.
Owain Meredith, ITV Cymru Wales’ Archivist said: “ITV Cymru Wales has always worked in close partnership with the Welsh audience. We have filmed events and people with the permission and support of the Welsh people, the ITV Cymru Wales archive belongs to Wales and it is amazing news that now everybody has access to the archive, and their own history, free of restrictions and from the comfort of their own home”.
Since 2022, the National Library of Wales digitisation team has been working to preserve and digitise thousands of hours of footage stored on 16mm film and 1-inch video tapes. The process involves intricate work: repairing and scanning fragile film, colour grading, syncing sound, and cataloguing each piece with detailed metadata. Volunteers have also played a crucial role, creating descriptions and improving searchability—ensuring this archive is both accessible and preserved for future generations.
Dr Rhodri Llwyd Morgan The National Library of Wales’ Chief Executive said: “Widening access to our collections and encouraging public engagement with their cultural heritage are key priorities for the Library, and this exciting development provides another fantastic way of achieving those aims. The Wales Broadcast Archive has been a hive of activity for several years with detailed and extensive digitisation work. We hope the public will enjoy this incredible resource for entertainment as well as research purposes.”
The Wales Broadcast Archive at The National Library of Wales celebrates the legacy of Welsh broadcasting and is a partnership between the Library, ITV Cymru Wales, BBC Cymru Wales, and S4C—funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Welsh Government, and the Library itself. Its mission is to preserve and share Wales’s broadcast heritage with everyone.
The newly available ITV Cymru Wales clips can be accessed by searching for Clip Cymru, clicking Search, then on Online to all. Or just follow this link:
https://clip.library.wales/search?published=published_public&sorting=DESC&results=12&viewmode=grid
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
** Mae’r datganiad yma hefyd ar gael yn Gymraeg **
For more information & requests for interview please contact: Lydia Jones, Wales Broadcast Archive Event and Project manager: lydia@lydiajones.cymru / 07980 444660
About the Wales Broadcast Archive:
The Wales Broadcast Archive project will give access to almost 400,000 programmes from the history of radio and television in Wales. A ground-breaking project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Welsh Government, the Broadcast Archive is held and managed by the National Library of Wales in partnership with the broadcasters BBC Cymru Wales, ITV Cymru Wales and S4C.
About the Wales Broadcast Archive Centre in Aberystwyth:
Visitors to the National Library of Wales can experience the scale and variety of the Broadcast Archive at the Wales Broadcast Archive Centre. The ‘On Air’ exhibition uses state-of-the-art technology and material selected from the Archive to tell the story of broadcasting in Wales. The audio and video lounges act as audiovisual bookshelves for leisurely browsing; there is an interactive table and green screen area to test your broadcasting knowledge and skills; and a study area where you can search more than 250,000 television and radio programmes. The Centre also has spaces dedicated to volunteer projects, group presentations and workshops for schools.
Clip Corners:
The public will be able to access the Wales Broadcast Archive at National Library of Wales at additional locations across Wales.
There are Clip Corners at:
- Carmarthen Library, Carmarthen
- Llanrwst Library, Llanrwst
- Conwy Culture Centre, Conwy
- West Glamorgan Archive Service, Swansea
- South Wales Miners’ Library, Swansea
- Gwynedd Archives, Caernarfon
- Cardiff University, Cardiff
- Glamorgan Archives, Cardiff
Clip Corners soon to be opened:
- Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff – May 2025
- Merthyr Tydfil Central Library, Merthyr Tydfil – June 2025
- Coleg Cambria Yale, Wrexham
- Northeast Wales Archives, Ruthin
- Anglesey Archives Service, Llangefni
- Pembrokeshire Archives and Local Studies, Haverfordwest
About the National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales is one of the great libraries of the world. Located in Aberystwyth, it is the home of the story of Wales.
Opened in 1907, the Library is the centre of research into the culture and heritage of Wales and the Celtic nations. The purpose of the Library is to make our culture and heritage accessible for everyone to learn, research and enjoy. We are a legal deposit library, which means we are entitled to a copy of every print publication in Britain and Ireland, but our collections also include the following:
- 7,000,000 feet of film
- 250,000 hours of video
- 6,000,000 books and newspapers
- 40,000 manuscripts
- 1,500,000 maps
- 150,000 hours of sound
- 950,000 photographs
- 60,000 works of art
- 1,900 cubic meters of archives
You can search the collections online and can find further information along with a list of resources on our website. www.library.wales/catalogues-searching/catalogues/specialist-catalogues
About the National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales
- Using money raised by the National Lottery, we inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/in-your-area/wales
- Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £30 million goes to good causes across the UK every week.
- Follow @HeritageFundCYM on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund.