The Welsh radio museum
Gwefr Heb Wifrau - Wireless in Wales, a charitable trust, is a small radio museum with a difference. With its emphasis on the history of broadcasting in Wales, the influence of broadcasting on our national identity and the contribution of the Welsh to the development of wireless technology it is unique. We have an interesting collection of old radio equipment and books, as well as educational and informative displays. The Museum is based around the collection of the late David Evan Jones and was opened just a few weeks after his death in 2008.
We were officially re-accredited by the Museums, Archives and Libraries Division of the Welsh Government in May 2018.
The museum is open on Mondays, 11.00 - 15.00, with the exception of bank holidays. Group and private visits are welcome at any other time, by appointment, throughout the year.
Wireless in Wales provides a safe and secure environment for volunteers and visitors, including wheelchair access throughout the building, a hearing loop and exhibits for safe handling. Our staff are trained and experienced in looking after visitors with disabilities.
A SERIES OF TALKS AND EVENTS AT WIRELESS IN WALES RADIO MUSEUM DENBIGH 2018 – 2019
SEPTEMBER 2018
Friday 21st September 7pm - 9pm "Your Ring-The Human Cost". Speaker: John Clark
OCTOBER 2018
Friday 19th October 7pm - 9pm "New Medicines and the NHS": Speaker: Professor Dyfrig Hughes
NOVEMBER 2018
Friday 16th November 7pm - 9pm "The Welsh in Liverpool": Speaker : Mike Farnworth
NOVEMBER 2018
Friday 30th November 7pm - 9pm : Curators Evening:
"Thomas Edison: The Man who nearly invented Radio": Speaker David Crawford
DECEMBER 2018
JANUARY 2019
Friday 18th January 7pm - 9pm "Community Digital Radio": Speaker Dr Selwyn Williams
FEBRUARY 2019
Friday February 15th 7pm - 9pm : "Geography, Geology and Gemstones": Speaker Tony Vine
MARCH 2019
Friday March 17th 7pm - 9pm "David Edward Hughes Annual Lecture": "MADE Studio: Carriageworks Denbigh : Art in Science and Technology". Speakers: Studio Artists
APRIL 2019
Friday 5th April 7pm - 9pm: "Heading for the City : Following the story of a Wireless Operator and a German WW1 Cruiser": Speaker: Christopher Lees
MAY 2019
Friday 17th May 7pm - 9pm : "The Editing and Manipulation of Photography": Speaker: Sue Clark
JUNE 2019
Friday 21st June 7pm - 9pm: "In the Recording Studio" : Speaker Richard Vernon
PLEASE KEEP REFERRING TO THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Monthly update, July 2018
Wireless in Wales is a member of the North East Wales Heritage Forum and it was the Forum who recently organised a '100 Object' exhibition at Wrexham Museum, where our Foulkes radio is being displayed. The Forum aims to inspire interest in the diverse heritage of the area, work together on regional projects and publicise the projects.
As a result of this collaboration, people from Wrexham came to our lecture on 'Mining in North East Wales' by Alan Jones, chairman of the North Wales Miners Association Trust. Alan stated that the trust's intention is to "preserve the mining artefacts which still exist and record our mining heritage for future generations". Alan listed the artefacts that they have managed to rescue and preserve since the establishment of the trust, including the Miners Rescue Station, Maesgwyn Road, Wrexham; the big wheel at Llay; the winding engine house in Bersham, which hopefully will be turned in to a Museum; and the brick tub at Rhosllanerchrhugog. They have bought an old library van and adapted it so that it can be used as a small museum on school visits. Alan mentioned the minerals in the area, copper, silver, gold, slate, and coal, and he named the coalfields, including a small coalfield to the north of Denbigh. When he talked about the difficult conditions working underground, one of the audience, Denys, responded by saying that he had been a Bevin Boy during the war. They chatted for a long time, much to the interest of the audience!
Alan, Vesi, Denys and Heather from the Forum
On June 15th, the National Poet of Wales came to give us a talk, in English, on 'The Poet as Translator and Ambassador'. Not everyone had realised previously that Ifor ap Glyn had been a member of the steering committee seeking to establish the Language Centre, while living in Denbigh, and it was nice to see him return to the town and the building. He talked about the place and importance of poetry in Welsh culture up to the present day and he spent the evening reading poems from his new bilingual book 'Cuddle Call' (bilingual title!) and explained the background of the poems and essays. He noted that one poem 'Terraces' had been projected onto the side of Big Ben in London on Remembrance Day 2016, in the city where he was born. In Poland, he came across a woman who had learned Welsh and had translated some of his poems to Polish. Recently, he has been to China on a trade and cultural mission from Wales where he had to listen to his poems being read in the native language!
Thanks to the Mayor and to everyone else who supported our Coffee Morning in conjunction with Vale of Clwyd Mind and the Denbigh Museum. Over £300 was raised.
The Museum will be open on Saturdays during August. If you would like to arrange visits at other times, please contact us at:
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Events
The museum organises regular monthly talks in English or Bilingual. We also organise several talks in Welsh annually. The talks are usually on a Friday and start at 7pm. Upcoming Events are listed below with the talks emphasized.
Latest news
HLF Project
The 2 year project to develop our learning provision came to an end in April 2013. It was funded by the Heritage Lotetry Fund and enabled us to have 3 part time members of staff to develop learning resources, improve learning displays, organise events, visits to the museum etc. Further details available by clicking on Projects in the main menu above or by clicking here.