National Library of Wales

The National Library of Wales: A Bastion of Celtic Heritage and Memory

Perched majestically on Penglais Hill, looking out over the sweeping expanse of Cardigan Bay, stands an institution that is far more than a mere repository of books. The National Library of Wales—Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru—is the beating heart of the nation’s cultural memory. For over a century, this grand establishment in Aberystwyth has been tasked with an almost sacred duty: to gather, protect, and illuminate the history, language, and spirit of the Welsh people. It is a place where the ancient whispers of bards meet the modern records of a dynamic nation, ensuring that the legacy of Wales remains vibrant and accessible for centuries to come.

The Battle for a National Institution

Photo: National Library of Wales, CC BY-SA 3.0. Source

The story of the Library’s founding is deeply rooted in the Victorian era's renewed sense of Welsh national identity. As early as 1873, a committee of impassioned scholars and patriots gathered with a singular vision: to create a national collection of Welsh manuscripts and house them at the newly established University College in Aberystwyth. However, the path to a dedicated national library was not without its dramas. The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries saw the fierce "Battle of the Sites," a spirited rivalry between Cardiff and Aberystwyth, both vying for the honour of hosting the nation's premier institutions.

In 1905, the Privy Council reached a Solomonic compromise, deciding that Cardiff would become home to the National Museum, while Aberystwyth would be the proud site of the National Library. On the 19th of March 1907, the Library was officially brought into being by Royal Charter. This monumental achievement was made possible by the extraordinary generosity of benefactors, most notably Sir John Williams, a prominent physician and obsessive collector. Sir John donated his unparalleled private collection of rare books and manuscripts, alongside a staggering £20,000 to the building fund, laying a foundation of philanthropy that would define the institution.

Milestones in Preservation and Protection

In 1911, King George V and Queen Mary laid the foundation stone of the magnificent purpose-built structure that would become the Library's permanent home. That same year marked a pivotal milestone: the Library was granted legal deposit status. This extraordinary privilege entitled it to claim a copy of every single book published in the United Kingdom and Ireland, transforming it from a specialised archive into one of the most significant research institutions in the world.

Perhaps one of the most thrilling and lesser-known chapters in the Library’s history occurred during the dark days of the Second World War. As the Blitz threatened the cultural treasures of London and beyond, the National Library of Wales was secretly transformed into a subterranean sanctuary. A cavernous tunnel was carved into the rock face of Penglais Hill, equipped with state-of-the-art heating and ventilation. Here, far from the devastation of aerial bombardment, some of the British Museum's most priceless artefacts were given safe haven. The Magna Carta, the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci, and the works of William Shakespeare were all sheltered deep within the Welsh hillside, guarded by the dedicated staff of the Library. This heroic wartime effort ensured the survival of not just Welsh heritage, but the cultural legacy of Western civilisation itself.

Treasures of the Welsh Nation

Today, the Library protects a breathtaking array of artefacts. Within its climate-controlled vaults reside over 6.5 million printed volumes, alongside the largest collection of archives, maps, portraits, and photographs in Wales. But it is the rare Welsh manuscripts that truly form the crown jewels of the collection.

The Library is the custodian of the Black Book of Carmarthen, dating to around 1250, making it the earliest surviving manuscript written entirely in the Welsh language. It holds the Book of Taliesin, which contains some of the oldest known Welsh poetry, and the White Book of Rhydderch, which preserves the earliest known copy of the Mabinogion—the foundational myths and legends of the Celtic Britons. It also protects Yn y lhyvyr hwnn (1546), the first book ever printed in Welsh, and William Morgan’s legendary 1588 translation of the Bible, a work widely credited with saving the Welsh language from extinction.

Beyond parchment and paper, the National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales operates within the Library, rescuing and preserving the nation’s film, television, and audio heritage. From early silent films capturing the harsh realities of mining communities to the soaring sounds of male voice choirs, the Library ensures that the multi-sensory history of Wales is never silenced.

The Heartbeat of a Community and Culture

The National Library of Wales is profoundly significant to the local community in Ceredigion and to the wider Welsh diaspora. It is a place of pilgrimage for historians, genealogists, and those simply seeking a connection to their ancestors. Its presence in Aberystwyth has cultivated a rich intellectual environment, directly contributing to the town being named Wales' first UNESCO City of Literature in 2025.

If the work of the Library were to cease, the loss would be incalculable. It would not merely be the loss of books or ancient scrolls; it would be the severing of the umbilical cord that connects modern Wales to its past. The stories of its people, the evolution of its ancient language, and the physical evidence of its cultural struggles and triumphs would slowly disintegrate into dust and forgotten memory. The Library stands as a bulwark against time, ensuring that the Welsh identity remains rooted, resilient, and proudly remembered.

History is kept alive not just by grand institutions, but by the everyday people who value and protect their own slice of the past. This article was inspired in part by personal memories connected to the National Library of Wales that were recently preserved through digitisation. If anyone holds old photographs, film footage, or recordings connected to this remarkable organisation or the surrounding community, professional services like EachMoment can help ensure they survive for future generations, allowing personal histories to echo alongside the great national narratives.