Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
Encyclopedia
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion (or Anrhydeddus Gymdeithas y Cymmrodorion) was founded in 1751 as a literary society
devoted to the preservation of the Welsh language
. It was founded by two brothers, Lewis Morris and Richard Morris
, natives of Anglesey
. The society has always been notably apolitical, which meant it had more in common with its equivalents in Scotland
, than with those in Ireland
. The society was originally based in London
, and remains so to this day. It has its own publications, and holds lectures, all of which concern the native culture, language and literature of the Welsh.
It published the journals Y Cymmrodor (1823-1843, 1877-1951), Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
(1897-present), and individual volumes relating to historical sources. The journals are being digitized by the Welsh Journals Online project at the National Library of Wales
.
The Society postal address is as follows: Cymmrodorion, PO Box 55178, London, N12 2AY.
The Society is mentioned by Robert Graves in his autobiograhy "Goodbye To All That". He visited the Society whilst on leave from the Western Front in April 1916 to hear W. M. Hughes, the Australian Prime Minister, and Lloyd George, the Secretary of War speak of whom he wrote - "The power of his rhetoric amazed me."
Literary society
A literary society is a group of people interested in literature. In the modern sense, this refers to a society that wants to promote one genre of literature or a specific writer. Modern literary societies typically promote research about their chosen author or genre, publish newsletters, and hold...
devoted to the preservation of the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
. It was founded by two brothers, Lewis Morris and Richard Morris
Richard Morris (folklorist)
Richard Morris was a Welsh folklorist, a younger brother of Lewis Morris.Morris was born in Anglesey, one of four notable brothers whose surviving correspondence is a valuable record of the time. He went to work in London as a clerk and court interpreter. In 1757, he became Chief Clerk to the...
, natives of Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
. The society has always been notably apolitical, which meant it had more in common with its equivalents in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, than with those in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The society was originally based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and remains so to this day. It has its own publications, and holds lectures, all of which concern the native culture, language and literature of the Welsh.
It published the journals Y Cymmrodor (1823-1843, 1877-1951), Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion / Trafodion Anrhydedd Gymdeithas y Cymmrodorion is the annual journal of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, published from 1893 ; it and contains historical and literary essays and reviews...
(1897-present), and individual volumes relating to historical sources. The journals are being digitized by the Welsh Journals Online project at the National Library of Wales
National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales , Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales; one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies.Welsh is its main medium of communication...
.
The Society postal address is as follows: Cymmrodorion, PO Box 55178, London, N12 2AY.
The Society is mentioned by Robert Graves in his autobiograhy "Goodbye To All That". He visited the Society whilst on leave from the Western Front in April 1916 to hear W. M. Hughes, the Australian Prime Minister, and Lloyd George, the Secretary of War speak of whom he wrote - "The power of his rhetoric amazed me."