A report of wars in Glamorgan: evidence of damage, wreckage, and heritage?

Abstract

Glamorgan is a historic county of Wales, limited south and west by the Bristol Channel, in which defensive structures are a frequent and a persistent topic regarding its heritage and history. Apart from Wales numerous castles, hillforts and fortifications, the country has also relics from the Great War and the Second World War. Several of them lost or demolished, however many of them still endure. Then, what role those remaining relics play on society? It is common to accept that the purpose of them was self-protective, providing defence from attack during raids and warfare. However, when conflicts and war are past and people’s interest in their history and heritage is progressively increasing through the years, how did Wales manage those remains and what do they mean? Some have argued that maintaining or conserving military remains is dependent on future management by the government and that it demands a deliberate re-framing of history. Based on those facts, this article has the objective to show and discuss evidence of damage, wreckage and defeat over time caused by war in the historic county of Glamorgan. As means to achieve it, significant use of maps and pictures will show the extent of damage and, individual case studies will be considered throughout this article to contribute to the discussion of different types of heritage and stories lost over time.