Why did Wales retain a separate identity from England?

Wales came under English rule fairly on, and legally speaking it was part of England for much of its history (since Henry VIII's reign, I believe). Why did it manage to retain a distinct identity as a separate "country," unlike other outlying regions of England such as the Southwest (except for, kind of, Cornwall) or the north?
 

Lateknight

Banned
Wales came under English rule fairly on, and legally speaking it was part of England for much of its history (since Henry VIII's reign, I believe). Why did it manage to retain a distinct identity as a separate "country," unlike other outlying regions of England such as the Southwest (except for, kind of, Cornwall) or the north?

Because for the most part in human history people didn't really move around much also Wales didn't have anything special going for it in the pre Industrial Age. They also spoke a different language this helped them remain a independent culture.
 
Mountains. They created enough of a geographical barrier that the Anglo-Saxons (and later, English) generally decided to stay on their side and not settle the region. The Basques survived in their corner of the Pyrenees for much the same reason.
 
Basically, most of Wales didn't see any large-scale English immigration until the 19th Century, and those areas which did rapidly became very English.
 
Basically, most of Wales didn't see any large-scale English immigration until the 19th Century, and those areas which did rapidly became very English.

Such as which places?

Also, are there people in Wales who would identify as "both Welsh and English"? Or are people pretty much inclined to see themselves as Welsh alone?
 
Such as which places?

Also, are there people in Wales who would identify as "both Welsh and English"? Or are people pretty much inclined to see themselves as Welsh alone?

South Wales, which is the center of industry, become rapidly anglophone in the 19th century due to migration.
 
Last edited:
Such as which places?

Also, are there people in Wales who would identify as "both Welsh and English"? Or are people pretty much inclined to see themselves as Welsh alone?

Newport, Cardiff, Wrexham, Flintshire, parts of the valleys. The Welsh Language was basically dead in most of industrial Wales by the Interwar period and this caused large issues later on in the Welsh nationalist movement (a clash between those who thought that Welsh was by definition synonymous with the rural Eisteddfods, bards, farms etc. and the much more populous industrial areas where even those who had managed to stay Welsh speaking had completely different cultural expectations.
 

Sior

Banned
Newport, Cardiff, Wrexham, Flintshire, parts of the valleys. The Welsh Language was basically dead in most of industrial Wales by the Interwar period and this caused large issues later on in the Welsh nationalist movement (a clash between those who thought that Welsh was by definition synonymous with the rural Eisteddfods, bards, farms etc. and the much more populous industrial areas where even those who had managed to stay Welsh speaking had completely different cultural expectations.

Just go up the valleys and ask what they think of the english , (Welsh speaking or not) They are not liked and are seen as arrogant, condescending and could pick the pocket of a dead man!
 
Just go up the valleys and ask what they think of the english , (Welsh speaking or not) They are not liked and are seen as arrogant, condescending and could pick the pocket of a dead man!

I was using English in the sense of Anglophone in the earlier part. And frankly that's pretty normal among all close-nit communities. Particularly those in more isolated areas.
 
Top