Before Bangor – my talk at Bangor History Festival 2025
I’m absolutely delighted to be speaking at this year’s Bangor History Festival, celebrating a truly special milestone — 1,500 years since the founding of Bangor.
This city holds a very special place in my heart. I did my PhD at Bangor University, and spent time teaching archaeology there too, so returning to take part in this festival feels like coming home. I’ve walked these streets, studied its landscapes, dug into its archives, and most recently, I was back in Bangor to record a history show for BBC Radio Wales, exploring its rich and layered past.
So, I’m thrilled to be bringing my talk, “Before Bangor”, to the festival on:
🗓 Saturday 18 October 2025
🕒 3:00 PM
📍 Pontio PL5
🎟️ Free entry
So, what was here before Bangor?
Long before Bangor got its official start in AD 525, the region was already buzzing with life, legends, and a surprising amount of archaeology. In this lively journey through time, I’ll explore what came Before Bangor — from prehistoric settlements and mysterious monuments to Roman roads, artefacts, and place-names that whisper the stories of early Gwynedd and Anglesey.
Think of it as “Bangor BC” — the untold prequel.
Come for the archaeology, stay for the stories, and leave knowing that Bangor’s roots go far deeper than you might have thought… quite literally.
Bangor History Festival
This brilliant, free festival features talks, exhibitions, and activities in both Welsh and English, taking place across Pontio, Storiel, and Bangor Cathedral. It’s a fantastic celebration of the city’s 1,500-year story, and the people, places, and events that shaped it.
I’d love to see you at the talk, and if you’re around, please come and say hello after!
