FabSwingers.com forum: Top 10 Fascinating Facts About Wales

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

With only about three million people and a sheep population three times larger, you might be forgiven for thinking that Wales is a dull place, populated only by d*unkards with incomprehensible names and hairy ears. While the hairy ears thing is almost certainly a lie made up by the treacherous English, Wales is actually a fascinating country with mysteries around every corner.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Wales has a lot of hot women - Fact

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Welshmen never yeld

When conquering the British Isles, one of the major problems in history has been the “Welsh problem.” From hill forts in the Roman dominion to the stonework of the Normans and beyond, the Welsh were murderous and difficult to beat. The Romans took over 40 years to subdue the various tribes, which is quite the feat considering that Caesar’s Gallic Wars lasted just eight years.As the Roman historian Tacitus wrote of the campaign in North Wales:On the coastline, a line of warriors of the opposition was stationed, mainly made up of armed men, among them women, with their hair blowing in the wind, while they were carrying torches. Druids were among them, shouting terrifying spells, their hands raised toward the heavens, which scared our soldiers so much that their limbs became paralyzed. As a result, they remained stationary and were injured. At the end of the battle, the Romans were victorious, and the holy oaks of the druids were destroyed.[1]Brutal. The Welsh resistance was impressive, lasting from AD 48 to AD 90. Considering Boudicca rose and fell in a rebellion that lasted perhaps a single year, that the might of Rome was held by little more than tribal warrior cults tells of the difficult terrain encountered by the legions and the general surly mood of the Brythonic tribes across England—violent, uncultured, and prone to revolt. Even after building 300 defensive forts, the Romans never took full control of the country. It would not be for another 900 years that Wales would be truly invaded again.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It's where pooch and i live

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Offas dyke

In between the Romans deciding that Britain was pointless and the Normans deciding that Britain was actually a good place to take over after all, the country was split into many kingdoms. They spent their time killing each other and claiming that God was definitely on their side.The biggest of these was the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. Named for the eighth-century king who was presumed to have built it (until recently), Offa’s Dyke is a defensive earthwork that formed the border between Mercia and the Welsh kingdom of Powys.[2]At this time, the Mercian plan was to make all of England theirs. It’s important to note that the Mercians did not consider themselves “English” at all. They were Mercians, as much as modern Frenchmen are French and Italians are Italian. They were militarily and politically the most powerful people of the day, and even they had to spend decades building a defense that is 2.5 meters (8 ft) high, 20 meters (65 ft) wide, and 240 kilometers (150 mi) long just to keep Welsh people out.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Welsh Terrorism Boosted The Construction Industry.

After the Norman Conquest, which only took six years to put down all rebellion in England, the victors were presented with the same problem as everyone before them. Wales was a nightmare to control.Initially, the Welsh were not on the radar of King William the Conqueror. He only wanted the English crown that he felt was his. Feeling left out after almost 1,000 years of nonstop fighting and raiding, the Welsh funded more English rebellions to restore normal relations. The blowback was a series of invasions of Wales by the Normans that lasted for more than two centuries. At that point, the scene became so confused with barons changing sides and fighting each other that a consistent uprising was no longer apparent.[3] Due to the problems posed by terrain, the Normans adopted a similar tactic to the Romans: Build castles everywhere, and hope for the best. By this time, of course, stone fortifications were a possibility, and it is a testament to how unruly the Welsh were that there are over 600 sites where castles stood. One hundred castles still stand to this day, making Wales the most heavily fortified place on Earth.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Wales Had A Nazi-Obsessed Serial Killer.

We could fill this entire list with gory medieval Welsh history, but modern Wales has its own darkness, too. Peter Moore is one of the UK’s most dangerous men. Described in court as “the man in black—black thoughts and the blackest of deeds,” Moore had a penchant for Nazi regalia and was a dominant, violent homosexual who gained his sexual satisfaction from causing pain. By day, he was a mild-mannered owner of four small-town cinemas. At night, Moore donned black leather and assaulted other men. When finally caught, he confessed to over 50 violent attacks over 20 years. None of these attacks was fatal. It was only in 1995 that Moore came to the attention of the law. After the death of his mother the previous May, Moore killed four men in three months with a knife. He picked up some at gay meeting spots by chance and another through a shared affinity for Nazi paraphernalia.[4]When asked why he did it, Moore said: “For fun.” In court, he blamed the killings on Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th slasher movies.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

The Last Armed Uprising In The UK Was Welsh (Naturally).

There may be something in the water in South Wales. Nearly two millennia after the Romans were being merrily hacked to bits by Welsh tribes, there was the final armed uprising against the state. In 1838, Parliament rejected the first Chartist petition, which had such outrageous requests as “stop treating us like serfs, please” and “we want a day off sometimes.”Over 10,000 Chartists marched on Newport to protest the lack of representation. This led to a confrontation with a small detachment of soldiers and special constables who were stationed at the Westgate Hotel where some Chartist prisoners were held. A battle began that involved firearms, clubs, and homemade pikes.[5]In the end, 22 men lay dead and 50 were wounded. The ringleaders were the last people in Britain sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. But this was commuted by Queen Victoria for the allegedly more merciful punishment of being sent to Australia forever.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Goats Are Important.

While Wales is more commonly associated with sheep, goats also play a bizarre role in modern life, particularly in the military. Since 1844, the Royal Welch Fusiliers have had a goat as part of their troops—with all the rights and privileges that came with the rank the goat possessed.Until his death (from old age) in 2015, a goat called Taffy was officially known as Lance Corporal Gwillam Jenkins, which meant he was saluted by lower ranks and had his own quarters. However, William Windsor I (aka Billy), another goat in the same position from 2001–09, was once demoted to fusilier for three months after refusing to remain in parade formation (in front of the queen, no less) and for trying to headbutt a drummer.[6]In other goat news, a Welsh man was once prescribed two years’ worth of Valium to combat headaches. Due to an error by his doctor, he was instructed to take all the medication over a period of two months. This led to some interesting life choices, including an impromptu house sale and new lodgings in a hovel with goats. The case was settled out of court for the sum of £50,000.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Yeah yeah yeah,well us english have a breakfast named after us so there

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Declining Industry Is A Major Problem, And The Kids Aren’t All Right.

When the steelworks at Port Talbot closes, it will be the end of yet another centuries-old industry in Wales, following coal, wool, and indeed piracy into the annals of history. Due to competition for raw materials production from the Far East, most manufacturing and heavy industry jobs are gone.Some areas of Wales are now experiencing youth unemployment as high as 25 percent or more. There are few job prospects beyond the most basic manual labor or the ever-present service industry. The process of privatization and eventual closure of the industries that made Wales the powerhouse of the British Empire began under Margaret Thatcher. The recession of the 1980s also drove a spike into the heart of Welsh industry.Although there have been attempts to move further into high-tech industries (including an aviation company headed by Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson), many employees of these firms are graduates from better universities than Wales can provide. The young Welsh are left with a grim future indeed.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

3 Rugby Star Beats Scotland, Gets D*unk, Evades Police.

No list on Wales would be complete without a rugby story. As most rugby stories end with bodily waste or copious swearing, we have found possibly the only PG-13 rugby story in Welsh history. After defeating Scotland in a Six Nations match, flanker Andy Powell was imbibing the normal amount of alcohol (as only rugby players know how) when he was struck by the urge to have a cigarette. You know, being an elite athlete and all. As he was no fool, he knew that taking a car to a nearby garage to buy cigarettes was out of the question. He was over the drink-driving limit. However, he was at a golf resort and surely, he reasoned, you can’t be arrested for being d*unk while driving a golf cart.[8]When stopped some 6 kilometers (4 mi) and 45 minutes later by police, Powell failed a breath test. He was also told that, while technically a golf cart is not a car, you still cannot drive it on the biggest motorway in the country. These small countries are crazy. Just imagine a famous American football player getting into a car chase—it would be ridiculous.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

The Aberfan Disaster.

Mining life dominated industrial Wales for generations. But by the 20th century, the perfect storm of a laissez-faire attitude toward health and safety and mass industrialization led to one of the worst tragedies in British history.The National Coal Board had been warned for years about the spoil tips that overlooked the village of Aberfan, but nothing was done. Spoil, the fine particles of coal and other worthless by-products of mining, was taken to the top of the Welsh valleys where the land was unusable. This matter was prone to slippage, having the consistency of sand and small stones. Tip Number Seven at Aberfan began in 1958. By October 1966, it contained over 225,000 cubic meters (7.9 million ft3) of waste, which was soaked by the incessant autumn rains.When the slip happened at 9:15 AM on Friday, October 21—the last day before half-term—150,000 cubic meters (5.3 million ft3) of debris broke away from the tip and flowed downhill at avalanche speeds. It swamped houses on the hills and buried Pantglas Junior School.Sadly, 116 children died, all under 10 years old. Another 28 adults lost their lives, including five teachers.

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By *oncupiscentTonyMan
over a year ago

Kent

"Two lands at last connected

Across the waters wide,

And all the tolls collected

On the English side."

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Milford Haven Is Still Full Of Pirates (And Had A Hand In Starting The US Navy).

In 1697, Daniel Defoe rhetorically asked, “Who would serve his king and country and fight and be knocked on the head for 24 shillings per month that can have 50 shillings without that hazard?” This truism went double for the Pembrokeshire sailors of the 18th century.Between Tenby, Fishguard, and Milford Haven, the sea was king twice over. First, as for all Britain, it was the source of wealth, and second, it was as far away as possible from the law and yet close to the Atlantic, the Irish Sea, and the English Channel. Henry Morgan and Black Bart (both Welshmen), John Paul Jones (Scottish but rebelled to form the first United States Navy), and many other pirates made their mark from and indeed on Pembrokeshire. Many caves (such as Tobacco Cave) are known by the goods that were once smuggled, and many fine houses were built on the profits of plunder.It has long been rumored that most Milford folk are of pirate stock.[10] Whether they were being raided or setting out to sea for pillage, the pirate’s life left an indelible mark on this part of Wales in culture, architecture, and mentality. Yarr.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Wales has a lot of hot women - Fact

xxx

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"It's where pooch and i live

And PTU. 12

xxx

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Yeah yeah yeah,well us english have a breakfast named after us so there "

What you eat English people? I'm glad I'm welsh.

xxx

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

""Two lands at last connected

Across the waters wide,

And all the tolls collected

On the English side.""

13 xxx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Wales has a lot of hot women - Fact

Missus is originally Welsh, I totally agree.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Wales I never! Interesting facts

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Wales I never! Interesting facts

Curtsy of list verse.

PTU xxx

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By *ighting17thMan
over a year ago

Bodmin

The name "Killer Whale" is actually a mistranslation of the Spanish name of these animals, who had first named them to science. The Spanish named them "Whale Killer" after they were witnessed attacking the calf of a large whale.

So, in fact, they are Whale Killers and not Killer Whales!

Oh, hang on, "WALES"???? My mistake.

As you were

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Credit to ListVerse (and wherever they stole it from).

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"The name "Killer Whale" is actually a mistranslation of the Spanish name of these animals, who had first named them to science. The Spanish named them "Whale Killer" after they were witnessed attacking the calf of a large whale.

So, in fact, they are Whale Killers and not Killer Whales!

Oh, hang on, "WALES"???? My mistake.

As you were

13 and a half.

xxx

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Credit to ListVerse (and wherever they stole it from)."

list verse it's my bath time reading. Xxx

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By *wisted999Man
over a year ago

North Bucks

Bounce below is fun.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

love the accent

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By *ighting17thMan
over a year ago

Bodmin

So, in fact, they are Whale Killers and not Killer Whales!

Oh, hang on, "WALES"???? My mistake.

As you were

13 and a half.

xxx"

Ah, thank you xx

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By * and M lookingCouple
over a year ago

Worcester

"Wales has a lot of hot women - Fact

They cant all be in the change, lol, can't possibly be the sunshine, it's always raining .

Love Abersoch, shame it's always cloudy though.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Is... "Cardiff is a shit hole" on that list?....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Fact 10 it's not in England

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Wales is mostly mountains...

If you flattened them all out, then Wales would be bigger than England...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Wales is mostly mountains...

If you flattened them all out, then Wales would be bigger than England...

Yeah BS unless you can prove it....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Wales has changed its mind over brexit and would like to stay in.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It rains.

Lots.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It rains.

Lots.

Everyone says that...it's been lovely thankyou but that rumour keeps out some of the annoying tourists who pinch my quiet spots

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By *rightonfranceMan
over a year ago

brighton - chalais france

Wales.. Where men are men and the sheep are nervous!!!

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By *ensualguy101Man
over a year ago

Orpington

OP, presume you work for the Welsh tourist board...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I just like welsh cakes and bara brith... that's all I need to know to make an opinion of wales

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By *rrol.BMan
over a year ago

Wrexham

Another thing worth noting is the welsh propensity for cross-dressing and then smashing things up.

The Rebecca Riots are the most famous example of this.

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By *rrol.BMan
over a year ago

Wrexham

We also invented the boring bar lathe.

The invention allowed for cannons to be constructed out of a single piece of iron. This meant they were more likely to blow up the people you're trying to blow up than the people firing the cannon!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Wales has a lot of hot women - Fact

xxx"

Your copying and pasting these aren't you

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

We'll get everything done in a minute now after

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

There's a really HUGE bridge.

I was rather scared crossing it in Talulha

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It rains.

Lots.

Everyone says that...it's been lovely thankyou but that rumour keeps out some of the annoying tourists who pinch my quiet spots

Ooo er. Phenar phenar. Pinching your quiet spots

I told my kids it always rains in Wales and the next two times we crossed the bridge it started raining so they believed me for years

Sorry Wales

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Those bloody sheep that mock you half way up Pen y Fan

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By *rrol.BMan
over a year ago

Wrexham

Rain is Wales' natural defence against the holidaying English.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It's an urban myth that it rains (a lot) in Wales. Have you seen what the English have done to the Costa del Sol.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Im visiting there on the 10th June

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'd prefer to pay to leave

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It rains.

Lots.

Everyone says that...it's been lovely thankyou but that rumour keeps out some of the annoying tourists who pinch my quiet spots

Ooo er. Phenar phenar. Pinching your quiet spots

I told my kids it always rains in Wales and the next two times we crossed the bridge it started raining so they believed me for years

Sorry Wales

That's really cruel

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It rains.

Lots.

Everyone says that...it's been lovely thankyou but that rumour keeps out some of the annoying tourists who pinch my quiet spots

Ooo er. Phenar phenar. Pinching your quiet spots

I told my kids it always rains in Wales and the next two times we crossed the bridge it started raining so they believed me for years

Sorry Wales

That's really cruel

I'm an appalling parent

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By * and M lookingCouple
over a year ago

Worcester

"Rain is Wales' natural defence against the holidaying English."

The English don't holiday in Wales do they?

Think you mean visit...tee hee

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It rains.

Lots.

Everyone says that...it's been lovely thankyou but that rumour keeps out some of the annoying tourists who pinch my quiet spots

Ooo er. Phenar phenar. Pinching your quiet spots

I told my kids it always rains in Wales and the next two times we crossed the bridge it started raining so they believed me for years

Sorry Wales

That's really cruel

I'm an appalling parent

Can't be any worse than my mother....for years she told me Salmon was 'deep sea cod' ..I don't want to eat pink fish when I was a little girl. And the worst part ...she only told me the truth in my early 20's

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Obviously I was born in South Wales and still reside here.

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By *isa 59Woman
over a year ago

Newcastle

"Im visiting there on the 10th June

And I'll be there from 12th - 14th

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By *imiUKMan
over a year ago

Hereford

I have at various times, lived in Ceredigion, Gwynedd, Mon, Swansea and Monmouthshire and Mid-Glamorgan.

I kinda miss Wales.

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By * and M lookingCouple
over a year ago

Worcester

Our dog came from Wales

Right on the border.

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By *crumdiddlyumptiousMan
over a year ago

I used to go to North Wales a lot as a child and I have probably been to Conway Castle around 10 times most recently last year, I stayed in Ruthin Castle for the weekend a couple of years ago as well, I also used to go there for my job travelling to its most famous supermarket nearly every day doing maintenance work,

Wales

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

British by birth

But welsh by the grace of god

And pretty damn proud of it xx

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By *uckOfTheBayMan
over a year ago

Mold

There's a social run every other month in Cardiff by a certain Fabber

Just saying

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By *uckOfTheBayMan
over a year ago

Mold

Cerys Matthews sings one of the most patriotic songs

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OwyR-ir9XX4#

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By *iSTARessWoman
over a year ago

London

Off to Pembrokeshire this weekend

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By *exycouplemmmmCouple
over a year ago

Surrey

I went out with a Welsh guy for six months.., he/we were fantastic in bed but he turned out to be a total narcissist! And it broke me

He took me to some lovely places but I'm tainted by how he behaved unfortunately x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Great place to walk Pooch

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It's a beautiful Principality. I'd not want to live anywhere else (apart from Scotland and Cornwall).

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It produced me.

Alright and some other folks

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Katherine Jenkins

Other Catherine's are available

Sian who I fancied like mad but is now a lesbian

Some of my favourite fabbers live there

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By *enuine and hornyMan
over a year ago

gwynedd

"British by birth

But welsh by the grace of god

And pretty damn proud of it xx"
well said , me too xx

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I really owt to stop starting threads after I've taken my night time meds. Cos I always forget I've posted em.

xxx

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By *enuine and hornyMan
over a year ago

gwynedd

"I really owt to stop starting threads after I've taken my night time meds. Cos I always forget I've posted em.

xxx "
I liked it , well done you x

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