Where are you from? I am a native from Bangor, where I still reside.
What are your main research interests? Landscape History, Cultural/Human geography, Contemporary Welsh political and cultural history, and History of the Snowdonia National Park.
When did you join ISWE? I am a relatively young pup, having only joined the Institute as a Research and Engagement Associate in April 2024. My doctoral project is entitled 'Contested Landscapes: The reactions and responses to the siting of Trawsfynydd nuclear power station, 1957-59' and although my research is not directly linked to ISWE, there are many intellectual and scholarly crossovers between my area of study and the research conducted by the Cohort, such as discussions regarding the Welsh rural landscape, its culture and debates around national identity. As a result, I was excited to be invited into this community of shared intellectual interests, and I hope to gain considerable insight in the coming months.
What is your favourite historical period and why? While my doctoral research is focused on the fate of post-war rural Wales, I must confess that my favourite period in history is Classical and Hellenistic Greece. Stemming from my love for ancient literature and mythology, I have for some time been completely enamoured by the Athens of Pericles, ancient Sparta, Thebes and Corinth, and the legendary oracle at Delphi, and the flourishing of culture and art, political theory, and scientific discovery that this period cultivated. Moreover, I am fascinated by the monumental struggle for survival that this patchwork of Greek city states endured against the might of the Persian Empire, as famously told by the Father of History, Herodotus (although I also love the endless quarrels between these fierce Greek rivals for ultimate supremacy of the Greek mainland!)
Your favourite place in Wales? For me, nothing beats the slate quarrying regions of north Wales. Only in these post-industrial landscapes can we see the brutal marriage between ‘man’ and ‘nature’, and the tension between ‘culture’ and ‘beauty’, themes and concepts which are seemingly at such odds with each other, played out so vividly in front of our eyes. And as a keen hiker/swimmer/cyclist, I love to visit these landscapes anew, to consider how they were utilised in the past, how they have been perceived by different people, and how the function of these environments have changed over the years.
Can you recommend any books, TV shows, podcasts, blogs that you have enjoyed recently? I am absolutely obsessed with “The Rest is History”. Presented by British historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, this podcast is informative, insightful, and above all hugely entertaining! From Alexander the Great to Harold Wilson, from the sinking of the Titanic to History’s Greatest Monkeys, this podcast has something for everyone, and is steered magnificently by Holland and Sandbrook, who seem to have endless knowledge of the subjects under discussion. Expect tremendously interesting topics, expert historical analysis, and hilariously bad accents!
What are your hobbies or favourite extracurricular activities? I love the great Welsh outdoors, and so I’m very much in my element in north Wales. I try to visit Snowdonia National Park as often as I can, to climb its peaks, cycle its quiet roads, and swim its lakes and rivers. I’m also a keen runner, and I am always “currently training” for a half marathon or triathlon, which strangely never materialises! Additionally, as a keen audiophile I love listening to music, old and new, and I like attempting to recreate those beautiful sounds on my guitar, with mixed results!
Contact Sean:
engage.iswe@bangor.ac.uk