Figure 1.--This studio family portarir shows an unidentified Welsh family. We see mum with her four young children. They look to be abiut 1-10 years old. Both boys wear standard short pants suits with knee socks. The portrait is und. We would guress it was taken in the 1930s.

While we have very few 19th century Welsh images, we have found some 20th century images. We notice Welsh families in the 20th century, but they look indestinguishable fron English families at the time. With few exceptions, unless the studio or other locality information is on the photograph, it is impossible to tell that the image is Welsh. The Anglization of Welsh society began far earlier and has been more complete than that of Scotland. And this was very pronounced by the 20th centutry. English was becoming increasingly dominant and we see little or no difference in how the Welsh dressed and lived. We also note the James family which emigrated to Australia in 1927. They seems a modest income family. We notice a Rhyl family pronably aboutb1930 (figure 1). And there is no way of distunuishing them from an English family. The boys wear the standard short pants suits and knee socks. Today when one crosses the Welsh-English border, the only real difference is the length of the place names. I have traveled widely in Wales and except for the place names, noticed no real differences.

The 1900s

We notice Welsh families in the 20th century, but they look indestinguishable fron English families at the time. With few, the location of studios is on 19th century photographs. This is less true of 20th century phoytograohs, also we still see quite a few imges with studio identifiction in the 1900s decade. Many nee formats, especially familu snzpshoys sre not identified. The problem is eben if a studio is identified, it is impossible to tell if the subjdcts are Weklsh. Maby English people lived in or visited Wales. The Anglization of Welsh society began far eralier and has been much more comolete than that of Scotland. And this was very pronounced by the 20th centutry. English was becoming increasingly dominant and we see little or no difference in how the Welsh dressed and lived. We notice a well dressed family in Wales, we believe in the 1900s. We think that people in smll towns like this are likely to be ethnic Welsh. The issuer of social class variation also hasto be considered. We are less sue sbout well-to-do fmilies. .

The 1920s

We note the James family which emigrated to Australia in 1927. They seems a modest income family, but going barefoot was very common in Wales.

The 1930s

We notice a Rhyl family pronably in the 1930s (figure 1). And there is no way of distunuishing them from an English family. The boys wear the standard short pants suits and knee socks. Today when one crosses the Welsh-English border, the only real difference is the length of the place names.

The 1980s

We have traveled widely in Wales and except for the place names, noticed no real differences.

Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
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Created: 6:05 AM 4/8/2020
Last updated: 7:29 PM 9/20/2021