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Traditional Welsh costume

Published on March 1st, 2024

To mark St David's Day we bring you this special selection of photographs of people in traditional Welsh costume from The Francis Frith Collection.

Photo: Rhiwbina, Welsh Girl c.1960.


The two ladies in this view outside the post office on the main road in Pensarn have been identified to The Francis Frith Collection as Miss Jones on the left, who was from the post office, and Emma Morgan on the right, who was 16 years old when this photograph was taken.

Photo: Pensarn, Women In Welsh Costume 1895.


Photo: Caernarfon, A Welsh Tea Party c.1900.


This was a very popular cafe near Llandudno, photographed when marketing meant painting the service you offered in bold letters on your roof! Waitresses in traditional Welsh costume brought your tea and lemonade to enjoy al fresco – weather permitting.

Photo: Llandudno, Pink Farm Café c.1955.


Photo: Holyhead, Welsh Costumes 1894.


"The Welsh costumed young lady outside the Rock Shop had an unlimited supply of Pwllheli Number 8 rock. A joy to eat, unlike so many of today's softer offerings at other seaside resorts. On a day visit to Barmouth from my home village of Dyffryn the three main events were the Rock Shop for a free sample, the Milk Bar for lunch and an hour or so on the seafront before catching the Crosville service home." - A memory from F Hughes. Perhaps the young lady featured in the following photograph is the girl in question!"

Photo: Barmouth, The Shopping Centre c.1965.
Memory: Rock Shop


Perhaps this is the young lady that gave out free samples at the Rock Shop in Barmouth (read the memory above).

Photo: Barmouth, A Girl In Welsh Costume c.1960.


Many photographs of ladies in Welsh costume appear to have been posed shots taken for use on tourist souvenirs, but this lovely period view from c1900 seems to be the real deal – two ladies dressed in traditional Welsh bonnets and shawls enjoying a day on the beach, complete with bathing machines in the background. Everyone is fully dressed – no one in this view is going to get sunburnt!

Photo: Pensarn, Welsh Ladies On The Beach c.1900.


Photo: Llanfairfechan, Welsh Groups And Costumes c.1930.


Photo: Holyhead, Ladies In Welsh Costumes 1894.


Dressed in traditional Welsh bonnet, large white collar and apron, the station mistress at Ffestiniog cheerfully poses for the camera. The Welsh Highland Railway ran from Dinas Junction to Porthmadog; it was constructed to serve the quarries, although many closed shortly afterwards. It was re-opened as a heritage steam railway in 2012.

Photo: Tan-Y-Bwlch, Ffestiniog Railway, Bessie Jones, The Station Mistress 1935.


Photo: Bala, Lady With Spinning Wheel c.1860.


Posed here on Goscar Rock on Tenby’s North Beach, these women were fishwives from the village of Llangwm, eleven miles cross-country from Tenby. Each day they would walk from Llangwm to Tenby to sell their prawns, cockles and oysters. They are shown here wearing their traditional costume.

Photo: Tenby, Llangwm Fishwives 1890.


Photo: Pensarn, Welsh Costumes 1906.


A posed photograph of a harp choir dressed in traditional Welsh costume set against the backdrop of Beddgelert, Snowdonia. Oh, with goats! Do you think you could see a more 'Welsh' scene? Of course, we simply had to include this Archive photograph from 1938.

Photo: Beddgelert, The Snowdonia Harp Choir c.1938.


You may be interested in these related books:

Printed specially for you and with a free personal dedication available on almost all our titles with hundreds to choose from, our nostalgic local books make great gifts for someone or why not treat yourself and add some history to your bookshelves?

Book of A Taste of Wales
Free optional inscription available!

A Taste of Wales

Travel around Wales through the pages of this book and discover the delicious variety of this beautiful country's traditional dishes and produce. Over 40 recipes are included, some traditional, some reflecting famous local produce, and some versions adapted to suit modern tastes. Your journey will be given added savour by the delightful period photographs from The Francis Frith Collection, showing the people and places of Wales in the past. This book also includes information about the stories behind some of the recipes, as well as a number of fascinating facts about Welsh life and heritage, helping to convey a true flavour of Wales.

A Taste of Wales (ISBN: 978-1-84589-463-4)
Compiled by Julia Skinner


You may be interested in these related books:

Printed specially for you and with a free personal dedication available on almost all our titles with hundreds to choose from, our nostalgic local books make great gifts for someone or why not treat yourself and add some history to your bookshelves?

Book of Flavours of Wales
Free optional inscription available!

Flavours of Wales

Feeling nostalgic and hungry for a Welsh Cake? Or perhaps a bowl of Cawl Cennin, or some Honeyed Welsh Lamb? Then this is the book for you! Nothing beats good home cooking, with delicious dishes made from local produce, or using traditional recipes - just like Granny used to make! Here is a selection of recipes from Wales, some traditional, some reflecting local products that Wales is famous for, some linked to characters or historical personages or events, and some versions adapted to suit modern tastes. Discover the delicious variety of traditional Welsh dishes, and find out about the stories behind the recipes, as you use this book to cook up a true flavour of Wales! Illustrated with nostalgic historical photographs from the world famous Francis Frith Collection, this book is a delightful dip into the food and flavours of Wales.

Flavours of Wales (ISBN: 978-1-84546-975-7)


Perhaps you'd like..?

If you liked our "Traditional Welsh costume" Blog Feature, you might like to see and follow this Francis Frith board over on Pinterest.

This post has the following tags: Archives,Nostalgia.
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