Wales: A Storyteller’s Dream Destination

Wales is a land where myths breathe through the mountains, legends echo across the valleys, and every castle stone tells a tale. With its dramatic landscapes and deep-rooted storytelling tradition, Wales is a paradise for those who cherish folklore and history intertwined with the land.

A Landscape Woven with Myths

From the rugged peaks of Snowdonia to the mystical shores of Pembrokeshire, Wales' landscapes have inspired centuries of storytelling. The ancient Mabinogion, one of the earliest collections of British prose tales, is set against the backdrop of these awe-inspiring terrains. Here, knights roam, giants battle, and dragons take flight, their presence forever etched in local lore.

The Legacy of the Bards

For centuries, Welsh bards have preserved history and myth through oral traditions, passing down epic tales of heroism, love, and magic. The Eisteddfod, a festival celebrating Welsh poetry, music, and storytelling, continues this legacy, keeping the spirit of ancient storytelling alive today.

Legendary Castles and Sacred Sites

With over 600 castles, Wales boasts more fortresses per square mile than any other country in Europe. Each one holds its own story—be it the haunting of Margam Castle or the Arthurian connections of Caerleon. Holy wells, ancient standing stones, and hidden caves further enrich the storytelling landscape, inviting visitors to uncover Wales’ mystical past.

A Destination for Modern Storytellers

Whether you’re an author seeking inspiration, a history enthusiast tracing legends, or a traveler eager to walk in the footsteps of mythical figures, Wales offers an immersive experience where past and present converge. The landscape itself compels storytelling, encouraging visitors to weave their own narratives amidst its timeless beauty.

Wales is more than a destination; it is a living, breathing story waiting to be told. Step into this land of legend and let its tales become part of your own journey.

JOHN NEWTON ………From Rebel to Slave to Poet

HIDDEN LIVES – SECRETS REVEALED – AMAZING LIFE STORIES 

JOHN NEWTON ………From Rebel to Slave to Poet 

So… there I was in a corral full of slaves in Sierra Leone, locked in and my ship sailing away over the horizon. Betrayed by the captain and hated by my ship mates, they’d had this coup planned for many a day. 

I banged on the gate, shouted for Amos Clowe the slave trader to let me out and all I could hear was him laughing on the other side. ‘You got your comeuppance, as far as I can make out John Newton and I’ve heard enough about you to know I should let you cool off a bit before going anywhere near you.’ 

He might have been right in the first instance.  Maybe I did deserve it, but in the second he was totally wrong. However long I was left in that corral I would fight like hell to escape if and when Amos Clowe, nicknamed the Crow, got anywhere near me. For three days I raged and ranted before realising I should play Crow at his own game. I could play subservient and quiet if that was what it took for Crow to give me an explanation. How long would it take for another ship to come? What did Crow have in mind for me….? And all the time thoughts of Polly, dear Polly at home. 

Crow came for me at night, with four other men. His henchmen. All white men too, the slaves in the corral seemingly now counting me as one of their own. 

Of course I fought, but just like when I had been pressganged into the navy, it was no fair match. I was hit unconscious and awoke to the most terrifying oppressive binding ever known to man. A metal ring around my neck with chains and my feet and hands bound. I was no more than an animal tethered to a post. I would rather die than be captive. 

Yet Crow had other plans for me. He was married according to his wife’s culture, to a beautiful African woman. Princess Peye, a princess in her own country. It seemed a ridiculous match; a lithe tall royal woman with the stout, harsh, brute of a man that was Crow, but I tell you now, for cruelty, harshness and ruthlessness, Princess Peye could match Crow in every respect.  

The thing was I had caught Princess Peyes’ eye and she wanted ME. Oh not for a lover, although even that would have been difficult with such a barbarian of a woman.  No, not that. It was the idea of a white man as her slave that appealed to her. Role reversal. A white man that she as an African woman, could torture, humiliate and to whom she could give orders. A white man who would do her bidding, day after day, night after night. A white man she could totally control and reign supreme over.   

Yes, John Newton, who wrote the words of the song Amazing Grace, was about to become a slave with a ring around his neck, to one of the cruellest women this world has ever known.     

 If you want to know how John Newton came to be in Sierra Leone in the first place or what happened to him thereafter, then watch the whole story in the video below.