Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea - Wales And Its Coastal Waters

In this series of Essays writer Jon Gower explores the patches of sea water around Wales, sailing past Viking slave traders, soft crumbling coastlines, industrial scale smuggling, marathon chess matches between lighthouse keepers, ghost ships, whales and walruses along the way. For the country of Wales, surrounded on three sides by the sea, that sea has always been important – a trade route, a means to export ideas such as Christianity, or as a source of fish - especially herring, so many herring.

Out to Open Water - To the west of the Welsh landmass laps the Irish Sea, shaping its shores and connecting us with that place called elsewhere. It's been both a barrier and a conduit, at times separating and at other times connecting. The Irish Sea is nowadays synonymous with a hard border, but for centuries this Celtic lake has been its porous opposite. It's been a channel for the exchange of ideas, and a saintly superhighway: a place where history's tides so often change direction.

Produced by Megan Jones and Philippa Swallow.

Jon Gower explores the relationship between Wales and the Irish Sea.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Jon Gower explores the relationship between Wales and the Irish Sea, a place where history's tides so often change direction.

[LISTEN NOW]

In this series of Essays writer Jon Gower explores the patches of sea water around Wales, sailing past Viking slave traders, soft crumbling coastlines, industrial scale smuggling, marathon chess matches between lighthouse keepers, ghost ships, whales and walruses along the way. For the country of Wales, surrounded on three sides by the sea, that sea has always been important – a trade route, a means to export ideas such as Christianity, or as a source of fish - especially herring, so many herring.

In 'Putting the Whales in Wales', Jon tells the story of the arrival of American Quaker émigrés at Milford Haven to help the port with its burgeoning position in the whaling industry. He tries to reconcile a peaceable people with the brutal slaughter of these giants of the ocean. The trade carried on into the 20th century, with some boats in the channel processing whales like floating factories. We hear the unfortunate back story of Hope, the whale that hangs in the Natural History Museum. And the epic adventure of a rogue dummy whale that defied capture during the 1954 filming of Moby Dick with Gregory Peck.

Produced by Megan Jones and Philippa Swallow.

Jon Gower tells the story of the arrival of American Quaker emigres at Milford Haven.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Jon Gower tells the story of the arrival of American Quaker émigrés at Milford Haven to help the port with its burgeoning position in the whaling industry.

[LISTEN NOW]

In this series of Essays writer Jon Gower explores the patches of sea water around Wales, sailing past Viking slave traders, soft crumbling coastlines, industrial scale smuggling, marathon chess matches between lighthouse keepers, ghost ships, whales and walruses along the way. For the country of Wales, surrounded on three sides by the sea, that sea has always been important – a trade route, a means to export ideas such as Christianity, or as a source of fish - especially herring, so many herring.

What Has the Sea Become - tells of the great fortune the herring trade brought Wales over the years, from coastal towns whose very names boast of the fish in their waters, to the priests squabbling over beaches to ensure they got their tithe of herrings. Jon describes the remarkable wealth fishing for this silver scaly coinage has brought the country. We move along the coastline and the other natural commodities the sea offers up but also mark the dwindling fish stocks of recent years because of overfishing and the unfortunate presence of microplastics, clogging up the digestive systems of sea mammals and fish in these same waters. Jon tells of how the sea has become a dumping ground for leftovers from war but sees hope in the reassuring ebb and flow, that harmony will be restored.

Produced by Megan Jones and Philippa Swallow.

Jon Gower recounts how the herring trade has brought Wales great fortune over the years.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Jon Gower recounts how the herring trade has brought Wales great fortune over the years and why he thinks there is still hope for its future despite overfishing and pollution.

[LISTEN NOW]

In this series of Essays writer Jon Gower explores the patches of sea water around Wales, sailing past Viking slave traders, soft crumbling coastlines, industrial scale smuggling, marathon chess matches between lighthouse keepers, ghost ships, whales and walruses along the way. For the country of Wales, surrounded on three sides by the sea, that sea has always been important - a trade route, a means to export ideas such as Christianity, or as a source of fish - especially herring, so many herring.

Out to Open Water - To the west of the Welsh landmass laps the Irish Sea, shaping its shores and connecting us with that place called elsewhere. It's been both a barrier and a conduit, at times separating and at other times connecting. The Irish Sea is nowadays synonymous with a hard border, but for centuries this Celtic lake has been its porous opposite. It's been a channel for the exchange of ideas, and a saintly superhighway: a place where history's tides so often change direction.

Produced by Megan Jones and Philippa Swallow.

Jon Gower explores the relationship between Wales and the Irish Sea.

In this series of Essays writer Jon Gower explores the patches of sea water around Wales, sailing past Viking slave traders, soft crumbling coastlines, industrial scale smuggling, marathon chess matches between lighthouse keepers, ghost ships, whales and walruses along the way. For the country of Wales, surrounded on three sides by the sea, that sea has always been important – a trade route, a means to export ideas such as Christianity, or as a source of fish - especially herring, so many herring.

Jon Gower explores the relationship between Wales and the Irish Sea, a place where history's tides so often change direction.

[LISTEN NOW]

In this series of Essays writer Jon Gower explores the patches of sea water around Wales, sailing past Viking slave traders, soft crumbling coastlines, industrial scale smuggling, marathon chess matches between lighthouse keepers, ghost ships, whales and walruses along the way. For the country of Wales, surrounded on three sides by the sea, that sea has always been important - a trade route, a means to export ideas such as Christianity, or as a source of fish - especially herring, so many herring.

Whipping Up a Storm - Jon charts the way the water out west is a bringer of bounteous gifts but a shipwrecker too, a creature of wild mood swings where a calm surface can summarily change as the wind gets up and erupts into a wild and avenging anger. The waves and the wind are able to lick the very land into shape, and occasionally reveal the ancient landscapes embodied in Welsh myths.

Produced by Megan Jones and Philippa Swallow.

How the water west of Wales is a bringer of bounteous gifts but a wrecker of ships too.

Jon Gower charts the way the water west of Wales is a bringer of bounteous gifts but a wrecker of ships too.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

[LISTEN NOW]

In this series of Essays writer Jon Gower explores the patches of sea water around Wales, sailing past Viking slave traders, soft crumbling coastlines, industrial scale smuggling, marathon chess matches between lighthouse keepers, ghost ships, whales and walruses along the way. For the country of Wales, surrounded on three sides by the sea, that sea has always been important - a trade route, a means to export ideas such as Christianity, or as a source of fish - especially herring, so many herring.

In 'Putting the Whales in Wales', Jon tells the story of the arrival of American Quaker 退migr退s at Milford Haven to help the port with its burgeoning position in the whaling industry. He tries to reconcile a peaceable people with the brutal slaughter of these giants of the ocean. The trade carried on into the 20th century, with some boats in the channel processing whales like floating factories. We hear the unfortunate back story of Hope, the whale that hangs in the Natural History Museum. And the epic adventure of a rogue dummy whale that defied capture during the 1954 filming of Moby Dick with Gregory Peck.

Produced by Megan Jones and Philippa Swallow.

Jon Gower tells the story of the arrival of American Quaker emigres at Milford Haven.

In this series of Essays writer Jon Gower explores the patches of sea water around Wales, sailing past Viking slave traders, soft crumbling coastlines, industrial scale smuggling, marathon chess matches between lighthouse keepers, ghost ships, whales and walruses along the way. For the country of Wales, surrounded on three sides by the sea, that sea has always been important – a trade route, a means to export ideas such as Christianity, or as a source of fish - especially herring, so many herring.

In 'Putting the Whales in Wales', Jon tells the story of the arrival of American Quaker émigrés at Milford Haven to help the port with its burgeoning position in the whaling industry. He tries to reconcile a peaceable people with the brutal slaughter of these giants of the ocean. The trade carried on into the 20th century, with some boats in the channel processing whales like floating factories. We hear the unfortunate back story of Hope, the whale that hangs in the Natural History Museum. And the epic adventure of a rogue dummy whale that defied capture during the 1954 filming of Moby Dick with Gregory Peck.

Jon Gower tells the story of the arrival of American Quaker émigrés at Milford Haven to help the port with its burgeoning position in the whaling industry.

[LISTEN NOW]

Shearwater Nights - Jon introduces us to the rare seabird particular to the Welsh coastal islands: the Manx Shearwater. From the island of Skokholm, he describes the thrill of seeing one in flight, their long distance travels, their predators, their dinner time calls and their endearing awkwardness on land. We hear about the perilous waters surrounding Ynys Enlli, Bardsey Island, and the island's holy, and kingly, connections. Jon also reminisces about his smelly summer of '76 on account of the Manx's self-defence method; shooting fish oil out of its bill at potential predators.

Produced by Megan Jones and Philippa Swallow.

Jon Gower gives an account of a rare species of bird found on the Welsh coastal islands.

In this series of Essays writer Jon Gower explores the patches of sea water around Wales, sailing past Viking slave traders, soft crumbling coastlines, industrial scale smuggling, marathon chess matches between lighthouse keepers, ghost ships, whales and walruses along the way. For the country of Wales, surrounded on three sides by the sea, that sea has always been important - a trade route, a means to export ideas such as Christianity, or as a source of fish - especially herring, so many herring.

What Has the Sea Become - tells of the great fortune the herring trade brought Wales over the years, from coastal towns whose very names boast of the fish in their waters, to the priests squabbling over beaches to ensure they got their tithe of herrings. Jon describes the remarkable wealth fishing for this silver scaly coinage has brought the country. We move along the coastline and the other natural commodities the sea offers up but also mark the dwindling fish stocks of recent years because of overfishing and the unfortunate presence of microplastics, clogging up the digestive systems of sea mammals and fish in these same waters. Jon tells of how the sea has become a dumping ground for leftovers from war but sees hope in the reassuring ebb and flow, that harmony will be restored.

Produced by Megan Jones and Philippa Swallow.

Jon Gower recounts how the herring trade has brought Wales great fortune over the years.

In this series of Essays writer Jon Gower explores the patches of sea water around Wales, sailing past Viking slave traders, soft crumbling coastlines, industrial scale smuggling, marathon chess matches between lighthouse keepers, ghost ships, whales and walruses along the way. For the country of Wales, surrounded on three sides by the sea, that sea has always been important – a trade route, a means to export ideas such as Christianity, or as a source of fish - especially herring, so many herring.

Jon Gower recounts how the herring trade has brought Wales great fortune over the years and why he thinks there is still hope for its future despite overfishing and pollution.

[LISTEN NOW]