Descriptions of Regular Features
The alphabetical list below provides a brief description of, and a link to, each of the main features on my website. You can also use the table of short cut links direct to all features.
The dates of most recent updates are summarised on the What's New? page.
- Art Gallery
An on-line exhibition of about eighty original paintings and sketches created by my son Dave Ball. There are a number of Wales-related subjects, and some of the works are available for purchase. The collection is divided into five virtual 'galleries':
- Abstract works
- Buildings and architecture
- Landscapes
- Portraits
- Still-life and nature studies
- Christ College Brecon – census details
Transcripts of the 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, and 1911 censuses for Christ College School in Brecon.
- Dead Addresses
This page lists researchers whose e-mail addresses are no longer valid and with whom I've lost contact.
- Frequently Asked Questions
Check through the answers to this selection of common questions about Welsh family history. New questions and answers will be added at regular intervals. If your particular question isn't included, write to me via my Contact Page and I'll try to find the answer and if appropriate, add it to the list.
- Glossary of Welsh Place-Name Elements
Welsh place-names are highly descriptive, and incorporate many common elements from the Welsh language. Knowing the meaning of place-names helps us to understand the environment in which our Welsh ancestors lived.
Check my alphabetical glossary of place-name elements. Each entry is followed by its meaning and in many cases, an example of its use and a link to a sound file demonstrating its pronunciation. New entries and examples are still being added.
- Images of France
Including:
- France 2001 - An illustrated record of my visit to the Charante region of France in August 2001. The first three sections feature over fifty colour photographs plus supporting captions and text. More sections are planned when time permits.
- Paris Visit - An illustrated record of my visit to Paris in September 2000. These webpages hold over 130 photographs of Paris, including spectacular shots from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
- Images of Wales
Pages of original photographs and supporting text, illustrating various aspects of the Welsh scene: history, landscape, architecture, industry, social life, religion, and genealogy.
- Latest pictures - Enjoy the six most recent Images of Wales features.
- The Where's that?? feature will help you identify the geographical location of the Images of Wales subjects.
- Browse the alphabetical Webpage Archive listing well over 200 Images of Wales webpages which have appeared on my website since November 1997. Individual webpages contain an average of eight images. On request, I will temporarily reinstate of any of these webpages onto the Retrospective page.
- Enjoy the recall of old Images of Wales favourites onto the Retrospective Images of Wales page. You can select your own favourite by exploring my Webpage Archive and using the simple on-line submission procedure.
- Explore the gradually expanding Welsh Chapels and Churches Collection and discover the history and architecture of over 250 places of worship in Wales.
- Visit the permanent special features on:
- Keturah's Diary
Read Keturah Davies's fascinating account of her passage from Britain to Australia in 1860. Keturah was a 23-year-old Welsh girl who kept a detailed diary of events and observations during the 3½ month sea voyage aboard the Schah Jehan.
- Links to On-line Resources
Check out some of the links to other on-line Welsh family history resources, including Websites and Welsh genealogy electronic mailing lists. There is an option showing the latest updates and changes to the list.
- Llangar Parish Records
Tony Francis's database of over 670 selected entries from the Bishop's Transcripts of the parish records of Llangar, Merionethshire. This on-line chronological database contains all references to the names Robert(s), Francis, and Pryce, together with their spelling variants. Also included are a description of the parish and an explanation of date anomalies.
Please address any questions about the database directly to Tony Francis via the link on the Llangar webpage.
- Maps of Wales
Study my maps of Wales, familiarise yourself with Welsh geography, discover and learn to use maps that will show where your ancestors came from.
- My Family History
Although my ancestry isn't Welsh, I hope you'll enjoy exploring my own family history pages. So far, I've included illustrated life stories of my parents and grandparents, and my next task is to work on my great grandparents' generation.
- News of Wales
Check out news of the latest happenings in Wales through these direct links to BBC Wales News sites.
**The multi-media clips require RealPlayer software, downloadable free from http://www.real.com/.
- Painting Commissions
Some of you may have admired the paintings and sketches created by my son Dave and displayed on the Art Gallery pages on my website. Dave is willing to accept commissions to produce original sketches or paintings, based on your photographs of subjects connected with your family history.
- Photographic Commissions
Commission unique photographs of the places in Wales where your ancestors once lived and died. Check here to review details of commissions I have completed in the past, and to read my clients' comments on my work.
- Problem Page
Are you having problems accessing parts of my website? From studying the daily log of visits to my website, I'm aware that a few of you sometimes experience difficulties when attempting to access some of my webpages. My Problem Page describes some typical problems, why they happen, and what you can do to solve them.
- Sounds of Wales
Listen to the pronunciation of over 220 Welsh place-names. New sound files are added in response to individual requests.
- Tallis's Topographical Dictionary
A transcription of Wales sections of the six-volume set of "Tallis's Topographical Dictionary of England and Wales", published in 1860. This priceless reference work, includes a comprehensive alphabetical gazetteer of Welsh place-names and detailed maps of each of the thirteen Welsh counties and the four English border counties, based on surveys undertaken circa 1850.
- Tribute to the Isle of Man
The development of these webpages was prompted by a short visit in March 2001 to the beautiful Isle of Man where my maternal grandmother and her family originated. The first two sections feature approximately 60 colour and monochrome illustrations plus supporting captions and text. Three more sections are under development and will be uploaded when time permits.
- Wales of Old
Check out the selection of pictures sent in by visitors to this website. The pictures feature old Welsh scenes and/or old photos of Welsh ancestors.
- Weather in Wales
Check out the weather at my home in Brecon, mid Wales, including the latest View from my Window.
I normally update this page almost every day.
Also:
- Website News
Here I post advance details of new developments taking place on my website, and of periods of website maintenance or downtime.
- Welsh Ancestor List
- Browse through my alphabetical list of nearly 2,040 Welsh families currently being researched, and make contact with the researchers.
- Add details of your own Welsh ancestors onto the Ancestor List for others to see.
- Check through the weekly digest containing the latest additions and amendments to the Welsh Ancestor List.
- Make sure your name is not on the list of researchers with invalid or outdated e-mail addresses, whose entries I have had to remove from the Welsh Ancestor List.
- Welsh Family History Archive
Gateway page to all the Welsh family history resources on my website.
- Welsh Gravestone Inscriptions
Look up the meanings of Welsh words and phrases commonly found on gravestones. This feature should enable you to translate most of the Welsh language monumental inscriptions you may encounter.
- What's New and What's Changed
Check this handy summary to see when each feature on my website was last changed or updated. Brief details are included of the nature of each change. This page is normally updated every day.
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