Antony David Davies FRSA FRAS AFRHistS MCMI MIoL

Welsh history & cultural heritage

I am a historian, biographer, and cultural commentator dedicated to uncovering the overlooked stories of Welsh rural life and the values that shaped our upland communities.

Born into a family with deep roots in Montgomeryshire, my work explores how Nonconformity, respectability, and resilience forged the identities of ordinary people so often absent from formal histories.

Professional Recognition

Elected an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (AFRHistS) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), I have been recognised nationally for my contribution to public history and cultural heritage. My research and writing have been featured in publications such as Who Do You Think You Are? magazine, reflecting my commitment to making family and community history accessible to wider audiences.

Research & Scholarship

My research ranges from detailed genealogies of Welsh farming dynasties to broader studies of Victorian civic leadership and middle-class identity in England. Through decades of archival investigation, oral history, and published works, I aim to illuminate the moral worlds of families, chapels, and local societies that stood at the heart of our communities.

Publications

I am the author of several meticulously researched histories, including:

  • Voices from Uploads: The Davies Family and the Soul of Rural Wales
  • The Davies Caeadda Family: A Welsh Farming Dynasty
  • Old Llyfnant Valley Farming Families
  • Faith, Service, and Respectability: A Historical Biography of the Shorto Family

Each work reflects my commitment to rigorous primary research and my belief in the cultural significance of family memory and local records. Alongside my books, I write articles and opinion pieces on Welsh heritage and archival preservation for national outlets including The Times, The Guardian, and Nation.Cymru.

Advocacy & Cultural Work

Beyond writing, I actively campaign for the urgent preservation of Welsh Nonconformist chapel records and rural burial registers—fragile sources that hold the key to understanding our identity. I have briefed parliamentarians on these issues, earning recognition for drawing attention to a quietly unfolding archival crisis.

I am also a member of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion and continue to work in partnership with heritage organisations and community groups to promote historical awareness and inclusive access to archives.

Contact

I welcome enquiries from readers, researchers, and organisations interested in Welsh history, family archives, and cultural heritage.


Please feel free to get in touch via my Contact page.