Coch Bach y Bala

From the collection of

Archif Sgrin a Sain Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales Screen and Sound Archive
Established in 2001, the National Library of Wales Screen and Sound Archive holds an unrivalled collection of films, TV and radio broadcasts, video tapes and sound recordings relating to Wales and the Welsh, from 1898 to the present day. The collection spans multiples formats and genres, both professional and amateur.

Coch Bach y Bala

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A life of crime sees Coch behind bars, on the run and finally thwarted...

Animation portraying John Jones (1854–1913), aka Coch Bach y Bala (Little Redhead of Bala), a notorious Welsh criminal and prison absconder. Famously bold and defiant, prone to conducting his own lengthy court defence and often baffling in his choice of burglaries, he met his fate when a local landowner shot him following his last jailbreak, promptly elevating his already considerable hero status. A Welsh language version and and an English language version is included here (the Welsh appearing first).


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From the collection

Our North Wales

North Wales is undeniably stunning, but it's worth looking behind the castles, crags and beautiful coastline to uncover some of its unique voices and stories…
North Wales is renowned for its landscape - its mountains, seascapes, rivers and waterfalls have been the backdrop for enough turbulent history to fill whole libraries. Historic and legendary figures abound, but the region has also produced heroes of film, TV and broadcasting, such as the Rhyl-based early film pioneer Arthur Cheetham, Academy Award-winning actor Hugh Griffith, director and actor Emlyn Williams and latterly director Sara Sugarman and actor Rhys Ifans - all good 'gogs', as people from 'gogledd Cymru' are known. In this collection you'll find films ranging from celebration of the region's myths and legends, to revelations of what it was really like to work in one of the area's major industries, and introductions to some burning local issues.

9 videos in this collection

1

Lighting Up the Past

2

Gwrachod Llanddona

3

A Miner's Story

4

Stori Derfel Gadarn

5

Kyffin Williams talks to David Parry-Jones

6

Lwmp o Jaman!

7

Coch Bach y Bala

8

1 + 1 = 3

9

Huw Jones talks to David Parry-Jones

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