Internet map brings history home

The Montgomery ladies' hockey team in about 1909 from the Old Bell Museum

A clickable map which allows internet users to view historical artefacts from their area of Wales has been launched.

The geographic search on the Gathering the Jewels website has been unveiled by Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones at the National Eisteddfod.

Project officer Dr Dafydd Tudur said it would make accessing images easier and "allow people to get to know their local history".

The website brings together images from libraries and museums around Wales.

The new map gives access to local history artefacts online

Last year the website attracted more than a million visits.

Since its launch in 2002, the project has put online more than 30,000 images from across Wales.

Gathering the Jewels provides free online access to images of artefacts from 120 museums, archives and libraries in Wales.

Dr Tudur said: "One of the main aims of Gathering the Jewels is to make the history of Wales more accessible and we hope that this website will do that."

In addition to the geographical search, a new sport and leisure theme has been included, ranging from rugby and football to music and eisteddfodau.

Three new themes, looking at women's history, the history of industry and the experience of ethnic minorities in Wales will be added during the coming months.

The assembly government funded project is run by Culturenet Cymru from the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.