DVDs of Wales, Videos, Welsh tales, Alexander Archive

The Mabinogion is the most famous collection of Welsh tales, dating back to the dawn of the Celtic world. For hundreds of years bards told these stories to spell-bound listeners at the courts of the Welsh princes.

They kept alive the history of their tribes, celebrating heroes such as the Emperor of Rome who married a Celtic princess and the earliest known King Arthur. It wasn’t until the 10th century that the tales were written down – and now ValleyStream has produced them on DVD video.

Recently, the Mabinogion has inspired the work of many authors and poets, such as JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.

6 stories are beautifully narrated here by Cybi the Monk, found sleeping with his apple in the heather-clad mountains of Wales. Original colour illustrations melt into stunning motion footage of dreamy wildlife and sleepy Welsh landscapes.

* The Prince of Dyfed
* Bran and Branwen
* The Four Good Friends
* Macsen Wledig, Emperor of Rome
* The Three Plagues
* Culhwch and the Giant’s Daughter

Circa - 60 mins - Suitable for all ages

I n 1996 ValleyStream discovered a rare unseen 16mm film archive of over 29,000 ft of cine footage. Behind the footage lay the true story of an extraordinary woman and her 16mm Kodak clockwork camera. She was Miss Marjorie Alexander - a wealthy young girl from Heswall, who literally captured on 16mm motion film from 1919 - 1963 the lives and escapades of her middle class family in North Wales and on the Wirral.

She began filming just after World War 1 in 1919 - shooting extensive footage every year for each decade right up into the "She Loves You" years of the Beatles. A unique 44 year film diary!

Her cine footage records many aspects of twentieth century life on the Wirral, in Wales (Anglesey) and abroad. She even documented many events, such as Hitler and the Nazis at Nuremburg in 1934, and the making of the filmset for Ingrid Bergman's movie "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness" in Wales.

The National Film Archives - " This is a rare find, being on 16mm, to have a complete 44 year film diary on the lives of a twentieth century family - 16mm was very expensive at the time. To film every year is remarkable, and watch how the film stocks change as colour technology developed."

Straight from the dusty attic of a North Wales cottage, after being hidden and unseen for nearly forty years, it's a miracle this collection exists today - Only days from being sold at a car boot sale for 50p a can - rescued and carefully restored - this unique collection will shortly be available on video for the nostalgic kind!

Mainly adults

A superb historical voyage through time in one of the most magical and beautiful countries in the world. Discover its stunning countryside of misty mountains, sunlit waterfalls and ruined castles, its princes, heroes and tales, its mines and industrial past. A cultural adventure.

Centuries ago golden eagles flew over the high mountains of North Wales, watching their reflections in the deep lakes below. The Welsh people called this land "Eryri", meaning Land of the Eagles, whilst the Saxons named it "Snow Dun". This corner of Wales is now called Snowdonia, and through a tapestry of wonderful landscapes, dramatization, original music and illustrations, and the granite voice of local Welsh actor John Hughes, we invite you to explore with us the landscape, history and culture of this fascinating land.

Circa - 40 mins - Suitable for 8 years/adults

To view the landscapes of North Wales from the air on a crystal clear day would be a rare, once in a lifetime occasion for most of us, even if given the opportunity. We have all seen the magnificent scenery of the mountains, wooded valleys and coastlines from the ground, steeped in traditional Welsh culture and enriched in Celtic history. At cloud-level the waters of the Conwy and Mawddach estuaries and the sandy beaches of the Lleyn Peninsula make fascinating patterns. Above the mountains the structures of the stone castles, Portmeirion, and Telford's Bridge over the Menai Strait can be relished.

Video footage of the beautiful countryside, taken over many seasons by ValleyStream's land-based cameramen, has been blended with still aerial photography by Gwilym Davies and pilot Arfon Evans, a rock solid narrative and original soundtracks, to take you on an amazing flight across North Wales. . .

* The Snowdon Peaks * Flint Castle * South Stack Lighthouse * Bala * Harlech * Trawsfynydd * Bardsey Island * Ysbyty Ifan * Amlwch Port * Rhuddlan Castle * and many wonderful views.

Circa - 40 mins - Suitable for 8 years/adults

Wales is encrusted in legends and tales, some originating over 2,000 years ago. Celtic folklore has been passed down traditionally by word of mouth, often by the fireside in hillside cottages or friendly local inns. The stories told of bold robbers and noble princes, of elusive mermaids and brave princesses, of poor saints and proud sinners.

Now, you can also enjoy their adventures in a heroic and magical age amongst the beautiful countryside of South Wales & the West - a treasure from Wales to be passed down to the next generations. . . For children and the occasional younger adult. Majestically told by actor John Hughes with original soundtrack music and set to video landscapes, photos and original colour illustrations. 7 classic tales.

               * Twm Sion Cati * Singing Water-Birds * Last Invasion of Britain
               * Lady of the Lake * Wreckers of Dunraven * Gwenllian the Brave
               * St David of Wales

Circa - 40 mins - Mainly for children 5 years upwards/adults

Long ago, somewhere in darker times, when only the gifted few could write in ink, very few historical facts were left behind. Only the monstrous bluey-grey stone forts, castles and monuments, hidden amongst the beautiful valleys and mountains of Cymru (Wales), are visible reminders of what it must really have been like - often beautiful but mostly violent and harsh, as the Celtic people, their chieftains, warriors and heroes fought for their land and culture.

Many strange and mystical happenings took place, and afterwards these events were folded away in time in the mythology of the local Welsh people, to be passed down the generations and often yarned over by quiet evening fires. Are these stories true? Remember the fisherman's tale - nobody disputes that he caught a fish - just its size! Something must have happened, and with a little imagination by your fireside we hope that you too will enjoy this collection of 6 amazing tales.

* Legend of Gelert * Bride of Flowers
* Prince Madoc Discovers America * Giantess's Apron
* Monster of Beaver Pool * Death of King Arthur

Circa - 40 mins - Mainly for children 5 years upwards

The Bible, the most famous book in existence, was written thousands of years ago. The Bible is divided into two parts: The Old Testament, originally written in Hebrew, telling the story of the Jewish people, and The New Testament, written in Greek, telling the story of Jesus. From where did Heaven and Earth come? How did the sun, moon and stars form? God the Creator made perfect this world and also made other spirit beings like himself. The Earth was created for people, and so Adam and Eve emerged from the soil.

These beautiful stories tell of all the good, bad or unusually powerful people who strove to find the meaning of life. From the Creation through to the crucifixion of Jesus these 9 beautifully illustrated stories are majestically told by the stunning voice of John Hughes.* The Creation * Noah's Ark * Moses
* David & Goliath * Daniel & the Lion
* Jonah & the Whale * The Birth of Jesus
* Jesus the Healer * The Crucifixion & Resurrection

Circa - 52 mins - Mainly for children 5 years upwards/adults

The working horse has been shouldering the burden of man's survival since before records began, from carrying religious Crusaders into battle in the Holy Land, to ploughing the very soil beneath man's feet. Sadly, the majestic power of these magnificent creatures was overtaken in man's quest for more modern methods, and so, after the First World War, the decline of the working horse began.

Today a handful of people still live and work with these most loyal and hardworking animals. This nostalgic video has been released to show a brief history of the working horse during the twentieth century and is dedicated to . . . Horse Power.

Circa - 25 mins - Suitable for 8 years/adults

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