North Wales Jamaica Society and Learning Links International (LLI)

Building Bridges of Friendship

Bangor, Penrhyn Castle, May Pen and Clarendon: Exploring Our Shared History

Venue: Penrhyn Castle Stables and on Zoom

 
Duration: 5 weeks x 2- hour sessions  on Sunday afternoons 2-4 starting 2nd August 2026

Plus follow up Zoom sessions on Mondays 8-10 am in Jamaica and 2 - 4pm UK

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82182913983?pwd=Fbf4vaTbQrIrhT63rFSHCdfkJaQNVR.1

Meeting ID: 821 8291 3983
Passcode: 688416

Delivery: Learning Links International (LLI) for members of the North Wales Jamaica Society (NWJS) and the Clarendon Historical Society of Jamaica
Target Group: Adult learners, young people, community members, volunteers, students, heritage enthusiasts and residents interested in local and global history.

For further information contact us here 

Programme Aim

To follow up on the activities in Jamaica in recent months to help participants understand the historical, cultural and contemporary links between North Wales and Jamaica, explore the legacy of the Pennant family and Penrhyn Castle, learn about the experiences of Jamaican communities, and celebrate the friendship and partnership that has developed between Bangor and May Pen through the Building Bridges of Friendship programme.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme participants will:

• Understand the historical connections between Wales and Jamaica.
• Explore how wealth from Caribbean plantations influenced Welsh society.
• Learn about the experiences and contributions of Jamaicans and the Windrush Generation.
• Understand the story of Robert Rumble and the Poor Man's Improvement and Land Settlement Association.
• Appreciate the role of heritage, reconciliation and informal community learning.
• Understand how the Building Bridges of Friendship project developed.
• Contribute ideas for future Bangor–May Pen friendship activities.

Anticipated programme:  Week 1

Wales and Jamaica: Discovering the Connection

Topics

• Introduction to NWJS Summer School 2026.
• Where are Wales, Bangor, Clarendon and May Pen?
• Early links between Britain and Jamaica.
• The Pennant family and their origins in North Wales.
• How Penrhyn Castle became connected to Jamaica.

Activities

• Icebreaker: "What do I already know?"
• Map activity comparing Wales and Jamaica.
• Timeline exercise from 1655 to the present day.
• Short presentation on final Taith visit and discussion.

Guest Contributors

NWJS members who have visited Jamaica.

Week 2

Sugar, Slavery and Penrhyn Castle

Topics

• Plantation Jamaica.
• The Pennants Estates in Clarendon.
• Enslaved Africans and plantation life.
• How plantation wealth influenced Britain and Wales.
• Interpreting difficult heritage sites today.

Activities

• Guided exploration of Penrhyn Castle story.
• Discussion using historical documents, maps and images from Penrhyn Papers and Penrhyn Castle.
• Reflections.

Guest Contributors

NWJS heritage volunteers.

Learning Resource

Historic maps of Clarendon from Penrhyn Papers.

Week 3

Resistance, Freedom and Community

Topics

• Emancipation and its aftermath.
• Land ownership and tenancy in Clarendon.
• Robert Rumble and the Poor Man's Improvement and Land Settlement Association.
• The 1938 labour uprisings.
• Social justice and community action.

Activities

• Case study workshop.
• Examination of photographs and archive materials.
• Group discussion: "What does freedom mean?"

Guest Contributors

Members of the Jamaica Wales Alliance and Clarendon Historical Society of Jamaica (recorded presentations if available).

Practical Exercise

Create a shared timeline of key events in Clarendon history.

Week 4

Windrush, Migration and Modern Jamaica

Topics

• Britain's call for workers after the Second World War.
• The arrival of the Windrush Generation.
• Jamaican contributions to Britain.
• Experiences of migration, identity and belonging.
• Contemporary Jamaica and Clarendon today.

Activities

• Oral history recordings.
• Listening to Windrush testimonies.
• Small-group discussions.

Guest Contributors

NWJS members with family or community links to Jamaica.

Week 5

Building Bridges of Friendship

Topics

• Origins of the North Wales Jamaica Society.
• Development of Learning Links International projects.
• Jamaica Wales Alliance.
• Taith-funded exchanges.
• Visits between Wales and Jamaica.
• Schools, community groups and cultural partnerships.

Activities

• Presentation of photographs and stories from visits.
• Guest speakers from previous delegations.
• Group work examining project outcomes.

Case Studies

• Effortville Primary School.
• Pennants Community initiatives.
• Robert Rumble Conference.
• Community learning and heritage projects.

Discussion

What have both countries learned from one another?

These sessions will be followed up in September by an additional session :

Bangor and May Pen: Creating the Future

• with invitations to NWJS members, local councillors, National Trust representatives and community partners.

Topics

• The emerging Friendship Link between Bangor and May Pen.
• Heritage, culture and education partnerships.
• Tourism, learning and community development.
• Opportunities for young people and adult learners.
• Future projects and exchanges.

Activities

Participants consult to design a future Bangor–May Pen initiative, and the Jamaica Wles Alliance.

Examples:

• School partnerships.
• Heritage interpretation.
• Arts and cultural events.
• Community history projects.

Celebration Event

• Presentation of group ideas.
• Certificates of Achievement.

Progression Opportunities

Participants may progress to:

• Volunteering with the North Wales Jamaica Society.
• Participating in One World Café sessions.
• Joining Clarendon Historical Society of Jamaica heritage activities.
• Supporting Bangor–May Pen friendship initiatives.
• Contributing oral histories and local research projects.
• Participating in any future Wales–Jamaica exchange visits.