Some of the things Wales is best known for include spectacular scenery, mountainous national parks, and of course the Celtic Welsh language, but what about inventions?
There is a multitude of things that Wales gave the world that have shaped modern life as we know it but these often go overlooked. That's why I've put together this guide with 21 of the most famous Welsh inventions.
1. RIB Boats
Developed in the 1960s by Rear-Admiral Desmond Hoare, the RIB boat is the world’s most widely used craft for inshore rescue. At Atlantic College in South Wales, the design came together for a boat with a rigid hull that was stable, light, and fast.
Hoare’s invention included an inflatable skirt which acted as a life jacket keeping the boat afloat even if it took in water. The boat was a success and Hoare finally patented the design in 1973. The patent was sold to the RNLI for just £1 but Admiral Hoare never cashed the cheque
2. Viagra
The potential of Viagra was first discovered at a clinical research centre in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. While experimenting with a new heart drug, the researchers found that all of the male volunteers involved in the trial had experienced some unusual side effects.
Their honesty led to millions benefiting from the effects of Viagra, which is now one of the most prescribed drugs in the world. Viagra has also been used to help treat other illnesses such as pulmonary hypertension saving millions of babies
3. Ball Bearings
Welsh inventor Philip Vaughan was an iron master based in Carmarthen, South Wales. In 1974 he patented the first design for a ball bearing. This changed how railway carriages and other rotating vehicles functioned forever.
Vaughan’s design described how iron balls placed between the wheel and the axle of a carriage would allow the wheels to rotate more freely and reduce friction. Today, the ball bearing can be found in almost everything including children’s toys, bicycles, and household appliances
4. The Fuel Cell
In 1842, Swansea-born judge and scientist Sir William Grove discovered that by combining a fuel like hydrogen with oxygen he could produce electricity. This led to the creation of what we know today as the fuel cell powering our homes, hospitals, and cars
Unlike batteries, fuel cells don't run down or need recharging. Because they are pollution-free, they offer an economically friendly way to power the world in the future. Sir William Grove also invented the very first incandescent lightbulb, a concept that Thomas Edison would later perfect
5. The Electronic Breathalyser
Keeping the roads safe since 1976, the electronic breathalyser was invented by Dr Tom Parry Jones. Born and raised in Anglesey, South Wales, Dr Parry Jones developed
. The device, which detected intoxicated drivers, was developed at Lion Laboratories in Cardiff which Dr Parry Jones founded.
For his achievement, he was awarded an OBE and went on to set up the Dr Tom Parry Jones fund which encourages young people into careers in science and technology. The fund also set up the Bangor Science Festival, promoting science and inspiring the next generation to get involved
6. The Equals Sign
The most influential mathematician of his day, Robert Recorde was the Royal Court Physician for King Edward VI and Queen Mary. Born in Tenby, South Wales he became famous for the invention of the equals sign.
He first proposed the equal sign in 1557 and used it in the book ‘The Whetstone of Witte’ writing: “to avoid the tedious repetition of these words – is equal to – I will set a pair of parallels lines of one length, because no two things can be more equal”
7. The Spare Wheel
In the early 1900s, getting a puncture was a dreaded event for all drivers. At that time, motor cars were made without spare wheels so a puncture was fatal.
Luckily in 1904, Thomas Morris Davies had a genius idea. At his ironmongery shop in Stepney Street Llanelli, Morris Davies invented a spokeless rim fitted with an inflatable tyre.
Before long the ‘Stepney Spare Wheel’ had become a success and in 1909 all London taxi’s carried one. Today, all car manufacturers provide a spare wheel but the name ‘Stepney’ lives on and is still the most common name for a spare wheel in countries all over the world
8. PI
Before the turn of the 18th century, the never-ending number known as PI had been awkwardly referred to using a lengthy Latin phrase. But, in 1706, Angelsey-born mathematician William Jones recognised that something more efficient was needed.
William Jones was the first person to use, the now universally recognised, Greek symbol ‘π’ to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Interestingly, he was also responsible for creating one of the greatest scientific libraries and mathematical archives in the country which remained in the hands of his patrons for nearly 300 years
9. Tennis
Tennis is a sport played worldwide and enjoyed by all ages and skill levels, but the game's humble beginnings might surprise you. In 1873, Major Walter Clopton born in Wales published the first book of rules for what was then known as “Lawn Tennis.”
In 1874, Wingfield took out a patent on the game. He then stipulated that tennis courts should be an hourglass shape to distinguish them from ordinary rectangular courts
10. Daleks
Most people are familiar with the famous archenemy of Dr Who, the Daleks. These unique alien characters were the creation of Welsh screenwriter Terry Nation.
In December 1963, as part of the second season of Dr Who, the Daleks were introduced to viewers and became an immediate hit. The Daleks continued to be featured in many episodes to come and were included in two movies.
That's not Wales' only link with Dr Who as most of the reboot has been filmed in Wales at Roath Lock Studios and more recently Wolf Studios Wales, both of which are in Cardiff. You may also see them filming out in public sometimes.
11. Mail-Order Shipping
What would life be like without mail-order shipping? Thanks to Welshman Sir Pryce-Jones, born in Newtown, this convenient way of receiving our online purchases changed the lives of business owners worldwide.
After reaching his goal of opening his very own store in 1859, he posted his first flannel swatches by penny post and saw an opportunity to expand his customer base outside of Newtown. By using trains to deliver his products, Jones pioneered the world’s first major mail-order business, eventually reaching as far as America and Australia as well as famous clients such as Queen Victoria and Florence Nightingale
12. Passenger Railway
Railroads had existed for quite some time and were primarily used to transport goods not people. This was until the miners of Mumbles identified the need for a railroad to assist in the transportation of coal to Swansea
It was there where entrepreneur Benjamin French had the idea that people would enjoy experiencing the romantic scenery of Mumbles from on board a train. In 1807 he began advertising his new service, a horse-drawn iron carriage converted to carry people, making it the world's first passenger railway
13. The Microphone
David Edward-Hughes was the son of a musically talented family from Bala, South Wales and became famous for his inventions. In 1878, Hughes published his work on the effects of sound through electronic pickups.
He realised that interaction between two carbon parts resulted in weak sounds he called “the microphone effect.” This discovery paved the way for the start of the telephone industry in the 20th century and it was further developed to make the modern-day microphones we use today.
14. Cremation
Although cremation itself wasn’t invented in Wales, it was legalised in the UK thanks to an eccentric Welshman. Dr William Price was a Druid who immersed himself in various other religions such as Hinduism and Greek Mythology.
This interest in other cultures and religions could have been the reason behind his decision to cremate his only son on a hilltop in Llantrisant, an illegal act at the time. A sensational court case followed but Price successfully defended his actions. This event influenced the law passed in 1902 to legalise cremation in the UK.
15. The Jolly Rodger
Bartholomew Roberts, aka Black Bart was a Welsh pirate and famous for being one of the most successful villains of the Golden Age of Piracy. Plundering over 400 ships during his three years at sea, he was known for his colourful wardrobe and Jolly Rodger flags.
During battles, Roberts gained fame for wearing bright red silks resulting in his French nickname, Le Jolie Rouge. Before long, this nickname was associated with the skull and cross-bones flags that Roberts flew on all of his ships and so were named ‘the Jolly Rodger’.
16. Deep Space Photography
Isaac Roberts was born in Conwy and destined to be a farmer like his father before him. However, Roberts was a keen astronomer and began to experiment with portrait lenses of varying exposures in an attempt to capture deep space objects.
In 1886 he successfully captured some of the world’s first photographs of objects such as the Great Andromeda Spiral and the Pinwheel Galaxy. For his achievements in astrophotography, Isaac Roberts was awarded The Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1895
17. Packet Switching
Can you imagine life without the internet? One of the key components of the internet, packet switching was the invention of Donald Davies born in Glamorgan, Wales. While Donald was working on the Automatic Computing Engine, he devised a more efficient method of computer communications
The technique was named ‘Packet Switching’ and allowed networks greater flexibility which, in 1960, was used as the basis for what would eventually become the Internet as we know it today.
18. Iron Smelting
In 1836, the iron industry was revolutionised by the ‘hot blast’ process. This method of pre-heating the air before it’s pumped into the blast furnace was the discovery of several ironworkers including David Thomas at the Ynyscedwyn Iron Works in Swansea.
Thomas patented the process and took the idea to Pennsylvania where he became a key influence to the birth of the industrial revolution in the US
19. Pot Noodle
Who knew this favourite student snack actually comes from Wales! Although it was created by Scottish company Golden Wonder, the organisation's factory is based in Crumlin, near Caerphilly
In 1977, Pot Noodle was released to the world and soon became the most popular meal you could make in a cup. The Welsh roots of Pot Noodle became the topic of an advertising campaign in 2006 where Welsh miners were seen digging for these delicious instant noodles.
20. The Modern Suspension Bridge
On January 30, 1826, engineers completed construction of the first modern suspension bridge in the world, The Menai Bridge. This bridge made the connection between Wales and the small island of Anglesey.
Standing 100ft above the water, it's tall enough for boats to sail underneath and is supported by 16 large chains. The Menai Bridge is still used today and its design was copied to build modern suspension bridges worldwide
21. Radar
Edward Bowen, also known by his nickname ‘Taffy’, was the son of a Swansea steelworker. In 1935 he became a key figure in the development of radar. Bowen was part of a team which was given the task of creating a system that could detect hard-to-find targets such as submarines.
This invention, which could be installed on an aircraft, became a helpful ally during World War 2 and had a major effect on winning the Battle of the Atlantic in 1940. Edward went on to become a pioneer of radio astronomy and played a key role in the design of the telescope at the Parkes Observatory in Australia.
After taking a look at these famous inventions, it’s clear to see that Wales has had a key role in shaping life as we know it today.
Published: 5 August 2022 · Last updated: 24 August 2023