Welcome to Conwy Richards website. The aim of this website is to provide a comprehensive study of the coracle, its history, construction and continued use in this modern world of today.

Traditionally coracle building was practised by those who used the craft for its intended purpose - fishing and it was not until the 1980's that others with an interest in coracles started to make them for recreational use and were later described as the "new wave" builders.

But it was back in 1974 that Conwy Richards first attempted to build a coracle and became an early "new wave" (although unaware at the time) after reading the newly published 'Nets & Coracles' by J. Geraint Jenkins.

In 1983 he saw his first coracles on a visit to the museum at Brecon in Wales. (Both coracles have since been removed from display).

Later in the 1990s a chance meeting led to some instruction in building techniques and he started his quest to re-construct every type of coracle where a plan or an original example existed. Since then he has made examples of the following types, Teifi, Tywi, Taf (two types), Lower Dee, Conway, Severn bowl, (Ironbridge), Shrewsbury, Welshpool, Cleddau, and Wye. He also joined the coracle society and later became a committee member who promotes the coracle in the English Eastern counties. The new wave emergence of coracles has been for one use only, recreational boating, but Conwy Richards has taken the coracle beyond that by re-introducing angling with a rod and line, both for coarse and game fish, something that has not been practised since the 1950s. Displays at county agricultural shows led to the award of silver cups in Suffolk and Norfolk. He has made various television appearances, also has been heard on radio and various newspapers have also featured him.

In the summer of 2002 he made a two thousand mile journey around Wales researching the coracle and making a photographic record, some of which can be seen on this web-site. Creating his web-site was a major project in 2002 with the aim of displaying coracle information with regular updates. After its initial launch in March it is at present being expanded.

Apart from the fishermen on the Welsh rivers no other new wave coracle maker apart from Conwy has taken an interest in the actual nets used for coracle fishing. He has recently made a traditional River Teifi net from natural materials (hemp, horsehair and cowhorn), nets in use today have been made from modern man made fibres for about the last forty years. This interest in nets naturally led him to their actual use and on his yearly visits to Wales he has joined the coracle fisherman on their rivers to watch and learn their techniques. Eastern England has no game rivers or the opportunity for a netting licence to be issued so to legally fish he has been practising netting in the muddy tidal creeks of the North Sea coast. He has successfully caught a variety of fish and also uniquely practices sea fishing with rod and line from a coracle.

Conwy Richards in historical attire

In the summer he attends the coracle races across the country and as a speaker Conwy by invitation has given talks about the coracle to interested groups, also during the summer months he gives instruction in the handling of coracles and displays to the public at various events.

A small selection of Coracle Craftsman Conwy Richards Coracle Collection