Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
The Hopcyn Cross
Llangynwyd Middle, Bridgend, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Llangynwyd, Llangynwyd Middle, Bridgend, designated on 8 September 1998.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Commemorative
- Date of designation
- 8 September 1998
- Locality
- Llangynwyd
- Town
- Llangynwyd Middle
- Community
- Llangynwyd Middle
- Unitary authority
- Bridgend
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.58630, -3.65117
- Cadw reference
- 20429
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesNational Library of Scotland
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1637 · The fourth table of England. Cornub. Devonia, Somerset etc. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1865 · England and Wales. England No. 6. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1907 · 248 Pontypridd (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1930 · OS Popular Edition 1919-1947 (National Library of Scotland)
Cadw's description
Location
The cross is set at the road junction immediately SW of the churchyard, at the centre of Llangynwyd village.
History
The memorial cross was designed by Christopher Williams and raised in 1927-8, replacing the former direction post in the same position. It commemorates the famous and tragic liason between Ann Thomas, the maid of Cefn-ydfa, and the tyler-poet Wil Hopcyn, who is believed to be the author of the poignant love song 'Bugeilo'r Gwenith Gwyn'.
Exterior
Constructed in course grained grey granite, a high cross type of monument raised on a base of 3 high octagonal steps, the cross base in the form of a cross with infilled angles. The tapered shaft has a late Celtic type angular interlace on each main face and is capped by a wheel cross, also enriched with interlace and a sycamore leaf at the centre. The cross is inscribed on the basal steps: E side COFIWN / WILL HOPCYN 1701-1741 EF A CANODD GWENITH GWYN. On the N side, the worthies of Tir Iarll: ADFYD / TWM IFAN PRYS / ANTONI POWEL / SAMUEL JONES / LEWYS HOPCYN / SION BRADFORD, and on the base Rev R Pendril Llewelyn MA. On the W side: CEFN / ANN THOMAS 1704-1727 / Y FERCH O CEFN YDFA, and on the base Brindley Richards (Brinli), archdderwydd Cymru 1972-1975, and on the S side YDFA / DAFYDD NICLAS / RICHARD PRYCE / LLYFNWY / GEULANNYDD / CADRAWD, and on the base Christopher William RBA.
Reason for designation
Included as a major feature within the Llangynwyd conservation area, of particular historic interest for its commemoration of the story of the Maid of Cefn Ydfa.
Nearby in the register
- Telephone call box in front of the Old House PHCommunicationsunder 1 mi
- Group of nine memorials on the W side of the path to the S porch, Church of St CynwydReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Group of 4 Hopkin and Jenkins tombs within iron railings on the W side of the path to the S porchReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Jenkins Monument in the churchyard, Church of St CynwydReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.