Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Memorial to Evan and James James at Ynysangharad Park
Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales
A Grade II* listed building in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff, designated on 26 February 2001.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II*
- Broad class
- Commemorative
- Date of designation
- 26 February 2001
- Locality
- Ynysangharad Park
- Town
- Pontypridd
- Community
- Pontypridd
- Unitary authority
- Rhondda Cynon Taff
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.60249, -3.33634
- Cadw reference
- 24841
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesNational Library of ScotlandDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
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)
- 1895 · Sheet 11. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1963 · Map No. 14 - Local Government Commission for Wales : [Definitive maps showing proposed… (National Library of Scotland)
Cadw's description
Location
Ynysyngharad Park is on the E side of the town centre and River Taff. The memorial is on the E side of the park N of the bandstand.
History
A memorial erected in 1930 with sculptures by Goscombe John to commemorate Evan James (1809-78) and his son James James (1832-1902), composers of the Welsh National Anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of my Fathers). The grave slab of Evan James was moved here from Carmel chapel, where he was buried, when Carmel was demolished. The memorial is in Ynysangharad Park, created as a war memorial park in 1923.
Exterior
The memorial is composed of 2 bronze figures in Celtic robes: a man holding a harp, representing music, and a woman representing poetry. They stand on a base of pennant stone brought from Craig yr Hesg, with memorial inscriptions in English and Welsh and a bronze tablet with low relief portrait busts between them. To the rear is a date stone. The base stands on a stepped plinth, in front of which is the enriched saddleback grave slab of Evan James. In front of the memorial are 2 low square piers and a steel grille, beyond which are approach steps with dwarf wall and square piers, all of rock-faced stone with rock-faced copings. The paved approach is inlaid with a Celtic cross in stone.
Reason for designation
Listed grade II* for its national historical interest as commemorating the composers of the Welsh National Anthem, and as an important public sculpture by one of Wales' foremost C20 sculptors.
Nearby in the register
- Lido at Ynysangharad ParkRecreationalunder 1 mi
- 10 Market StreetCommercialunder 1 mi
- Welch Regimental War MemorialCommemorativeunder 1 mi
- Drinking FountainRecreationalunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.