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Welsh national anthem memorial installed

News | Rhys Williams | Published: 15:49, Friday March 6th, 2020.
Last updated: 15:49, Friday March 6th, 2020
The sculpture dedicated to Evan James and James James in Caerphilly town centre
The sculpture dedicated to Evan James and James James in Caerphilly town centre

A memorial sculpture dedicated to the father and son duo who wrote the Welsh national anthem has been erected in Caerphilly town centre.

The sculpture was approved by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s planning committee last month.

The sculpture dedicated to Evan James and James James in Caerphilly town centre
The sculpture has been placed outside the Twyn Community Centre

The statue, which cost around £16k, was designed by artist Ruben Eynon.

It has been funded by Caerphilly Town Council, in partnership with the county borough council.

The monument commemorates Evan James, who was born in 1809 in a cottage which stood near to where Caerphilly Workmen’s Hall now stands, and his son, James James, who was born in Bedwellty.

Evan, who later moved away to live at the Ancient Druid Inn near Argoed, wrote the lyrics to Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, while his son composed the tune.

The memorial with the Tommy Cooper statue in the background
The memorial with the Tommy Cooper statue and Caerphilly Castle in the background

A wooden monument commemorating the duo was previously located in Dafydd Williams Park, near Caerphilly Castle, but was removed in 2017 due to rot.


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