New book recalls Llangollen's bards

* The cover of the new book.

A FORGOTTEN father of the modern eisteddfod is recalled in a new book produced by a history group in Llangollen. 

More than two centuries ago, Jonathan Hughes was a keen competitor and supporter of local eisteddfods, winning the chair at the King’s Head – now the Royal Hotel – in the town in January 1789.

He later became a prime mover behind the expansion and wider promotion of the eisteddfod concept and its evolution into the major cultural event it has now become.

Despite this major contribution he has been largely forgotten.

But now Hanes – Llangollen – History has gone some way to setting the historical record straight by including Hughes in its new book, Remembering the Bards  - Cofio’r Beirdd.  

The 96-page bilingual book by Nia Rhosier features Hughes along with two other Llangollen poets, Taliesin o Eifion and Gwilym Ceiriog, who are all included on the Bards’ Memorial in the grounds of local mansion and home of the famous Ladies of Llangollen, Plas Newydd.

Gill Thomas, secretary of Hanes – Llangollen – History, said: “Our aim is to make the story of their lives and work more accessible to local people, visitors and Welsh learners and, by providing an introduction to the bards and their poetry, we hope the reader will be encouraged to explore further this important aspect of our cultural heritage, which is sometimes forgotten.

“Interest in the project arose when one of our members mentioned that there was a mystery surrounding the grave of Jonathan Hughes, who was buried in St Collen’s church yard, Llangollen in 1805.

“Our first reaction was, ‘who was Jonathan Hughes?’

“Once we realised that, in his day, he was a famous local poet and caroller who was important in the history of the modern eisteddfod, there was no stopping us.

                                                                                                                                     * Taliesin o Eifion.

“There was quite a bit of information in Welsh  - but very little in English - including a book published in 1951, Beirdd y Gofeb, by Daniel Williams, which covered the lives and work of the three Llangollen poets referred to above. 

“Their lives spanned nearly two hundred years, from 1721 to 1919, and all three had been awarded bardic chairs.”

Research for the new book revealed  Jonathan Hughes  was one of only four poets who competed in the 1789 Llangollen eisteddfod - although the situation was not helped by deep snow and a frozen River Dee.

Afterwards, he wrote to the Gwyneddigion , a cultural society of expatriates from north Wales, based in London, asking for their support and promotion of Welsh literature.

It was after this that, under the auspices of the Gwyneddigion, the format was changed and more competitions were introduced, encouraging an increase in interest of both competitors and the public, leading to the modern eisteddfod.

The book also shows that Taliesin o Eifion won the first ‘black chair’ – after his death - at the National Eisteddfod held in Wrexham in 1876, while Gwilym Ceiriog won several chairs, including one at the National Eisteddfod, Carmarthen, 1911 and an eisteddfod in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States.

Gill Thomas added:  “We felt these poets were so important that information about them should be available to everyone, and a bilingual book would be the best way to achieve this.

 

           * Jonathan Hughes                                                                            * Below: Gwilym Ceiriog.

“The research and writing took 12 months, and we are grateful to Nia Rhosier for coming to our rescue when it looked as if the project was going to flounder when our first author was unable to start the work. 

“Sadly, we have still not found Jonathan Hughes’s grave or gravestone, which it seems was removed when the church was altered in the 19^th century, but it is on our list of projects and perhaps we will be successful one day. “

As the book, which features colour and black and white illustrations, is a not for profit publication, it has been priced at £4.95 to cover costs and is available in Courtyard Books, Llangollen Museum, Plas Newydd, Llangollen Motor Museum, Passers Buy Antiques, Siop y Siswrn (Wrexham and Mold) or by post price £5.95. For more information visit: www.hanes.llangollen.co.uk