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Crew working on Owain Glyndŵr theatre production appalled by the condition of his home

18 Sep 2022 3 minute read
Owain Glyndwr by A.C. Michael. Right, Sycharth picture by Jeremy Bolwell (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Crew working on a theatre production about Owain Glyndŵr have said that they were appalled by the condition of his home.

The Cwmni Theatr Maldwyn crew working on Mab Darogan visited Sycharth at the end of July to brush up on the history of the Welsh independence freedom fighter.

But writing to Golwg magazine they said they were hugely disappointed when they saw the condition of the site.

“The site is under the care of Cadw, but there are few signs that they are looking after it,” Penri Roberts, one of the show’s writers, said.

“The motte itself, where Glyndŵr’s halls were, described so wonderfully by Iolo Goch’s poem, is covered with heather and growth.

“What other nation would leave a site of national importance in such a state?

“There are two notice boards that note a bit of the history of Owain’s rebellion here, but seriously, imagine what decent spending on the site could create in terms of education and tourism, if a dignified centre was established here.

“Compare the money that is spent on the Norman Castles in Wales, with the spending on truly Welsh monuments.

“Yes, Norman Castles – which remind us daily of our humiliation as a nation.”

Another problem was the lack of signage to direct you towards Sycharth, Penri Roberts said, saying that they followed a “small narrow road” to get there without “signs of any kind”.

“Why? Does Cadw, or whoever is responsible, want to keep the site a secret?” he asked.

Signs

Cadw told Golwg in response that although a a registered monument, Sycharth is the private property of the Llangedwyn Estate.

“Because of that, the owners are responsible for maintaining the site,” they said.

“In recognition of the significance of Sycharth, in 2010-11 Cadw invested heavily in the monument, together with the Owain Glyndŵr motte and moat site in Glyndyfrdwy.

“This included formalizing the existing public access to the site with Llangedwyn Estate, creating the car park, including a translation and protecting the earthworks, which were waterlogged and had been eroded by cattle.

“Although the monument itself remains in good condition, we recognize that the car park and access routes now need to be improved.

“We are working with the Llangedwyn Estate to achieve this.

“Cadw will fund a new and improved stile, and refurbish the car park with a more durable surface. This work is about to happen.”


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Malcolm rj
Malcolm rj
2 years ago

Come to Merthyr Tydfil and look at the the monument to Richard trevethick the first man to make a train to run on rails it whent from Merthyr to abercynon it looks has if it’s never been cleaned the very invention that opened up the world

George Atkinson
George Atkinson
2 years ago

Who owns Llangedwyn Estate? It should be the Welsh government, not some disrespectful clown.

defaid
defaid
2 years ago

It’s a working farm.

CJPh
CJPh
2 years ago

I wouldn’t trust the Welsh Government with ownership over any cultural sites in Wales. Their total abdication of responsibility in the teaching of Welsh history in schools is proof that they have no care or interest in the heritage and culture of Cymru. Welsh Labour have a long track record of considering history as beginning in the mid 19th century. Everything else is just romantic nationalism to them.

Cwm Rhondda
Cwm Rhondda
2 years ago
Reply to  CJPh

I agree, the British Labour party in Wales are complicit in denying the people of Wales their history. When future historians write of the 20th Century they will view the British Labour party in Wales as a political movement actively damaging Welsh culture. The fact that Welsh children in our schools today know more about Henry VIII than Owain Glyndwr is testament to the ongoing damage they have caused. Their justification is that if children are taught Welsh history they are more likely in adulthood to politically align themselves with Plaid Cymru. Even to this day certain local authority councilors… Read more »

Malcolm rj
Malcolm rj
2 years ago
Reply to  CJPh

I agree with everything you’ve saying they Allowed in Merthyr the total destruction of the first IRON works in the world and put a B &Q on the site

Dai bando
Dai bando
2 years ago
Reply to  CJPh

Spot on

Dafydd ap Robart
Dafydd ap Robart
2 years ago
defaid
defaid
2 years ago

Penri and Cadw both seem to be exaggerating somewhat and I suspect the Golwg article is the culmination of a longer squabble. Penri makes a good point concerning awareness of and respect for our past but his comparison with the upkeep of Norman castles is very misleading. Cadw’s line that the ‘monument’ is in good condition is nonsense. However, I do think they could do more than replacing the broken step on a stile. Still, when you get down to details, Sycharth today is just a grassy mound in the middle of a sheep field on a working farm at… Read more »

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

The disrepair of one of Wales greatest Welshmen Owain Glyndwr home is a national travesty. What is Cadw doing to protect our Welsh heritage? Enough damage has been done already to our nation as it is by England for us to begin self-harming. Not good enough! 🙄

Richard
Richard
2 years ago

Cadw focus far far to much on Edward 1 ‘ ring of steel ‘ around northern Wales or the low impact Roman Ruins of Gwent and Glamorgan or indeed all the easy stuff of riverside monastic settlements planted here by Rome.

Very little interest unfortunately on our own ‘ First Nation ‘ native sites 🥲

When it comes to our own stuff / just no investment

Last edited 2 years ago by Richard
Dai bando
Dai bando
2 years ago

The trouble is cadw are an English run organisation and this has been going on for years across Wales, they have never been interested in anything that’s actually wels.

Gareth Cemlyn Jones
Gareth Cemlyn Jones
2 years ago

CADW for too long has been all about ‘preserving English heritage in Wales’

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