External links
- Words can be dangerous: the Gwyneddigion eisteddfodau Casgliad y Werin Cymru/Peoples Collection Wales
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The Gwyneddigion Society (Welsh : Cymdeithas y Gwyneddigion) was a London-based Welsh literary and cultural society. The original society was founded in 1770 and wound up in 1843. It was briefly revived in 1978. Its proceedings were conducted through the medium of Welsh.
The Gwyneddigion Society was founded in December 1770 by a group of expatriate Welshmen resident in London, its first formal meeting taking place on 4 February 1771. Foremost of the founders was Owen Jones (known as Owain Myfyr), who became the society's first president. Originally from Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, Jones had moved to London as a young man and had earned his fortune as a furrier. [1] Other notable early members included Iolo Morganwg (Edward Williams), William Owen Pughe, Jac Glan-y-gors (John Jones), Siôn Ceiriog (John Edwards), Edward Jones ("Bardd y Brenin"), and Twm o'r Nant (Thomas Edwards). Although the society's name (meaning "Gwynedd scholars") suggests a particular link with the region of Gwynedd, its affiliations were from the start with the whole of North Wales, and later with all parts of Wales. [2] [3]
It seems likely that the society was formed in part in reaction to the perceived social and intellectual elitism of the existing London Welsh societies, notably the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion (although there was in practice considerable overlap between the membership and the officials of the various societies). The emphasis in the early years was on sociability, music (including harp-playing and penillion-singing), and pleasure. [4] The society's principal meeting-place was the Bull's Head Tavern in Walbrook, and one member, David Samwell, wrote:
In Walbrook stands a famous Inn
Near ancient Watling Street
Well stored with brandy, beer and gin,
Where Cambrians nightly meet. [5]
Under rules adopted in 1777, every member had to be Welsh-speaking, and had to avow a fondness for singing, or at least for hearing poetry sung to the harp. [6] However, the society rapidly adopted a more broadly cultural, and specifically a literary, role. When the Cymmrodorion Society was dissolved in 1787, its presidential chair was passed to the Gwyneddigion Society. [7] One member described the Bull's Head between 1790 and 1815 as the "centre of Welsh literary life" ("canolfan bywyd llenyddol ein gwlad"). [8]
The society promoted annual eisteddfodau in Wales, the precursors of the National Eisteddfod (the first being held at Bala in 1789); but these experienced difficulties, and the experiment was abandoned after 1793. [9] It had its own library, and maintained contact with scholars across Wales, such as William Jones, to aid them in their knowledge gathering. It also offered an annual prize for literature, in the form of a silver medal. Most significantly, the society (with the financial backing of Owen Jones) published important Welsh literary texts, including Barddoniaeth Dafydd ab Gwilym (1789) and The Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales (1801–07). [3]
A noteworthy event in the society's early history was its funding in the 1790s of John Evans' exploration of North America in search of the legendary "Welsh Indians", the supposed descendants of Madog ab Owain Gwynedd. [3]
From the beginning of the 19th century the society began a slow decline, and by the mid-1830s it had been effectively subsumed into the Cymreigyddion Society (founded in 1795). It was formally dissolved in 1843. [10]
A new Gwyneddigion Society was formed in London in 1978, but it is not known to have survived. [3]
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Beli ap Rhun was King of Gwynedd. Nothing is known of the person, and his name is known only from Welsh genealogies, which confirm that he had at least two sons. He succeeded his father Rhun ap Maelgwn as king, and was in turn succeeded by his son Iago. Beli was either the father or grandfather of Saint Edeyrn.
Rhun ap Maelgwn Gwynedd, also known as Rhun Hir ap Maelgwn Gwynedd, sometimes spelt as 'Rhûn', was King of Gwynedd. He came to the throne on the death of his father, King Maelgwn Gwynedd. There are no historical records of his reign in this early age. A story preserved in both the Venedotian Code and an elegy by Taliesin says that he waged a war against Rhydderch Hael of Alt Clut and the kings of Gododdin or Manaw Gododdin. The small scattered settlement of Caerhun in the Conwy valley is said to be named for him, though without strong authority. Rhun also appears in several medieval literary stories, as well as in the Welsh Triads. His wife was Perwyr ferch Rhûn "Ryfeddfawr" and their son was Beli ap Rhun "Hîr".
Owen Jones, known by his bardic name of Owain Myfyr, was a Welsh antiquarian.
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, often called simply the Cymmrodorion, is a London-based Welsh learned society, with membership open to all. It was first established in 1751 as a social, cultural, literary and philanthropic institution. It fell into abeyance between 1787 and 1820, and again between 1843 and 1873. In its second and third incarnations its interests have been predominantly cultural and antiquarian. The present society claims continuity from that founded in 1751, although the three successive societies have in fact been slightly different in character and aims.
Richard Morris was a Welsh writer and editor, a younger brother of Lewis Morris.
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1818 to Wales and its people.
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1771 to Wales and its people.
St David's School was an independent girls' school in Ashford, England. The school was originally established in London in 1716 as the British Charity School or Welsh Charity School. It was located in a purpose-built home on Clerkenwell Green from 1738, before moving to Gray's Inn Road in 1772, and eventually to Ashford in 1857. It was at first a boys' school, and then from 1758 co-educational, but from 1882 it began to admit girls only and became known as the Welsh Girls' School. It changed its name to St David's School in 1967, and closed in 2009.
Goronwy Owen was one of the 18th century's most notable Welsh poets. He mastered the 24 traditional bardic metres and, although forced by circumstances into exile, played an important role in the literary and antiquarian movement in Wales often described as the Welsh 18th-century Renaissance.
The Cambrian Archaeological Association was founded in 1846 to examine, preserve and illustrate the ancient monuments and remains of the history, language, manners, customs, arts and industries of Wales and the Welsh Marches and to educate the public in such matters. The association's activities include sponsoring lectures, field visits, and study tours; as well as publishing its journal, Archaeologia Cambrensis, and monographs. It also provides grants to support research and publications.
Robert Thomas Jenkins CBE was a Welsh historian and academic.
Walter Davies, commonly known by his bardic name Gwallter Mechain, was a Welsh poet, editor, translator, antiquary and Anglican clergyman.
John Edwards (1747–1792) was a Welsh poet, born at Crogen Wladys in Glyn Ceiriog. He co-founded a London Welsh literary and cultural society.
Cymdeithas Cymreigyddion y Fenni, which translates as the Abergavenny Welsh Society, is a Welsh language society in Abergavenny. Early in its history it was very influential in the survival of the language in Monmouthshire, and in Welsh intellectual life more broadly.
The Honourable and Loyal Society of Antient Britons was a London-based Welsh social, cultural, and philanthropic society, which was in existence from 1715 until the end of the 18th century.
The Cymreigyddion Society was a London-based Welsh social, cultural and debating society, which existed from 1794 or 1795 until about 1855.
Edward Jones, nicknamed "Ginshop" Jones, was a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist "exhorter" and lay preacher in London, who ended his life in disgrace.
Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr is a village and community in Conwy County Borough, in Wales. It is located within the historic county of Denbighshire on the Afon Alwen, at the south western edge of the Clocaenog Forest, 9.1 miles (14.6 km) north west of Corwen, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) east of Cerrigydrudion and 27.5 miles (44.3 km) south of Conwy. At the 2001 census the community had a population of 195, reducing to 189 at the 2011 census.
Hugh Maurice was a transcriber of Welsh manuscripts.
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1715 to Wales and its people.
