London Welsh Centre

Last updated

London Welsh Centre
Canolfan Cymry Llundain
Founded1920
Founder Margaret Lloyd George
FocusThe arts, Welsh culture and community
Location
Coordinates 51°31′30″N0°07′02″W / 51.5251°N 0.1171°W / 51.5251; -0.1171
OwnerLondon Welsh Trust
Website www.londonwelsh.org OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Formerly called
Young Wales Association

The London Welsh Centre (Welsh : Canolfan Cymry Llundain) (founded as the Young Wales Association in 1920) is a community and arts centre on Gray's Inn Road, in the London Borough of Camden. The centre is owned and run by the London Welsh Trust.

Contents

The centre is a base for three choirs: the London Welsh Chorale (Choral Cymry Llundain), the Gwalia Male Voice Choir, and the London Welsh Male Voice Choir. The centre also hosts Welsh language classes, concerts, drama productions, the Young Welsh Singer of the Year Competition, the London Welsh School's Eisteddfod y Plant, literary events, discussion programmes, and a variety of other events.

History

The centre was built to provide a home for the Young Wales Association (YWA), which later became the London Welsh Association and is now the London Welsh Trust. The centre was built by Sir Howell J. Williams, who was a London-based building contractor and city council member. Williams gifted the building to the Young Welsh Association who, prior to the current buildings completion, were residing in a different plot of land also donated by Williams. [1]

Young Wales Association

The Young Wales Association was founded on 21 October 1920 at the Portman Rooms, Baker Street, when more than 400 members of the London Welsh community attended a meeting presided over by Margaret Lloyd George (who became the YWA's first President). The YWA was founded partly as a tribute to the dead of the First World War but mainly as a meeting place for young Welsh migrants. [2] It was registered as a company limited by guarantee in March 1925 under the title of "Young Wales Association (London) Limited" and later changed its name to the London Welsh Association Limited. The London Welsh Trust was established in 1964.

During the first decade of its life, the YWA lacked a permanent home. Meetings were held first in a little café in Villiers Street, then in the premises of Gwilym Thomas at 26 Upper Montagu Street and later thanks to Owen Picton Davies, at the Hotel Somerset. At lunch hosted by Picton Davies at one of his hotels in July 1928, Lord Atkin and David Lloyd George spoke in support of a movement to provide headquarters for the Young Wales Association in London. As a result, Sir Howell J. Williams, a building contractor and London County Council member, purchased a site of just over 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2) bounded by Doughty Street and Mecklenburgh Square on the West and Gray's Inn Road on the East, and offered it as a free gift to the Young Wales Association. These premises were formally opened by Margaret Lloyd George on 29 November 1930. [3] Coincidentally, the site was almost exactly opposite that in Gray's Inn Road which had been occupied from 1772 to 1857 by the Welsh Charity School.

Current building

The London Welsh Centre on Gray's Inn Road Photo of the London Welsh Centre.jpg
The London Welsh Centre on Gray's Inn Road

Sir Howell J. Williams later rebuilt the properties that fronted onto Gray's Inn Road and completed the main hall of the current London Welsh Centre. The new premises were formally handed over by Williams on 5 November 1937. [3] The properties on Doughty Street and Mecklenburgh Square have since been sold off for residential use, but the premises fronting on to Gray's Inn Road remain in use as the modern-day London Welsh Centre.

The bar at the centre was officially opened by Harry Secombe on Saint Patrick's Day (17 March) 1971. [3]

The building is in the Holborn conservation area.

World War II

During the period 1940–1946, the Welsh Services Club provided beds and meals for Welsh (and a few Canadian) military personnel passing through London. On 13 December 1941, the centre was officially committed for use as a Welsh Services Club. Lord Atkin was chair of the newly formed Welsh Services Club, which was opened by David Lloyd George. [4]

Activities

The centre seeks to promote the arts (primarily Welsh art and culture) and provide local community use facilities.

Magazine

The London Welsh Association's monthly magazine, Y Ddolen, was introduced in 1925. When it reappeared after the Second World War in October 1946, it was called Y Ddinas. Some idea of the range of activities at the London Welsh Centre in the post-war years can be gathered from the announcement in Y Ddinas for just one month, January 1948. [3] The centre was the venue for three dances, two nights of community singing, a concert, two whist drives and an "at home". [5] The centre's magazine is now published quarterly alongside regular newsletters by email. [3]

Welsh Language Classes

Welsh language classes have been held more or less continuously at the London Welsh Centre since 1946. The Saturday morning Welsh classes for children, which began in 1957, resulted in the establishment of the London Welsh School a year later. [3] Welsh language classes are now held at the centre each week, for three different levels of ability. All-day, intensive Welsh language courses are held on weekends, two or three times each year. [6]

Presidents of the London Welsh Trust

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City Hall, Cardiff</span> Municipal building in Cardiff, Wales

City Hall is a municipal building in Cardiff, Wales, UK. It serves as Cardiff's centre of local government. It was built as part of the Cathays Park civic centre development and opened in October 1906. Built of Portland stone, it is an important early example of the Edwardian Baroque style. It is a Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion</span> Welsh learned society

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hen Ogledd</span> Area of northern Britain, c. 500 to c. 800

Yr Hen Ogledd, meaning the Old North, is the historical region that was inhabited by the Brittonic people of sub-Roman Britain in the Early Middle Ages, now Northern England and the southern Scottish Lowlands, alongside the fellow Brittonic Celtic Kingdom of Elmet, in Yorkshire. Its population spoke a variety of the Brittonic language known as Cumbric which is closely related to, if not a dialect of Old Welsh. The people of Wales and the Hen Ogledd considered themselves to be one people, and both were referred to as Cymry ('fellow-countrymen') from the Brittonic word combrogi. The Hen Ogledd was distinct from the parts of Great Britain inhabited by the Picts, Anglo-Saxons, and Scoti.

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1990 to Wales and its people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1931 in Wales</span> List of events

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1931 to Wales and its people.

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1929 to Wales and its people.

Richard Morris was a Welsh writer and editor, a younger brother of Lewis Morris.

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1909 to Wales and its people.

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1908 to Wales and its people.

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1894 to Wales and its people.

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1820 to Wales and its people.

The London Welsh School is a Welsh medium primary school in London, England. Welsh is the language predominantly used for all classes and activities. The school offers a bilingual education to children aged four to 11. The school also has a pre-school class for three and four-year-old children, and a baby and toddler group called Miri Mawr that meets on Monday mornings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1787 in Wales</span> List of events

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1787 to Wales and its people.

This article is about the significance of the year 1776 to Wales and its people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambrian Archaeological Association</span> Welsh historical society

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.

The Dictionary of Welsh Biography (DWB) is a biographical dictionary of Welsh people who have made a significant contribution to Welsh life over seventeen centuries. It was first published in 1959, and is now maintained as a free online resource.

The Gwyneddigion Society 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 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.

Owen Picton Davies, was a Welsh Chairman and Director of Companies and a Proprietor of Hotels. He was also a Liberal Party politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberystwyth Old Students' Association</span> Welsh university alumni association

Aberystwyth Old Students' Association, founded in 1892, is Aberystwyth University's alumni association and is one of the oldest such associations in the United Kingdom. It currently has more than 10,000 Members and 100,000 Associate Members worldwide.

References

  1. ↑ Welsh Centre. "History". London Welsh Centre. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  2. ↑ Jones, Emrys (2001). The Welsh in London, 1500–2000. Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion Writers of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. p. 147. ISBN   978-0-7083-1697-9 . Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "History: London Welsh Centre". London Welsh Centre website. London Welsh Centre. 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  4. ↑ Jones, Emrys (2001). The Welsh in London, 1500–2000. Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion Writers of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. p. 234. ISBN   978-0-7083-1697-9 . Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  5. ↑ Jones, Emrys (2001). The Welsh in London, 1500–2000. Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion Writers of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. p. 151. ISBN   978-0-7083-1697-9 . Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  6. ↑ "Learn Welsh: London Welsh Centre". London Welsh Centre website. London Welsh Centre. 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  7. ↑ "Our Former Presidents: London Welsh Centre". London Welsh Centre website. London Welsh Centre. 2010. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.