Harp’s historic homage! Flintshire village’s Eisteddfod legacy to grace roadside

A wooden harp sculpture could be installed at a roadside in Caerwys symbolising the Flintshire village’s Eisteddfod history.

Flintshire Council’s planning department has received an application from Caerwys Town Council for the harp and a seating area to be created on grassland next to the B5122 in the village.

A planning statement submitted with the application has been produced by the town council clerk which outlines that the harp would be three to four foot in height and made of oak.

The plinth would also be three to four foot in height, and the harp strings made of copper.

A wooden bench would also be sited behind the harp with tree planting also set to take place.

The planning statement gives an outline of Caerwys’s Eisteddfodau history, driven by the Mostyn family of Mostyn Hall in the 1500s during the reign of Elizabeth I.

It states: “Elizabeth l declared Caerwys to be the ‘home of the Eisteddfod’.

“Elizabeth issued a proclamation which authorised that anyone claiming to be a poet or a musician – to come together and be listened and judged.

“The Eisteddfod mainly was to sort out ‘the wheat from the chaff’ to allow the poets to identify themselves and end the unflattering inclusion of themselves among the ranks of common tramps, footpads, beggars and buskers.

“They had become so fed up of trying to follow their vocation in the face of wholesale abuse that they petitioned the Queen – successfully, to allow them to hold a contest to prove their worth.”

According to the planning statement 55 people were awarded licences, which authorised them to travel in Wales and England to perform their talents before the people of the realm.

It adds: “The Eisteddfod was held in the Old Town Hall, Caerwys – which was situated behind Compton House, near the town square.

“The Mostyn family loyalty to promoting Welsh culture was demonstrated by their associations with Eisteddfodau and particularly those held at Caerwys in 1523 and 1567/8.

“On both occasions, the contemporary head of the Mostyn family played a major role in the organisation and adjudication.

“The original commission for the second Eisteddfod granted under the authority of Elizabeth I still resides at Mostyn Hall.

“This document states that ‘William Mostyn Esquire and his ancestors had the gift and bestowing of the silver harp appertaining to the chief of the faculty’. This silver harp also proudly remains in the possession of the family.”

The planning statement adds that while the silver harp remains in safe hands at Mostyn Hall, it is one of the symbols of achievement in Caerwys and remains so to this day.

“Caerwys Town Council wish to preserve this historical achievement for future generations”, the statement adds.

“Whilst there are written original records, including digitisation of this achievement, a wooden harp replica of the silver harp would showcase a visual reminder and further preserve this history for the future.”

The town council has commissioned carver and sculptor Ian Murray to create the harp work of art from natural resources predominantly timber.

Whilst the making of the harp is in progress, should the planning application not be successful, the town council will consider siting in another position.

Flintshire Council planners will make a decision on the application at a future date.
By Rory Sheehan – Local Democracy Reporter (more here).