When the War Memorial at the Gorsedd Park, Ystradgynlais, was refurbished in 2016 a commemorative plaque recording the official opening of the park in 1957 was removed and placed into storage. The opening ceremony of the Gorsedd Park was completed by the late Mr James Griffiths MP who, prior to his appointment as the first ever Secretary of State for Wales (1964 – 1966), lived with his family on Station Road, Ystradgynlais for a period of nine years between 1926 and 1935.

The Ystradgynlais District Heritage and Language Society working in partnership with Powys CC, Ystradgynlais Town Council and the Ystradgynlais Branch of the Royal British Legion initiated a project to reinstate this plaque at the park’s entrance. The project attached the plaque to a commemorative plinth and placed two commemorative benches alongside. The benches commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I and the 80th anniversary of the start of World War II. The plinth and benches now reflect the design of the refurbished War Memorial located opposite this feature.

The society is pleased to report the completion of this project and take this opportunity to thank the partners for their financial support, the manager of Gwrhyd Specialist Stone Quarry for donating the plinth and the team from Matthew Thomas Landscape Contractors for their work in bringing the project to a successful conclusion.