Ystradgynlais & District

The Daniel Protheroe Memorial, Rhestr Fawr, Ystradgynlais, was restored and enlarged by the Ystradgynlais District Heritage & Language Society, and officially reopened in a ceremony on 1st July 2017.

Daniel Protheroe was born in Cwmgiedd, Ystradgynlais in 1866. From a young age he competed in the National Eisteddfod of Wales, and aged 16 conducted the Ystradgynlais Choir at the Llandeilo Eisteddfod, winning the choir prize. He emigrated to the USA aged 19 and lived in Scanton, Pennysylvania. He would become famous as a composer and conductor, retaining his Welsh roots by frequent visits to Wales and the National Eisteddfodau, and writing Welsh-language hymns for the Calvinistic Methodist tradition, including for male voice singing in Welsh in North American communities. He died in Chicago in 1934, and in 1954 the original memorial plaque was unveiled in Ystradgynlais.
Daniel Protheroe biography at Wikipedia

On Saturday 1st July 2017, the official opening ceremony commenced with an address by Arwel Michael, Chairman of the Ystradgynlais District Heritage Society which was then followed by a rendition of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' by the Voices of the Valley Choir, from the Valley View High School in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA. The official unveiling of the new central monument was then carried out by Mrs Hannah Protheroe-Griffiths, the great-niece of Daniel Protheroe.

You can read Ystradgynlais Town Council's report on the opening ceremony on their website.

Gorsedd Park, 2017 Gorsedd Prk was inaugurated in 1957 after the Eisteddfod of 1954 and has developed thereafter, seeing a major facelift in 2017.		Llangiwg Church, Swansea Valley St Ciwg's church was one of the first in the Swansea Valley. Llangiwg is now a community arts centre with poetry readings and musical performances.
Pubs of Cwmtwrch Views of the pubs of Lower Cwmtwrch - the Ffynon (ex-Rose and Crown), the Tafarn y Twrch, the New Inn (closed 2007)		External Views, St. Cynog's Saint Cynog's church is the parish church for Ystradgynlais, rebuilt in 1861 and with extensive graveyards encircling it.
The Memorial in St. Cynog's St. Cynog's Church houses a war memorial plaque, and associated memorials to the fallen, including a recent addition, a rose.		Windows, St. Cynog's, Ystradgynlais Saint Cynog's Chapel has many stained glass windows, installed at different periods in the 150 years after construction.
Sardis Chapel, Ystradgynlais Sardis Chapel was built in 1861 to an unusual square design and was still going strong into the 2010s, but is now closed.		Daniel Protheroe Memorial The Daniel Protheroe Memorial, Rhestr Fawr, Ystradgynlais, has been restored and officially reopened on 1st July 2017