Full Report for Listed Buildings
The list description is not intended to be a complete inventory of what is listed: it is principally intended to aid identification. By law, the definition of a listed building includes the entire building (i) and any structure or object that is fixed to the said building and ancillary to it and (ii) any other structure or object that forms part of the land and has done so since before 1 July 1948, and was within the curtilage of the building, and ancillary to it, on the date on which said building was first included in the list, or on 1 January 1969, whichever was later.
Summary Description
Reference Number
21377
Building Number
Grade
II
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
18/02/1999
Date of Amendment
18/02/1999
Name of Property
Memorial to David Williams
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Caerphilly
Community
Caerphilly
Town
Caerphilly
Locality
Caerphilly Centre
Easting
315410
Northing
186891
Street Side
N
Location
In the park overlooking the lake immediately S of Caerphilly Castle.
Description
Broad Class
Commemorative
Period
History
Erected 1911 as the result of fund-raising activity by a Memorial Committee, chaired by Lord Tredegar. Memorial dedicated to David Williams (1738 - 1816), writer, philosopher and politician who was born at Waen waelod, Watford. He was a pupil at Cwm of the Rev. David Williams (1709-84), who had begun the chapel at Watford. He entered the ministry, but only for a short time, before moving to London where he engaged himself in teaching and writing. In all, he wrote 26 books on a range of subjects including religion, liturgical reform, history and education. His writing attracted the attention of Benjamin Franklyn and they set up a religious group. His 'Liturgy on the Universal Principles of Religion and Morality' in 1776 received acclaim throughout Europe, and this was followed by a book in defence of the freedom of American colonists. He was invited to be a French citizen and to draw up details of a French constitution. In 1790 he established the Royal Literary Fund to support impoverished authors. He lived at the fund's headquarters in Soho where he died, and is buried at St Anne's, Soho. The memorial was erected nearly a century after his death by his admirers, who regarded him as one of the foremost Welshmen of his age and generation.
Exterior
Obelisk of pale grey marble with pyramidal top. On a square base, the top edge of which has ogee moulding and a small pediment in the centre of each side. The memorial inscription to David Williams is on the S face of the base. Fixed to the obelisk above is a cast bust of David Williams, of bronze, or bronze-plated. The base is on a 5-tier sandstone platform.
Located within a small enclosure of iron railings. There are 2 panels per side, the handrails swept up to the piers and with circular motifs.
Interior
Reason for designation
Listed for its historic interest as a memorial to a man regarded as one of the foremost Welshmen of his generation.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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