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
21736
Building Number
Grade
II
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
25/05/1999
Date of Amendment
25/05/1999
Name of Property
Monument to Thomas James Thomas and others
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Caerphilly
Community
Penyrheol, Trecenydd and Energlyn
Town
Caerphilly
Locality
Groeswen
Easting
312791
Northing
186975
Street Side
Location
Located in the burial ground, close to the SW angle of the chapel.
Description
Broad Class
Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Period
History
Groeswen, built in 1742, was the first Calvinistic Methodist Chapel in Wales. The burial ground was acquired in the period 1798-1801, and was extended E in 1865. It is known as the 'Westminster of Wales' because of the fine collection of displayful monuments to ministers, benefactors of the chapel, and local bards.
The large, central monument is to Thomas James Thomas of Brynawel, Ynyshir, a coalmaster who died on 31st May, 1885. Commemorated with him is Rachel Thomas (d. 1912). The monument to the L is dedicated to William John (d. 1878), while that to the R is to Thomas Isaac (d. 1880).
Exterior
Triple-stem tomb set within balustrading, all in white granite. On a coursed masonry plinth including the entrance to a vault. The central stem is higher, and consists of a tall square base with trefoil-headed blind arches supported on colonnettes with decorative capitals. Surmounted by a high cornice with a moulded round arch to each face, and urns rising from the angles. Above is a draped urn with wreath, set diagonally on a pedestal with festoons.
The flanking stems are in a plainer style: a square base with inscribed ogee arch to each face, with low-relief foliage to the spandrels, surmounted by a deep moulded cornice. Above is a short obelisk bearing a wreath and supporting a plain urn. The balustrading has large shaped posts at the angles, and in the centre of the front and rear sides. The inscriptions are on the front face of each base.
Interior
Reason for designation
Listed as a particularly fine funerary monument, unusually displayful in a non-conformist context.
Group value with Groeswen Chapel and other listed monuments in the burial ground.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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