20429

 

II  

Designated  

08/09/1998  

08/09/1998  

The Hopcyn Cross  

 

Bridgend  

Llangynwyd Middle  

Llangynwyd Middle  

Llangynwyd  

285701  

188786  

 

The cross is set at the road junction immediately SW of the churchyard, at the centre of Llangynwyd village.  

Commemorative  

 

The memorial cross was designed by Christopher Williams and raised in 1927-8, replacing the former direction post in the same position. It commemorates the famous and tragic liason between Ann Thomas, the maid of Cefn-ydfa, and the tyler-poet Wil Hopcyn, who is believed to be the author of the poignant love song 'Bugeilo'r Gwenith Gwyn'.  

Constructed in course grained grey granite, a high cross type of monument raised on a base of 3 high octagonal steps, the cross base in the form of a cross with infilled angles. The tapered shaft has a late Celtic type angular interlace on each main face and is capped by a wheel cross, also enriched with interlace and a sycamore leaf at the centre. The cross is inscribed on the basal steps: E side COFIWN / WILL HOPCYN 1701-1741 EF A CANODD GWENITH GWYN. On the N side, the worthies of Tir Iarll: ADFYD / TWM IFAN PRYS / ANTONI POWEL / SAMUEL JONES / LEWYS HOPCYN / SION BRADFORD, and on the base Rev R Pendril Llewelyn MA. On the W side: CEFN / ANN THOMAS 1704-1727 / Y FERCH O CEFN YDFA, and on the base Brindley Richards (Brinli), archdderwydd Cymru 1972-1975, and on the S side YDFA / DAFYDD NICLAS / RICHARD PRYCE / LLYFNWY / GEULANNYDD / CADRAWD, and on the base Christopher William RBA.  

 

Included as a major feature within the Llangynwyd conservation area, of particular historic interest for its commemoration of the story of the Maid of Cefn Ydfa.