Aberdare Park
Encyclopedia
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
public park located in the village of Trecynon
Trecynon
Trecynon is a village near Aberdare situated in the Cynon Valley, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.-Background and History:Trecynon is home to Hen Dy Cwrdd Chapel the oldest Nonconformist chapel in the Cynon Valley. Hen Dy Cwrdd Chapel was founded in 1751 and rebuilt in 1862...
, near the town of Aberdare
Aberdare
Aberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...
in South Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
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History
The park occupies nearly fifty acres (20.25ha). It opened on 27 July 1869. It was landscaped and planted by William Barron who had laid out many parks in England. The park was created at the instigation of R.H. Rhys.In 1956 the National Eisteddfod
National Eisteddfod of Wales
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
was held in the park. A Gorsedd
Gorsedd
A gorsedd plural gorseddau, is a community or coming together of modern-day bards. The word is of Welsh origin, meaning "throne". It is occasionally spelled gorsedh , or goursez in Brittany....
circle was erected to commemorate this event, the stone circle still remaining.
The park is the location of the annual Aberdare Park National Road Races, which is a motorcycle race held on the 0.9 miles (1.4 km) circuit within the park. The road races in 2011 will be held on the weekend of July 9th & 10th
The track is the only track in the country which takes a left course. It is also one of the best on the country, and the hardest.
Sculptures and Features
Visitors to the park are greeted by the prominent sculpture of Sir William T. Lewis (Lord Merthyr)William Lewis, 1st Baron Merthyr
William Thomas Lewis, 1st Baron Merthyr , known as Sir William Lewis, 1st Baronet, from 1896 to 1911, was a Welsh coal mining magnate.Lewis was the son of Thomas William Lewis, an engineer, of Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire...
. Unveiled in 1913, the sculptor was Thomas Brock
Thomas Brock
Sir Thomas Brock KCB RA was an English sculptor.- Life :Brock was born in Worcester, attended the School of Design in Worcester and then undertook an apprenticeship in modelling at the Worcester Royal Porcelain Works. In 1866 he became a pupil of the sculptor John Henry Foley. He married in 1869,...
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See also
- Dare Valley Country ParkDare Valley Country ParkDare Valley Country Park is a public park in Britain. It lies near the village of Cwmdare and the town of Aberdare, Cynon Valley, in Rhondda Cynon Taff, in south Wales. It comprises of woodlands, pasture and moorland mountainside...