Daniel James (Gwyrosydd)
Encyclopedia
Daniel James also known by his bardic name
of Gwyrosydd, was a Welsh
poet
and hymn
-writer, best known for writing the words to the popular hymn, "Calon Lân
".
in Swansea
. He lost his father at an early age, later becoming a puddler at Morriston
ironworks
, and afterwards worked at Landore
tinplate works.
He began to write verse and assumed the bardic name Gwyrosydd (meaning "Truth will Stand" or "Man of Gower"). He later found work in Tredegar
, Dowlais Ironworks
, Blaengarw
, and Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taff, where he spent 20 years.
Public Hall in 1936.
Bardic name
A bardic name is a pseudonym, used in Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement....
of Gwyrosydd, was a Welsh
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...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
-writer, best known for writing the words to the popular hymn, "Calon Lân
Calon Lan
Calon Lân is a Welsh hymn, the words of which were written in the 19th century by Daniel James to a tune by John Hughes ....
".
Early life
Daniel James came from TreboethTreboeth
Treboeth is a village in the Mynydd-Bach ward of Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales.Gwyrosydd Primary School is located in Treboeth. The local secondary school is the Daniel James Community School...
in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. He lost his father at an early age, later becoming a puddler at Morriston
Morriston
Morriston is a community in the City and County of Swansea, Wales and falls within the Morriston ward. Morriston is sometimes referred to as a distinct town , however Morriston never had a town charter, and is now part of the continuous urban area around Swansea, the centre of which lies three...
ironworks
Ironworks
An ironworks or iron works is a building or site where iron is smelted and where heavy iron and/or steel products are made. The term is both singular and plural, i.e...
, and afterwards worked at Landore
Landore
Landore is the name of an electoral ward, a community in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, UK. The community does not have a community council....
tinplate works.
He began to write verse and assumed the bardic name Gwyrosydd (meaning "Truth will Stand" or "Man of Gower"). He later found work in Tredegar
Tredegar
Tredegar is a town situated on the Sirhowy River in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent, in south-east Wales. Located within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire, it became an early centre of the Industrial Revolution in South Wales...
, Dowlais Ironworks
Dowlais Ironworks
The Dowlais Ironworks was a major ironworks and steelworks located at Dowlais near Merthyr Tydfil, in Wales. Founded in the 18th century, it operated until the end of the 20th, at one time in the 19th century being the largest steel producer in the UK...
, Blaengarw
Blaengarw
Blaengarw is the uppermost village in the river valley of the River Garw, in the county borough of Bridgend, Wales.-External links:* *...
, and Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taff, where he spent 20 years.
Later life
He returned to Morriston in 1918 to live with his daughter, and died there in March 1920. He was buried at Mynyddbach, and a memorial tablet was placed at TreboethTreboeth
Treboeth is a village in the Mynydd-Bach ward of Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales.Gwyrosydd Primary School is located in Treboeth. The local secondary school is the Daniel James Community School...
Public Hall in 1936.