Final Update for Hedd Wyn and Yr Ysgwrn.

[Huw Davies]

It’s time for an update!

Mr. Gareth Jones, the Assembly member for Aberconwy wrote to the Assembly’s Heritage Minister, Mr. Alun Ffred Jones. I quote from his letter:

“.....credaf fod dyfodol yr Ysgwrn yn fater o’r fath bwysigrwydd cenedlaethol fel na ddylid dibynnu ar ffynonellau fel arian y Loteri i’w gynnal.....credaf fod cartrefi fel hyn yn bethau y dylai’r Adran Dreftadaeth, trwy Cadw, sicrhau eu dyfodol.

...mi fyddwn i’n dadlau fod hanes Cymry ifanc fel Hedd Wyn a aberthwyd mor ddidostur yn y Rhyfel Mawr yn dipyn mwy perthnasol i Gymru heddiw nag ydi olion hen gestyll ein concwerwyr. Byddai’r Ysgwrn yn adnodd hynod werthfawr hefyd ar gyfer hyrwyddo addysg dinasyddiaeth fyd-eang.

Felly gofynnaf a oes rhywbeth y gallwch chi ei wneud yn rhinwedd eich swydd i ddiogelu’r rhan bwysig yma o hanes ein cenedl?”

“...I believe that the future of ‘Yr Ysgwrn’ is of such national importance that we should not depend on financial sources such as the Lottery for it’s upkeep....I believe that the future of homes such as these should be the responsibility, through Cadw, of the Heritage Department.

....I would argue that the history of young Welshmen like Hedd Wyn who were sacrificed so callously in the Great War is of far greater relevance to modern Wales than ruins of the old castles of our conquerors. The ‘Ysgwrn’ would also be a valuable asset in the promotion of citizenship throughout the world.

I ask if there’s anything you can do, through the auspices of your office, to protect this very important aspect of our nation’s history?”

Take the upkeep of Yr Ysgwrn out of the scope of the whims of The Lottery Heritage Fund? I think that’s a damned fine idea! Here’s the answer from Mr. Alun Ffred Jones:


Alun Ffred Jones AC/AM
Y Gweinidog dros Dreftadaeth
Minister for Heritage
Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru
Welsh Assembly Government

29 Medi 2009

Diolch i chi am eich neges e-bost ar 3 Medi ynghylch yr Ysgwrn, Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd.
Rwy'n cydnabod pwysigrwydd hanesyddol yr Ysgwrn fel man geni Hedd Wyn ac fel man sy'n Cadw liawer o nodweddion sy'n gysylltiedig- a'r bardd, ac yn arbennig ei gadeiriau barddol.
Mae Cadw, sef adran amgylehedd hanesyddol Llywodraeth y Cynulliad, yn gallu helpu gyda gwaith i drwsio ac adfer adeiladau pwysicaf Cymru, ac yn groes j'r sylw diweddar yn y cyfryngau, dydy Cadw ddim wedi gwrthod cais am gymorth i adfer yr Ysgwrn. A dweud y gwir, mae Prif Bensaer Cadw wedi siarad a'r perchennog, nai Hedd Wyn, Gerald Williams, er mwyn ystyried yr hyn a allai fod yn bosibl o ran cymorth ariannol tuag at wella a thrwsio'r Ysgwrn ae mae wedi ymweld a'r ty yn ddiweddar i drafod yn lIawnach gyda Mr Williams y gwaith trwsio a allai fod yn gymwys i gael cymorth.
Bum draw yn yr Ysgwrn fy hun yn ystod yr haf i gael gair gyda Mr Williams ae awgrymais ffordd y gellir diogelu'r ty ar gyfer yr oesoedd a ddel.
Rydych yn crybwyll arian y Loteri ar gyfer yr adeilad; rwy'n deall bod swyddogion o Gronfa Dreftadaeth y Loteri hefyd wedi bod mewn cysylltiad a Mr Williams i drafod ymhellach unrhyw gymorth y gallai'r Gronfa honno ei roi.
Gobeithio bod hyn o gymorth ichi.
Alun Ffred Jones AC/AM
Y Gweinidog dros Dreftadaeth/Minister for Heritage


For those of you for whom the language of heaven is still an enigma I shall loosely translate!

The Minister thanks Mr. Jones for his letter and acknowledges the historical importance of Yr Ysgwrn as Hedd Wyn’s birthplace and as a place for safeguarding his bardic chairs.
Contrary to press reports, Cadw has not refused assistance, indeed, their Chief Architect has been in discussion with the present owner about preserving Yr Ysgwrn. Earlier this summer, the minister himself visited Yr Ysgwrn and suggested ways in which the house could be preserved for future generations. The minister also understands that the Lottery Heritage Fund has been in discussions regarding how they might assist.

Even though he falls slightly short of Mr. Gareth Jones’ suggestion that ‘Yr Ysgwrn’ comes entirely under the auspices of the Assembly government I think this is a very encouraging reply. The minister was concerned enough, (and aware of our concern) to visit ‘Yr Ysgwrn’ in person. I’m fairly confident that for the near future, ‘Yr Ysgwrn’ is in the care of hands that revere its importance for the Welsh nation as much as we do.

I don’t know whether these events as described by the Minister took place before or after Americymru took up the cause. But I think that at the very least we did show that concern for this particular morsel of Welsh heritage did raise passions not only in Wales, but worldwide, and I do believe that we did make a difference! To all those who signed the on-line petition a huge THANK YOU, and to all the Assembly members that responded so gallantly an equally huge THANK YOU!

This is my last blog on the subject of ‘Yr Ysgwrn’.

[Ceri Shaw]

Many thanks for bringing the issue to our attention Huw. It was a pleasure to assist with this in whatever small way we could. What is more important though, is that it now looks like this monument will be properly preserved for posterity. Diolch to all who signed the petition and raised the issue in the 'corridors of power'.