Ystalyfera - South Wales
The memorial stone dated 1924
Original gatepost, Godrergraig Park
The new entrance to the park
Godrergraig Park, Ystalyfera
Godrergraig Park was given as a bequest by Colonel Fleming Gough. An article from the Llais in July 1924 details the opening of the park, and explains its origins.
GODRE'RGRAIG WELFARE GROUNDS
Opened in Glorious Weather
Most Successful Scene So Far
There was a marked contrast between the glorious sunshine which attended the opening of the Godre'rgraig Welfare grounds on Saturday last and that which prevailed at the similar ceremony at Ystalyfera on the previous Saturday. The favourable weather conditions were reflected in the crowd which flowed to the grounds at Coed Cilmaengwyn and which must have numbered close upon two thousand. Even the hopes of the committee were exceeded. This fact, along with the unanimous approval of the work done and the hearty congratulations uttered by every visitor, should be some recompense to the hardworking committee for the great amount of time and labour spent upon the scheme.
VOLUNTARY LABOUR
The story of the work done at Godre'rgraig goes back to a period some time before the Miners' Welfare Scheme began to function. A number of the inhabitants in 1921 started to form a children's playground, and to start with the making of a park. This was done by the men who live in the district by their own labour, without waiting for funds to accumulate. As Col. Gough said on Saturday, many hundreds of pounds worth of labour was freely given in this way. Willing workers could be seen at seven o'clock in the morning; others would be labouring late at night. When at last the Welfare Scheme scame along with its resources, advantage was taken of it and progress of the work was accelerated.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE
Today the Godre'rgraig Committee can boast of the following:- One full-sized bowling green, two lawn tennis courts, a children's playground, and a pavilion to seat about 300 people. Preparations have also been made by the further generosity of Col. Gough, to extend operations beyond the present grounds. All this had been done on a site with ideal surroundings, and with sufficient space on either hand to add whatever improvements, and extensions may be decided upon later.
SATURDAY'S PROCEEDINGS
The proceedings on Saturday, which were presided over by Alderman William Jenkins, MP, began with the formal opening of the park by Col and Mrs Gough. Proceeding to the temporary platform, the Chairman was supported by Col and Mrs Gough, County Councillor D.W. Davies, Ystalyfera, Messrs F.R. Phillips, M.E., and Thomas Dixon, Pontardawe, Revs J. Secundus Jones, Ben Davies, W.D, Roderick, Rhiwfawr, Capt. Griffith, John Griffith (Midland Bank), Councillor Joseph Thomas, secretary, Mrs Tal. Lloyd, Mrs John Griffiths, Mrs D.J. Davies and others.
The photographs to the left show the memorial stone for Godrergraig Public Park, naming Colonel Fleming RDA Gough, and dated 1924. The middle photograph shows the stone in its original setting, as it still was in 2007. The last photograph shows the new gateway after the park has been resurrected in recent years, with the original stone incorporated in the new gatepost.
Click on the photographs to see them full sized.
Godrergraig Park has its own community association with a website that can be visited here - http://www.park.btck.co.uk/AboutGCAthePark/Heritageandinterpretation