Griffith Rhys Jones (21 December 1834 – 4 December 1897), commonly known as Caradog, was a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

conductor of the famous 'Côr Mawr' of some 460 voices (the South Wales Choral Union), which twice won first prize at

The Crystal Palace The Crystal Palace was a cast iron and plate glass structure, originally built in Hyde Park, London, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. The exhibition took place from 1 May to 15 October 1851, and more than 14,000 exhibitors from around th ...

choral competitions in London in 1872 and 1873. Griffith Rhys Jones was born at the Rose & Crown Tavern in

Trecynon Trecynon is a village near Aberdare situated in the Cynon Valley, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It dates from the early nineteenth century and developed as a result of the opening of the Aberdare Ironworks at Llwydcoed in 1800. Etymology The s ...

, near Aberdare. He worked as a blacksmith at the Aberdare Ironworks in the village of Llwydcoed and was a member of the Unitarian chapel at

Hen-Dy-Cwrdd Hen-Dy-Cwrdd (The Old Meeting Place) is a disused Unitarian chapel in Trecynon, Aberdare, Wales. Services at the chapel were conducted in the Welsh language. Origins and early history With the exception of the twelfth century St John's Church, H ...

. Following the success of "Côr Caradog", a massed choir of voices sourced from throughout South Wales, he formed other choirs, notably at

Treorchy Treorchy ( cy, Treorci; ) is a town and community (and electoral ward) in Wales. Once a mining town, it retains such characteristics. Situated in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf in the Rhondda Fawr valley. Treorchy is also one of the 16 ...

. He was buried at Aberdare Cemetery, near Trecynon. In 1920 a statue designed by Sir William Goscombe John was erected in his honour in Victoria Square, Aberdare.

References

External links

* *
Archive material on Griffith Rhys Jones at Gathering the Jewels Project

Photos of Caradog's Tombstone at Aberdare Cemetery
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Griffith Rhys 1834 births Welsh conductors (music) British male conductors (music) People from Aberdare 1897 deaths 19th-century conductors (music)