Eisteddfod medal

Medal won by Eben Fardd at the Powys Eisteddfod, Welshpool in 1824 for his ode ‘Dinystr Jerusalem gan y Rhufeiniaid’.

Front of medal

Ebenezer Thomas ‘Eben Fardd’ (1802-1863) was born in Tanlan, near Llangybi, Eifionydd. His father was a weaver and Ebenezer also became proficient in the craft. He managed schools in Llangybi, Llanarmon and he later moved to the village of Clynnog Fawr to be in charge of the school there. In 1842 he broke all ties with the Church and established a school at his home in Clynnog. This school was moved to the chapel in 1845.

He became interested in poetry at an early age and was acquainted with other well known poets in Eifionydd – Robert ap Gwilym Ddu and Dewi Wyn o Eifion. In 1840 he won at the Liverpool Eisteddfod for his ode ‘Cystudd, Amynedd, ac Adferiad Iob’. He was regarded in his day as one of Wales’s foremost poets. As well as winning at eisteddfodau, he wrote several epic poems, occasional verse, a collection of hymns and contributed extensively to periodicals of the time.

Storiel has an oil painting portrait of Eben Fardd in its collection. In the portrait he is sitting in a bardic chair wearing this medal. It was painted by Evan Williams (1816-1878) and presented to Eben in the Madog Eisteddfod in 1851. This portrait will be on display in the ‘Looking at Art’ exhibition in the main gallery.