Shining a light on Gwenllian Morgan

11 Mar

The Gwenllian Morgan Project aims to celebrate the legacy of a local Brecon hero, Gwenllian Morgan, Wales first woman mayor.

An activist locally, nationally and internationally for causes including peace, temperance, votes for women, wider access to education and healthcare, Gwenllian Morgan (1852-1939) was also an expert on the poet Henry Vaughan, a keen supporter of Brecon Cathedral and co-founder of the Brecknock Society and Museum.

But despite her widespread fame 100 years ago, she is barely known today, even here in Brecon. The Gwenllian Morgan Project is working on:

The installation of a sculpture of Gwenllian Morgan in y Gaer’s historic Courtroom plus a video of her life.
A local history project to research the women who signed the 1912 Subscription Book in her honour. This subscription funded her oil portrait which hangs in the Guildhall.
Educational materials to ensure her story becomes part of the local school curriculum, bringing her story to life for young people.

Gwenllian Morgan: Art

Gwenllian Morgan: Education

Gwenllian Morgan: Local History

Gwenllian’s accomplishments were close to astonishing given the restrictions placed on women of her era.

She developed her skills and accomplishments as an active worker in the Church of England Temperance Society, she was President of the local branch of the British Women’s Temperance Association, and Secretary of the Brecon Gospel Temperance Union. Other achievements include:

· A White Ribbon Worker for 11 Years (Temperance Movement then -. today campaigns against the harmful effects of alcohol, gambling and drugs)

· British Secretary, World Christian Temperance Union

· Organised Polyglot Petition (Great Britain) aimed at building an international response to the illegal drug trade.

· Speaker on Women’s Suffrage, National Union of Women Workers Manchester 1896

· Chaired Brecon Meeting for the 1923 Welsh Women’s Peace Petition.

In her public life Gwenllian Morgan was an advocate of all movements calculated to promote the welfare and enrich the lives of the people.

· In Brecon, she served as Poor Law Guardian from 1895, Alderman 1907 and was Wales First Woman Mayor 1910/11.

She also researched and wrote the first Brecon Cathedral Guide, rescued and restored the Cresset Stone, was the first woman Church Warden and first Brecon Cathedral Friend, Co-founder and Contributor to the Brecknock Society & Brecknock Museum, wrote a biography of Theophilus Jones as well as extensive research & writings on Henry Vaughan.

Cardiff University warded her an Honorary M.A in 1925 and in 1934 she was made a Fellow, UK Society of Antiquities.

This project has been supported by the Audrey Tyler Trust, Brecknock Art Trust, Ashley Family Foundation, Brecon Town Council, Brecon Beacons Sustainable Fund and Women’s Archive Wales and Llyn Safaddan History Group.

If you’d like to know more - or get involved - please click on the link here.