Gorsedd Stones: A History
The Gorsedd Stones of Singleton Park: A Circle of Welsh Heritage
Nestled within the leafy expanse of Singleton Park in Swansea stands a quiet, dignified ring of standing stones. To the casual observer, they may appear mysterious, perhaps ancient, but these are the Gorsedd Stones, a symbol of Welsh cultural pride and poetic tradition, deliberately placed to mark Swansea's deep connection to the National Eisteddfod and the wider story of Welsh identity.
A Circle with Purpose
The Gorsedd Stones (Cerrig yr Orsedd) in Singleton Park were first erected in the summer of 1925. Their purpose? To serve as the ceremonial site for the proclamation of the 1926 National Eisteddfod, which would be held in the same park a year later. According to tradition, the Archdruid of Wales announces the next Eisteddfod host at least a year in advance in a formal Gorsedd ceremony always within a circle of standing stones. Singleton’s new monument provided the perfect stage for that ancient rite.
The circle was expanded in 1963 ahead of the 1964 Eisteddfod and was reused once more for the festival’s return in 1982. It remains a permanent marker of these moments, quietly echoing the celebrations, songs, and speeches that once brought thousands to its edge.
Building the Circle
The original twelve stones were donated by local dignitaries figures like Lady Coombe Tennant, Admiral H. Vivian, and Lord Bute who each provided a boulder for the circle. The central Logan stone, flat-topped and used during rituals, bears the initials “C.T.” in tribute to Lady Tennant. The Gorsedd of Bards, the ceremonial body that oversees the cultural rites of the Eisteddfod, directed the design and installation of the circle, ensuring it met the standards for hosting their time-honoured rituals.
The creation of a permanent stone circle in Singleton Park was significant. In many towns, temporary stones were used, but Swansea’s commitment to establishing a lasting monument reflected the city’s enduring relationship with Welsh culture and its pride in hosting the Eisteddfod.
Ritual and Celebration
During each Eisteddfod, the Singleton Gorsedd circle became the focal point for a number of highly symbolic ceremonies. These included:
The Proclamation Ceremony, in which the Archdruid formally announces the coming Eisteddfod, often with much pageantry and a sense of national pride.
Bardic Inductions, held on the Monday of Eisteddfod week, during which poets, harpists, and musicians are welcomed into the Gorsedd of Bards.
The Flower Ceremony, held on the Friday, where new honorary members are admitted amidst traditional music and floral offerings.
Royal Appearances, such as in 1926 when the Duke of York (later King George VI) was inducted into the Gorsedd at Singleton Park a moment captured on film and remembered in local lore.
A Symbol of Welsh Identity
Although the Gorsedd ceremonies date back only to 1792, they were designed by the antiquarian Iolo Morganwg to emulate ancient Druidic rituals reinvented for a modern Welsh audience. His intent was clear: to assert that the richness of Celtic culture, particularly its poetic and musical traditions, lives on in the people and language of Wales.
Each stone circle erected for the National Eisteddfod becomes a geographical badge of honour, marking a place forever changed by its moment in the cultural spotlight. In Singleton Park, that badge remains proudly visible, an open-air temple to language, art, and belonging.
Whether visited by curious walkers, local schoolchildren, or those with bardic roots of their own, the Gorsedd Stones of Singleton Park stand as quiet custodians of a Welsh past and a future, that values tradition, creativity, and community.
