Blue Plaque Scheme Announced - 24 Sep 2008

James Murphy - Heritage trail

A proud tradition of world-famous famous events, people, places, music and culture is being celebrated in Rhondda Cynon Taf with the introduction of a major new Blue Plaque Heritage Trail.

For almost two years Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Libraries & Museums Service has been working closely with various voluntary organisations and individuals to determine 30 sites in the county borough as yet unrecognized for their historical background.

Due to £49,200 of Heritage Lottery funding, the project has set out to identify icons, events and buildings, culminating in the placing of blue plaques to commemorate their history and achievements. A series of articles appeared in the local and national press along with television and radio coverage to encourage people to nominate their own site.

Following consultation with community representatives and historical societies, an audit was carried out to catalogue all existing memorials, statues and plaques in Rhondda Cynon Taf. People, places or events that already have a plaque commemorating them are ineligible for a Blue Plaque, as are anyone who died less than 10 years ago.

More than 180 nominations were received and representatives of historical societies in each area met with Council officers to undertake the unenviable task of deciding which areas will receive the Blue Plaques.

With so many historical buildings and events from colliery strikes, riots and even pioneering cremations in the county borough’s history, coupled with being the birthplace of a vast array of celebrities from the worlds of music, sport, cinema, literature and the political arena, the decisions were taken after a lengthy consultation process.

From the world of music and culture some of the successful sites include the birthplace of the world-famous opera singer Sir Geraint Evans from William Street, Cilfynydd and screen and stage actor Donald Houston of Thomas Street, Tonypandy.

For full details of the extent of the new trail see the full article here

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