Thomas Evans (TELYNOG; 1839–1865)
Many years ago, despite walking passed this plaque several times a day I had little or no idea about Telynog or Ossian Dyfed. The plaque does not reveal very much about either. Not even their full names. Later I became aware that Telynog was listed amongst the ranks of the famous in the Dictionary of Welsh Biography. This is what I read here:
Born 8 September 1840 at Cardigan, son of Thomas Evans, boatmaker of that town. At the age of eleven he went to sea in a coastal vessel but, not liking this life, he ran away to Aberdare, where he worked as a miner in Cwm-bach. At an early age he started writing poetry, gaining his first success with a pryddest entitled ‘Gostyngeidd-rwydd’ in an eisteddfod held under the auspices of the Baptist chapel in Cwm-bach, where he was a member. He composed freely both in the free and the strict metres, gaining many successes at local eisteddfodau under the adjudication of poets of such eminence as Islwyn and Cynddelw. At the time of his premature death from consumption at the age of twenty-five he was regarded as one of the most promising poets of Wales. Among his best-known works are the lyrics ‘Blodeuyn bach wyf fi mewn gardd’ and ‘Yr Haf.’ The latter is included in Blodeugerdd by W. J. Gruffydd. A collected edition of his work arranged by his friend Dafydd Morganwg (D. W. Jones) with a biographical sketch by Hywel Williams was published in 1866. He died 29 April 1865 and was buried in the Aberdare cemetery.
His works and life story is included here:
Cardigan through the ages 