In Cwmgrwfi square you will find this statue of The Great Welsh Eagle. This commemorates the rebellion of Iestyn ap Iestyn in 1410. Inspired by the earlier successes of Owain Glyndwr, Iestyn led an uprising against the English. Eventually, their numbers reduced by desertion and apathy to less than 100, Iestyn's army were cornered near Cwmgrwfi by the forces of Sir Rowland of Kidderminster.
In a rousing speech much celebrated in Welsh poetry, Iestyn urged his men to remember the bold combativeness of The Great Welsh Eagle. Filled with fervour the band of rebels attacked the English army, which numbered 10,000. The rest is history.
Sadly The Great Welsh Eagle is now extinct. The last nesting pair produced the last egg ( Yr Wy Mawr Olaf) in 1954. The egg was placed in a secure vault at a secret location in Cardiff , but unfortunately it never hatched. It's arrival in Cardiff is celebrated on June 20th each year- Dydd Gwyl y Wy Mawr Olaf- The Festival of The Last Great Egg.
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