Where and when

Today was an interesting day...

The picture above is a still from a film we've discovered at work, and it is quite an nice find. The picture appears to show new bards, writers, artists etc. being initiated into the Gorsedd at a National Eisteddfod.

The Gorsedd, led by the Archdruid, meet to perform this ritual at a special bardic circle - a row of large-ish stones implanted into the earth to form a circle, with a "main stone" called the Maen Llog in the middle. You can see one of the stones in the picture. The National Eisteddfod, being a moveable feast, visits a different area of Wales (and sometimes beyond, see below) each year.

Typically, two major ceremonies are carried out at the stone circle, one being the Eisteddfod Proclamation, which is carried out the year before the Eisteddfod takes place in the area, the second being the initiation of the new Gorsedd members, which occurs during the Eisteddfod.

So, how do we know that this is an initiation, rather than a proclamation ceremony? Well, look carefully at the row of "bards" lining up. They are not wearing a headress; indeed they have that part of the ceremonial robe draped over their arm. They will only wear the headgear once they have been accepted into the Gorsedd.

As this ceremony takes place during the Eisteddfod, we can assume that this piece of film was shot at the event. But which event, and where?

We've compared the image with postcard views of old Eisteddfodau, and are leaning towards the Liverpool National Eisteddfod of 1929. If it was the proclamation, then it would be dated 1928. And that's as far as we've got.

The Gorsedd was established in 1792 (at Primrose Hill - "Bryn Briallu") in London, while the first eisteddfod which can be called "national" took place in the year 1176 at Cardigan, under the sponsorship of Lord Rhys.

If you happen to be an expert on the Eisteddfod, and instantly recognise the location, please let me know! While our "educated guesses" are more often than not correct, it would be a great help to get confirmation one way or another.

The picture below is a still taken from the same film. This would appear to be a proclamation ceremony, and the location is easily identified as being Cardiff Castle. The 1938 National Eisteddfod took place in that city, and so the footage was shot in 1937, which fits perfectly with what we believe to be the date of the film.

Detective work is so much more rewarding than attending committee meetings.















PS. The Gorsedd nowadays use a set of portable plastic or fibreglass stones to form the circle. Things just ain't what they used to be. But as has just been pointed out to me, at the first meeting of the Gorsedd in 1792, the leader of the pack, Iolo Morganwg, laid out the circle in small pebbles taken from his pocket.