GRIFFITH, DAVID (Clwydfardd; 1800 - 1894), eisteddfodic bard and arch-druid

Born in Vale Street, Denbigh, 29 November 1800. Like his father, Richard Griffith, he was a watch- and clock-maker by trade. He was a powerful man physically and, as a Wesleyan lay preacher, (1827-94), frequently walked thirty miles to keep his Sunday engagements - at the age of eighty-four he walked to the top of Snowdon and back. He says: 'I was appointed Arch-druid … in 1860; but it was at Wrexham eisteddfod in the year 1876 that I was licensed as Archdruid of the Gorsedd … of the Bards of the Isle of Britain' (Yr Eurgrawn, 1895, 127). From 1860 to 1894 he only missed one (Carmarthen) of these eisteddfodau. He began his long career as an adjudicator at a local eisteddfod (Llan-nerch-y-medd, 1835) and he was the official bard of the Aberffraw eisteddfod in 1849. He competed against Bardd Nantglyn (Robert Davies, 1769 - 1835) on many occasions and was awarded a silver medal as early as 1827 for a translation of Goldsmith's 'Deserted Village,' and composed the englynion which appear on the tombstone of Owen Williams of Waun-fawr (1790 - 1874). In 1890 the government made him an award of £200. He died 30 October 1894.

Author

• Reverend Daniel Williams, (1878 - 1968)

Sources

• Y Geninen, 1895, 86, 164, 260
• Yr Eurgrawn Wesleyaidd, December 1844, April 1895
• Bye-Gones, relating to Wales and the Border Counties, 1893-4, 478-9

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: David Griffith

Images

• John Thomas, David Griffith (Clwydfardd, 1800-94)
• Hugh Humphreys, David Griffith, Clwydfardd
• A. & G. Taylor, David Griffith, Clwydfardd
• John Thomas, Clwydfardd, Druisyn, and Treban
• David Griffith, 'Clwydfardd'

Additional Links

• VIAF: 1968630
• Wikidata: Q152720

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/