The Lady With the Lamp, Tonypandy

Image: © Jaggery Taken: 28 Oct 2011

Located on De Winton Street, opposite the old town hall. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2674217 The Lady With the Lamp was erected in October 1909 as a memorial to Archibald Hood, the Scottish owner and founder of Llwynypia Colliery. Paid for by donations from the workmen at that colliery, the statue depicted an Egyptian water carrier supporting a powerful gas lamp. The statue was originally located outside the Pandy Inn. As well as being a memorial, the Lady of the Lamp was also a fountain and drinking trough for horses. After years as a famous landmark in Tonypandy, it was knocked down by a car in 1965 and removed to a safe place, before being reinstalled outside the firm of W Ribbons, until the factory closed. The Lady With the Lamp was then moved to a location behind the War Memorial in Dunraven Street. In 1993, it was taken down to be repaired and remained in storage until re-erected here in 2010. The reinstated statue is only the lady herself. The drinking troughs disappeared long ago. The text on the base records the original inscription "This fountain was erected in conjunction with the statue at the Workmen's Institute by the workmen at Llwynypia Colliery and others as a memorial to the late Archibald Hood Esq. JP and founder of the Llwynypia Colliery"

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