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A City Garden all to Myself

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Friday, 20 May 2011

A City Garden all to Myself

The Walbrook Gardens in the City of London were unveiled last September, formerly the Saint Swithun's Church Garden. A lot of people still have to find them. I was there at lunchtime today and they were strangely deserted.


It felt almost unnerving to be eating a sandwich, completely alone, in such a beautiful space, within yards of the frenetic pace of the City.

The gardens and the staute are memorials to Owain Glyndwr the early 15th Century Welsh ruler and national hero and to his family. Glyndwr was the last native Welshman to hold the title "Prince of Wales".

Saint Swithun's churchyard became the final resting place of his youngest daughter Catrin and her two daughters when they died in 1413 after  four years imprisonment in the Tower of London;

The statue has this inscription :

Catrin Glyndwr

GODRE TWR - ADRE NID AETH 
At the tower end, far away from home

ARAI EI RHYW YW HIRAETH 
longing is a woman's song

alaw dawel yr alltud 
An exile's silent song

Menna Elfyn

The artists are Nick Stradlyn John, Richard Renshaw and Bryn Chegwidden

Erected by Public subscription - IA Monnington Taylor, Sir Julian Hodge and Hanson plc

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