The Black Chair: Birkenhead Park’s Extraordinary Connection to Welsh History

With this year’s National Eisteddfod having recently come to a close, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to share one of Birkenhead Park’s most remarkable stories.

Many people are surprised to learn that our park hosted one of the most significant National Eisteddfods in history. It was here, in 1917, that a moving ceremony gave rise to the famous Black Chair (Y Gadair Ddu), a powerful symbol of both Welsh culture and the devastating human cost of the First World War.

What is the National Eisteddfod?

The National Eisteddfod is Wales’ largest celebration of language, literature, music and the arts. With roots stretching back to medieval gatherings of poets and musicians, it has evolved into one of Europe’s oldest cultural festivals, attracting thousands of visitors every year.

At the heart of the festival are competitions celebrating Welsh creativity, from choirs and dance to visual arts and literature. One of its highest honours is the Chairing of the Bard, where a beautifully carved chair is awarded to the poet judged to have written the finest poem in the traditional Welsh style, known as cynghanedd.

The Eisteddfod Comes to Birkenhead Park

In 1917, while the First World War continued to rage across Europe, the National Eisteddfod was held in Birkenhead Park.

Although wartime cast a shadow over the event, people gathered in the park to celebrate Welsh culture, language and poetry. One of the highlights of the festival was the eagerly anticipated Chairing of the Bard ceremony.

The winning poem was Yr Arwr (“The Hero”), written under the bardic name Hedd Wyn by Ellis Humphrey Evans, a shepherd, farmer and gifted poet from Trawsfynydd in North Wales.

The Empty Chair

When Hedd Wyn’s bardic name was announced, there was no response.

The audience waited.

Then came the heartbreaking news.

Just weeks earlier, Hedd Wyn had been killed during the opening days of the Third Battle of Ypres, the campaign that would later become infamous as Passchendaele. Like so many young men of his generation, he had left home to fight in the war and never returned. He was only 30 years old.

His poem had won the competition, but he would never know it.

In a deeply emotional tribute, the beautifully carved oak chair that should have been presented to him was draped in black cloth. The image of the empty chair became an unforgettable moment in Welsh history, and from that day it became known as The Black Chair (Y Gadair Ddu).

A Symbol That Lives On

The Black Chair has come to symbolise far more than a literary award. It represents the extraordinary talent, creativity and promise lost during the First World War, and remains one of Wales’ most powerful symbols of remembrance.

After the ceremony, the chair was taken to Hedd Wyn’s parents at their family home, Yr Ysgwrn, where it remains today. His story has since inspired books, exhibitions and the Academy Award-nominated film Hedd Wyn, ensuring that his poetry and legacy continue to be remembered by new generations.

Birkenhead Park’s Place in History

Although the Black Chair now resides in North Wales, its story will always be linked to Birkenhead Park.

Visitors can still find a memorial stone near the cricket pavilion marking the site of the 1917 National Eisteddfod, commemorating this extraordinary event and the poignant story that unfolded here over a century ago.

As another National Eisteddfod comes to an end, it’s a fitting time to reflect on the park’s unique place in Welsh history. From music and poetry to remembrance and resilience, this is a story that continues to resonate today, reminding us that Birkenhead Park has witnessed moments of national significance as well as local history.