Miskin War Memorial
The Miskin War memorial is situated right in the centre of Miskin near to the Miskin Arms.
This memorial commemorates the residents of Miskin who were killed or missing in World War I (9 names) and World War II (4 names). These are listed on black plaques on the memorial.
Unusually the names of those that served (and returned alive) from World War I are also listed.
It is a four faced pillar with plaques on each face, surmounted by plinth with four figures surmounted by spire and cross. It was made by the firm of W. Clarke of Llandaff who also built the memorial in Pontyclun.
There is a tall square pedestal with enriched finial, on a stepped square plinth. Above are wreaths in relief and a deep cornice with a frieze of flowers above which are niches with one order of shafts with moulded capitals and trefoiled arches with ogee gables. In the canopies are sculpted figures of a soldier, sailor and airman, while the fourth side is a nurse.
Work commenced on March 14th, 1919, with Guy Clarke and Mr Gregory spending 18 ½ hours on the design. The stone is Portland stone and whilst it was transported by Rail to Ely station in Cardiff it had to be hauled overland from there.
Work took about 3000 hours with 17 men employed at one time or another on the work (plus the time to haul the stone from Cardiff). A Mr Mills carved the figures and Mr Ellis the wreaths.
The work was completed by 3rd October, but the Imperial War Museum says it was not officially unveiled until 17th April 2020.
A total cost of £344 and 6 shillings was billed to Mrs Williams of Miskin manor (this is worth about £10k in today’s money)
The Council would like to thank Michael Statham for the historic information on this war memorial.
For more information about the history of the community of Pontyclun please visit our online museum