On Saturday, June 10, the statue of the extraordinary poet, preacher, journalist, campaigner and teacher Sarah Jane Rees, better known by her bardic name Cranogwen, was unveiled in her home village of Llangrannog. She joins the likes of the late Cardiff headteacher Betty Campbell, as well as writer, dramatist and evolutionary theorist Elaine Morgan, in having been honoured with a statue thanks to the Monumental Welsh Women campaign.
Designed and created by renowned sculptor Sebastian Boyesen, the statue represents Cranogwen's extraordinary life and her many and varied achievements. Sarah Jane Rees was born in 1839 in the coastal village of Llangrannog. As a child, she would often bid her ship captain father farewell.
She grew up to be a tall, striking and confident woman who went on to defy many of the notorious restrictions of the Victorian era by following a career packed with extremely diverse experiences and achievements. Like her father, it seemed that Cranogwen was also destined for life at sea.
