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.
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She began a career in the nautical field and worked as a sailor on cargo ships for two years, much to her parents' disappointment. In her work, she would often sail between Wales and France. But then, returned to the UK where she studied both in London and Liverpool.
She would go on to gain a master mariner's qualification, this meant that she could then command ships all over the world. But at the age of 21, she decided to return home to Llangrannog in Ceredigion. As a young educated woman, she was appointed to the role of head teacher at her local school in Pontgarreg.
With the sea never too far from her thoughts, she taught seafaring and consequently trained a new generation of sailors and sea captains. It is believed she also taught navigation at John Evans' School in Aberystwyth. Another pursuit of Sarah Jane Rees was poetry, which is eventually how she got her bardic name - Cranogwen.
She would often compete in local and regional eisteddfodau, winning several prizes including the Chair at Rhymney's Eisteddfod in 1864. At the National Eisteddfod in Aberystwyth in 1865 however, she became the first woman to win the Crown with her poem 'Y Fodrwy Briodasol', which means 'The Wedding Ring' in Welsh.
The piece was a satirical take on a woman's destiny. Her success gave her the public platform and in a way made her an overnight celebrity here in Wales. One of her best-known poems is 'Fy Ffrynd', which according to Norena Shopland, was written about a female love interest.
In 1879, 'Caniadau Cranogwen' which was a volume of 40 of her poems was published. Then in 1879, she became the editor of one of the first Welsh-language magazines specifically for women. 'Y Frythones' was dedicated to women's issues, and was the first to be edited by a female. Cranogwen also championed the works of other female writers in 'Y Frythones' and gave many a platform to develop and showcase their voices.
Her fame as Cranogwen and reputation for being an engaging, passionate and knowledgeable public speaker took her as far as America. She donated much of the money she made to worthwhile causes, for example, to repair and build chapels and schoolrooms. She also built a new home for her parents in Brynaeron.
In 1901, she co-founded Undeb Dirwestol Merched y De, which translates to 'the South Wales Women's Temperance Union', and along with others, she was influential in encouraging women to stand up for their rights. Many of these women who were inspired by Cranogwen went on to support the later suffrage movement.
Cranogwen never married. She had two long-term partners, one was Frances 'Fanny' Rees, who unfortunately died from tuberculosis at the age of 21 in 1874, and later Jane Thomas. Some time after her parents passed away, Cranogwen sold her house and moved in with Jane who lived nearby.
The two remained partners until Cranogwen's death in 1916 at the age of 77. Today, Cranogwen is known for breaking down barriers, who was driven by her intellectual, cultural and professional potential. Her statue stands in the newly-renovated community garden in the centre of Llangrannog, only a stone's throw away from the church where she is buried.
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