William David Thomas - Architect of Porth War Memorial in the Rhondda

Rhondda Valleys Information and History

William David Thomas - The man who was the architect who designed Porth War Memorial and Cenotaph

Glamorgan, Rhondda Valleys, Porth, William David Thomas

This story is related by Alwyn Martin, the grandson of William David Thomas.................

My grandfather, William David Thomas was born on May 3rd 1873 in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan.
With his parents, he moved to Llanddeusant, the birth place of his parents, then later they came back to live in lodgings in Cymmer in the Rhondda Valleys. When he was old enough he worked in the timberyard of Charles Jenkins as a carpenter, and later as a surveyor in Cymmer colliery.

He studied architecture in night school, and eventually qualified as an architect. He is listed in the 'Freemasons' records of 1923 as an architect.

William David Thomas designed Porth Cenotaph - or War Memorial - as some call it, and it was built by October 1928. It was officially unveiled on the 18th of November 1928.

In March 1930, William David Thomas was elected to the Rhondda Urban District Council, on which he served till his death on the 12th of June 1933. He died in 'The Angel Hotel' in Cardiff, whilst attending a council meeting regarding the conversion of trams to buses in the Rhondda. He was buried in Trealaw cemetery.

Glamorgan, Rhondda Valleys, Porth, The Cenotaph in 1928

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