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Masterpiece mantelpiece on show

This hand carved mantelpiece won the arts and crafts section in the 1903 Llanelli Eisteddfod.

The mantelpiece was carved in Cardigan by Thomas Richard John who was a travelling tea taster in West Wales in the late 1890s.

He got married in August 1896 at St Mary’s Church, Cardigan, and remained in the town until 1901. He had a fervent love of carpentry and made several items but considered the mantelpiece his masterpiece.

His granddaughter Diana John, who now lives in Porthcawl, gave the piece to local agricultural history society CADDAM who in turn donated it to the castle.

“How delighted my grandfather would have been to know that his mantelpiece has returned to Cardigan where he carved,” said Miss John.