Pendref Chapel at the upper end of Well Street is Ruthin's oldest nonconformist chapel, built in 1827, and notable both for its architectural quality and for the building immediately adjacent to it — No. 6 Well Street, where the Welsh national anthem was first printed.
The Chapel
Pendref was built in 1827 on Well Street (originally named Welsh Street, a reminder of the linguistic division between the English-settled lower town and the Welsh population on the periphery). It is described by Edward Hubbard in the definitive Buildings of Clwyd as "comprising an elegant ashlar front gently embayed; of three bays, the central one pedimented and all on the curve; balustrading, two storeys of round-headed windows and a Tuscan porch." This is architectural language for: it is a fine building, well worth looking at from the outside.
The National Anthem Connection
Adjoining Pendref is No. 6 Well Street, where Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau — the Welsh national anthem — was first printed. The anthem was composed in 1856 by Evan James (words) and his son James James (tune) in Pontypridd; it reached Ruthin and was printed here in the same period. The connection between a small nonconformist chapel town in the Vale of Clwyd and the anthem of Welsh national identity is one of the quiet curiosities of the town's history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the Welsh national anthem first printed?
The Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, was first printed at No. 6 Well Street in Ruthin, next to Pendref Chapel. The anthem was composed in Pontypridd in 1856 but its first printing was in Ruthin.
When was Pendref Chapel built?
Pendref Chapel on Well Street was built in 1827. It is described in Edward Hubbard's Buildings of Clwyd as having an elegant ashlar front of three bays, the central one pedimented, with balustrading and a Tuscan porch.
Where is Pendref Chapel?
Pendref Chapel is at the upper end of Well Street in Ruthin, formerly known as Welsh Street. It is a short walk from the town square.