National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
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Festival of Wales in Dyserth: Pageant of the Triple Wedding
The ties that bind the Mostyns and the Parrys, established local families, are celebrated in Dyserth, Denbighshire.
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Overview
Dyserth and Cwm villages combined to create a series of events May-September 1958 for the Welsh Tourist Board’s ‘Festival of Wales’. The Dyserth Women’s Institute rose to the occasion by organising a re-enactment in June of the triple wedding that took place in the Parish Church of St Bridget and St Cwyfan, Dyserth, 27/11/1624. Widower Thomas Mostyn married Gwen, widow of Bishop Parry. Thomas’s son married Gwen’s daughter, and his daughter married Gwen’s son.
The Mostyns of ‘Pentre Cwm’, Dyserth, are associated with early eisteddfods, their later interests including mines, steel mills and Llandudno, a town which they developed. The Parrys lived not far from the Mostyns, in a mansion known as ‘Pwllhalog’. Rhys Roberts, the local pharmacist, filmed the triple wedding and some of the other festival events, the programme including music, drama, singing and dancing, with contributions in both Welsh and English, the festival aiming to attract visitors from the UK and beyond. Mr Roberts was held in great esteem and he is commemorated by a bronze plaque on the wall beside his shop.
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