Casgliadau Arlein

Tunic worn by Thomas Gruffydd (1815-1887), blind court harpist to Lady Llanofer [Llanover]. Made from woollen cloth known as the Gwenffrwd pattern.

This striking costume was worn by Thomas Gruffydd. He was Lady Llanover’s family harpist. He would play the harp to entertain guests at Llanover Hall. Lady Llanofer [Llanover] was keen to promote the Welsh woollen industry. She insisted that all workers and tenants on her estate wore clothes made of Welsh wool.

According to his daughter, Susanna Berrington Gruffydd Richards, Thomas Gruffydd became a court harpist to Lady Llanover in 1867 [source: Rachel Ley, Arglwyddes Llanover (Caernarfon: Gwasg Gwynedd, 2001), p. 36]. He was a blind harpist, having lost the majority of his sight as a child [source: ibid, p. 36].