Town centre statue and memorial garden wall protected with new status

Newtown's Robert Owen Memorial Garden and statue have been given Grade II listed building status.

The statue and boundary wall of the garden have been included in the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. The garden is owned and manager by the town council.

It follows a consultation in December by CADW, the Welsh Government's historic monuments organisation.

The Robert Owen Statue was  erected in 1956 as a collaborative creation of Gilbert Bayes and William Charles Holland King.

The life-size bronze statue depicts Robert Owen, thje socia reformer who was born and laid to rest in Newtown. It depicts him with a child sheltering under his cloak at his feet. 

"The imagery symbolises Owen's dedication to the co-operative movement, British socialism, education, and improved conditions for working people," said a Newtown Town Council statement.

It added: "The story of the statue is as compelling as its subject. Initiated by Owen's supporters soon after his death in 1858, the project faced delays due to local opposition. 

"However, a committee was established in 1950, with funds provided by the Cooperative Union. Gilbert Bayes was commissioned in 1951, and despite Bayes’s passing in 1953, William Charles Holland King completed the work, making the statue an integral part of Newtown's cultural landscape."

It added: "Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council which owns both the memorial gardens and the wall acknowledges this historical and cultural recognition and is committed to further preserve and celebrate the rich heritage of our town."