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Silver-gilt trophy of a Victorian-Gothic design.

In 1872 and 1873 it was offered by the Crystal Palace, London, as a challenge trophy for an international choral competition. On both occasions this was won by the South Wales Choral Union under the conductorship of ‘Caradog’ (Griffith Rhys Jones of Aberdare, Glamorgan), but the competition was then discontinued. Just over 100 years ago ‘The Caradog Cup’ played a crucial role in producing the image of Wales as ‘The Land of Song’.

This magnificent trophy marks the start of Wales’s reputation for choral singing. It was the first prize in a choral competition held at the Crystal Palace, London, in 1872 and 1873. Côr Mawr, a huge choir of 460 voices from industrial south Wales, won it both times. The choir’s conductor, Caradog, became a hero. The cup is known in Wales as Caradog’s Cup. Between 1900 and 1938 it was awarded as a prize at the National Brass Bands Festival.