A NEW headstone will be erected at Llandyfriog Church on Saturday to preserve the memory of Thomas Heslop – the victim of the last fatal duel fought in Wales on 10 September, 1814.

The chest-tomb of the West Indian who was killed in a duel against John Beynon, can be found in the church grounds, but the writing on the headstone has been eroded by the weather and a new one is needed.

As well as the unveiling of the new headstone, a dedication of plaque to commemorate the Last Duel in Wales has also been made and is erected at the entrance gates with bilingual information and a map, organised by Ken Jones, of Llandyfriog.

The cost of both headstone and plaque has been paid for by Endurance Wind Power of Birmingham.

Another Ken Jones, the Newcastle Emlyn historian, has published a book on the event. “The reason we are doing this, is to place a new stone on Heslop’s grave as the old one is so weather-worn as being virtually unreadable and to preserve the memory of Thomas Heslop for perhaps another 200 years,” he said.

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