Located in The Rickards Arms, Treforest, is a wall painting of the Old Bridge in Pontypridd. The bridge was constructed in 1756 and was at the time the largest stone built single arch bridge in Europe. Legend has it that the painting was painted by Merthyr artist George F Harris, the grandfather of well known artist Rolf Harris.
Current condition of painting
The painting is currently in a poor condition having been varnished and subjected to decades of cigarette smoke. We are currently working with the owners of The Rickards Arms to arrange the restoration of the painting, and will update this page as we know more.
Close up of signature
Update 24 August 2008: We have been in contact with Rolf Harris' assistants at the Portland Gallery in London who have asked us to authenticate the painting. We are now looking into this.