Welsh street decorated with eerie stone heads staring out at bypassers

Welsh street decorated with eerie stone heads staring out at bypassersIts existence isn't widely known about and in some sections it has become overgrown or difficult to seeBookmarkShareCommentsNewsByNathan BevanSenior Reporter03:12, 6 JUN 2026BookmarkHidden away at the end of a cul-de-sac in a valleys town stands a wall where stone severed heads and eerie grimaces peer down at passers-by. Giant solitary eyes track your movements as you wander past while a closer inspection reveals scores of tiny faces also staring out. It might be a scene more readily linked with Game of Thrones yet it has become a firm favourite among those residents of Mountain Ash in the know who live close by – even though many others in the area remain entirely unaware of its presence. Despite having stood there for almost two decades it continues to startle the unwary, sitting oddly alongside the ordinary car park, line of wheelie bins, and terrace of houses adjacent to it. Speaking in 2019 Hannah Watkins, former landlady of the nearby George Inn pub, previously known as The Cresselly Arms, said: "We used to joke that the faces were based on how some of our regulars looked as they'd stagger home." She added: "The guy that sculpted it used to pop into the pub at the end of most days for a drink – nice bloke. Not sure a lot of people in the area knew what to make of what he was doing though." Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice. The unusual site's history can be traced back to 2007 when Blackpool-born artist Tim Clapcott won a tender to help regenerate that specific section of Mountain Ash, which ultimately became Riverside Park, as part of an EU and Welsh Assembly-funded regeneration project. (Image: Tim Clapcott)1 of 6ShareCommentsSpeaking in 2019 Tim, who attended art college in Cardiff during the 1980s, said: "I think that bit of land was a former slag heap and it took about a year from coming up with the idea to actually finishing it." 2 of 6ShareCommentsTim said the "actual sweat and toil part took about six weeks" and he worked with lots of local stonemasons and labourers to get the job done. Originally based on Greek mythology and the goddess Heb the wall went on to incorporate some Welsh folklore as the project came to life and locals got involved. 3 of 6ShareComments"Some of the locals chipped in, changed it for the better – the heads were adapted to look like miners deep underground," said Tim. "A lot of other people would come up to me while I was doing the wall and go: 'Why are you doing this here? No bugger's going to see it'. I think they thought it would have been better served in a big city like Cardiff." 4 of 6ShareCommentsSections of the sculpture have become increasingly difficult to spot over the years with certain elements now hidden by foliage or submerged beneath the water's surface. "That's the thing with public art – it's either loved, like the Angel of the North, or loathed," Tim said. "I'm just glad that, all these years on, people are still taking about it." 5 of 6ShareCommentsThe artwork secured a British Landscape Award. 6 of 6ShareCommentsMore OnRhondda Cynon TafCynon ValleyMountain AshFun Stuff