The Victorian statue known locally as the Lady with the Lamp was unveiled by Mr W Abraham MP in October 1909. The statue was commissioned and paid for by workers at Llwynypia Colliery in memory of their employer and colliery owner, Sir Archibald Hood. It depicted an Egyptian water carrier supporting a gas lamp which was raised on a plinth and was situated on Tonypandy Square. Around the base of the plinth were water troughs for use by many working animals which filled the streets as part of everyday life. For many years, the statue was the focal point for community life in Tonypandy and an important landmark in the Mid Rhondda area. Unfortunately, the statue was badly damaged and the plinth completely destroyed in 1968 as the result of a car accident and, whilst temporary repairs were made, these were not very successful and her condition deteriorated. She was finally removed from public display in 1993 and placed in storage.