TWO MEN who met by chance in Usk have embarked on a mission to build a pub in the town to celebrate the life of Alfred Russel Wallace.
Often thought of as the “forgotten hero” of evolutionary science, Alfred Russel Wallace was born in Llanbadoc at Kensington Cottage, which Clive Jones bought in 2010.
Mr Jones said he had no idea the great evolutionist - who independently came up with the the theory of natural selection at the same time as Charles Darwin in 1858 - had lived in the property, but quickly realised once he had bought it.
“I’ve always been interested in history and once I’d looked at his life in greater depth, I had it in the back of my mind that I would try and do something to celebrate the man if a suitable property came up for sale in the area,” Mr Jones said.
Clive Jones (LEFT) and Ken Wann
After The Inn Between pub on Bridge Street came up for sale in July 2018, Mr Jones bought the pub and set about transforming it into a restaurant, pub, and letting rooms, dedicated to the scientist.
After Mr Jones' relative heard Ken Wann, a resident in Usk and professor of Physiology at Cardiff University, talking about Mr Jones' cottage and its history, the two were put in contact last year.
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“Ken has been a great help because he’s very knowledgeable and has a passion for Wallace,” Mr Jones said.
There are plans for the pub, which will be called the Alfred Russel Wallace, to have five letting rooms named after the peaks of the Sierra Nevada in California, as well as a history of Wallace and his work, with portraits and books.
“By the end of April we should be ready to go, and I think it’ll be great for the town, which needs a collision space and something to bring people here,” Mr Jones added.
Mr Wann said: “I’ve lived in Usk for eight years and can’t believe how little is made of the fact Wallace was born here.
“In 2013 we did an event to celebrate the centenary of his death, and 130 people came at very short notice, which just shows the pull the centre could have.
“I’d love to be able put a spotlight on the man here, for people to come to Usk and realise the contribution he made.”
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