Aberedw and its history

 I will do a separate post for the church at Aberedw, later in the week.  Here are the photos from the castle remains and Llewelyn's Cave.  Trying to get back the excitement of the day, but am feeling quite depressed after my worst-ever Fair yesterday and the Microwave now being on the way out.  It would seem that this year it is money out all the time, and always in BIG chunks.  If I didn't have savings, my credit card bill would be enormous.

Sadly the castle which Llewelyn ap Gruffudd would have known was plundered for stone when the railway line went through so only the motte and bailey layout remain.

A lovely view from the top.

Everywhere is scorched by the endless sunshine.

A pair of Holly Blues on a Bramble flower.

Out of the wall below the church!  Remains of a Halloween celebration I'm guessing :)

Apparently it's half a mile to Llewelyn's cave - well, it seemed a lot further, and a steep hill on the lane and then quite a steep climb up to the cave.  We didn't push ourselves anyway.  Apparently Llewelyn's Cave was also inhabited by various religious hermits in the past, including in his time.

This would seem to translate into "we will rise again". . .

"In memory of Llewelyn ap Gruffudd, Prince of Wales".

This was a much-visited place, and there was a lot in the way of graffiti initials and dates.

There was a Marian mark in the bit above . . .  The conjoined VV. Meaning Virgo Virginum - Virgin of Virgins - and a protective mark often found in house beams.  A "witch mark" to protect a site.

It looks like all lads had penknives with them, back in the day . . .

A more serious momento from these chaps, the year before WWI broke out.  

Llewelyn ap Gruffudd - or Llewlyn the Last - was Prince of Gwynedd between 1255 and 1282.  He proclaimed himself Prince of Wales in 1258.  Henry III of ENgland recognized him thus in 1267, in the Treaty of Montgomery.  Sadly there were so many different factions warring in Wales and his brother Dafydd was aligned with the English, and land-holdings granted him caused problems.  Wikipedia tells the story with greater alactrity than me, especially at 2.20 a.m. (I can't sleep).  

The tale of Llewelyn's demise at Cilmeri involves him having his horse shod by the blacksmith at Aberwedw, the shoes being put on backwards to confuse anyone following his trail.  Unfortunately he didn't get to meet up with his Army and was struck down and killed at Cilmeri.  There is a stone raised in his memory.  He was decapitated and his head washed in a spring there .  It was sent to London and crowned with Ivy (to show he was a King of the rebels and a mockery of the prophecy which said a Welshman would be crowned in London as King of the whole of Britain).  It ended up on the Tower of London for at least 15 years.  His body is believed to have been buried at Abbey Cwm Hir, which is about 8 or 10 miles beyond Llandod.

Well, I shall go back to bed now and try to sleep and not worry about bills and how to pay them.