Wales’ own Juliet…

Lleucu Llwyd was a beautiful girl who lived at Dolgelynen Farm in Pennal in the 14th century.

Lleucu fell in love with a young poet, Llywelyn Goch the son of Meurig Hen, but her father wouldn’t agree to the match. He reputedly did all that he could to separate the young lovers.

During their courtship, Llywelyn Goch was forced to travel to South Wales, but vowed that he would return to marry Lleucu. While he was away, her father saw his chance, and told Lleucu that Llywelyn had betrayed her and married another. This news broke Lleucu’s heart and she died.

Llywelyn returned to fulfil his vow and marry Lleucu, but in fact, his return coincided with her funeral. The records of St Peter ad Vincula church in Pennal show that Lleucu was buried under the church alter in 1390.

The tragic story of Lleucu Llwyd has continued to be passed from generation to generation in Wales mainly thanks to Llywelyn Goch’s (1350 – 1380) poetry. His eulogy for Lleucu is considered one of the leading pieces of its time.

Owain Glyndwr and Pennal

Owain Glyndŵr lived over 600 years ago and yet today remains one of the most heroic figures in Welsh history. Owain was a natural leader and an astute statesman who united and led the Welsh against English rule.

He was a soldier who had fought with the English on many campaigns and then studies law at the Inns of Court in London.

In September 1400, Owain Glyndŵr embarked on a course of action that would become one of the most dramatic episodes in Welsh history. His longstanding quarrel with Reginald de Grey of Ruthin over some common land took a surprising turn when, after being proclaimed Prince of Wales by his followers, Owain marched on Ruthin.

After destroying the town, Owain went on to attack towns all over north-east Wales as the revolt turned into a full scale war with the English crown. Welshmen from all walks of life flocked to join Owain’s cause, and by 1403 nearly the whole of Wales was united behind Glyndŵr. For a while, it seemed that the vision of an independent Wales had not died with Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in 1282 after all.

The Pennal Letter was originally written in Latin in 1406 and was Owain’s attempt to strengthen his cause by allying himself with the French King, Charles VI. In exchange, Owain pledged his allegience to Pope Benedict XIII of Avignon. Owain is thought to have lived nearby and to have held his last senate meeting at Pennal on the site of the current church St Peter Ad Vincula (St Peter in Chains).

However, despite these astounding early victories and the formal coronation of Glyndŵr as Prince of Wales at the parliament of 1404, the rebellion would ultimately fail. By 1408, the revolt was dwindling as swiftly as it had swept into being; by 1410, its inspirational leader had become a fugitive, his career and his reputation shattered, his home and his family destroyed.

He is believed to have spent his last years in Herefordshire near the manor of his son-in-law, Sir John Scudamore, dying around 1416.

Cefn Caer Roman Fort

There are few visible features of Cefn Caer on the ground. The ramparts to the southwest and northwest can be made out, but elsewhere they are low banks that cannot always be seen. Before it was torn down and rebuilt in 1769  the church in the village of Pennal was reported to include a large number of Roman brick in its walls, and remaining obstructions to cultivation were probably moved in the distant past, and the land continues to be used by the local farm for cultivation.   The farm buildings, including a sub-Medieval farmhouse , sit within the west corner of the fort and the northern corner of the fort is crossed by a small B-road.

Cefn Caer was a small auxiliary fort (castellum) with traces of a ditch still visible at the northwest, outside the rectangular bank that encloses the fort.  It was built in AD 70s. It is more than 1.68ha (5 acres) in area, measuring 140m x 120m (c.550ft x 425ft) northeast to southwest with rounded corners.

The fort was located at the west end of a ridge or spur that rises 15m (50ft) above the floodplain north of the river Dyfi, c.10km (c. 6 miles) from the mouth of the estuary. This offered it the dual benefits of  a good view over the surrounding area, and in particular the river crossing.

It was only 100m (328ft) northeast of the marshy Dyfi floodplain and 1.6km (half a mile) from the river itself, where “tongues of the land extend opposite each other to both banks of the river” (History of Merioneth) providing an ideal place for fording the river, and where coastal vessels could unload.

Roman forts were built to a fairly standardized template, meaning that they could be built rapidly without resorting to labour beyond the personnel they had to hand, and Cefn Caer does not deviate from this basic form.

The language developed gradually, though from the 14th Century onwards it has remained very similar to the Welsh written and spoken today.

Welsh is a living language, a local language, so why not give it a try?

Good morning Bore da (Bor-eh Dah)
Good day Dydd da (Dith Dah)
Good afternoon Prynhawn da (Prihnown Dah)
Good night Nos da (Nohs Dah)
How are you? Sut mae (Sit Mae)
Cheers (bye) Hwyl (Hooil)
Thank you very much Diolch yn fawr (Dee-ol[ch] Uhn Vaoor)
Thanks Diolch (Dee-ol[ch])
Good Health! Iechyd da! (Ye[ch]id dah)
Welcome Croeso (Kroy-so)
Mountain Mynydd (Muhneth)
River Afon (Ah-von)
Sea Môr (More)
Woodland Coedwig (Koyd-wig)
House Tŷ (Tih)
Bread Bara (Barra)
Tea Te (Tear)
Sugar Siwgwr (Shoog-oor)
Milk Llaeth ([Ll-aeth)

Nature plays an important part in life here, and you can be sure to spot plenty of insects, birds, animals, on the ground and in the sky and sea. The Dyfi Osprey Project and RSPB Ynys Hir are on the doorstep. There’s the opportunity to go dolphin-spotting in Cardigan Bay, and there’s fishing, crabbing and plenty of beach based fun to be had a few miles down the road at Aberdovey.  We are proud to be located within the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere – the only one in the whole of Wales – which is an area recognised for its natural beauty, strong community spirit, diverse flora and wildlife, and some of the cleanest water, darkest skies and lowest population in Europe.

Pennal is a fantastic base for exploring all that North and Mid Wales has to offer.

If getting active is your focus, Snowdonia National Park is one of the top destination in Europe for adrenaline sports, with outstanding mountain biking, walking (amazing Wales Coast Path), climbing, white water sports, zip-wires and even underground trampolining within easy driving distance.

The local town of Machynlleth has all the basics covered if you need to get supplies, with a great range of independent shops, cafés, antiques and more, as well as the outdoor local market every Wednesday. It is home to the  Owain Glyndwr Centre, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), original Welsh Parliament and hosts an annual Comedy Festival.

Not far away is the Centre for Alternative Technology, King Arthur’s Labyrinth and Corris Craft Centre.