LEGENDS PACK for VISIT WALES WORKSHOP, Margam Day ST
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LEGENDS PACK FOR VISIT WALES WORKSHOP, Margam Day ST CADOG Saint Cadoc was born about 497 and became Abbot of Llancarfan Abbey which he founded circa 518. It became famous as a centre of learning. Cadoc was a son of Gwynllyw, King of Gwynllwg in South Wales, who was a brother of Saint Petroc, but a robber chieftain who led a band of three hundred. His mother, Gwladys was the daughter of King Brychan of Brycheiniog who had been abducted in a raid, during which - according to Vita Cadoci (the Life of Cadog) written shortly before 1086 by Lifris of Llancarfan - King Arthur acted as peacemaker. Cadoc's father later stole a cow from the Irish monk, St. Tathyw (or Tathai), and, when the monk came courageously to demand its return, the King decided in return to surrender his son to his care. Cadoc was raised at Caerwent in Monmouthshire by Tathyw, who later became a hermit. In adulthood, Cadoc refused to take charge of his father's army, preferring to fight for Christ instead. He proselytized over a large area of Wales and Brittany. He built a church and monastery at (or near) Llancarfan. According to legend two stags came forward and Cadoc was able to yoke them to a cart to help with the building works. As a result, Cadoc is often pictured with a stag, and the current church at Llancarfan boasts a weathervane in the shape of one; the Welsh name Lancarfan means Church of the Stags. While the ancient lives of St Cadoc identify him as the founder of Llancarfan, other sources suggest that the college and monastery were founded at the time St Germanus visited Wales in A.D. 447, with Dyfrig becoming the first principal, succeeded by Cadoc when Dyfrig was appointed bishop. Llancarfan grew into one of the most important monasteries in Wales where many holy men were trained. Notable among them, and Cadoc's successor as abbot, was Saint Illtyd. Cadoc visited several of the famous religious houses and colleges in Ireland, and then undertook a pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem (A.D. 462). He was reportedly distressed that the Synod of Llanddewi Brefi was held during one of these absences. He died at Benevenna (Weedon) in Northamptonshire in the beginning of the sixth century, leaving Ellenius his successor as abbot. One manuscript refers to ‘The College of Cattwg (Cadoc) in Llancarvan with three cells (halls or subject houses) and a thousand saints (monks), together with two cells in the Vale of Neat (Neath)’. Llancarfan did not survive the intrusion of Norman power into South Wales, being dissolved about 1086. Cadoc’s Bell Gildas and Saint Cadog were contemporaries and Gildas would, according to the legend, visit Llancarfan monastery every now and then. He stayed there once whilst on his way to Rome – and that time he had a large sounding bell to give the Pope as a gift. Cadog took a great liking to the bell as its sound was so lovely and praised it highly, but Gildas still took it to Rome. There, having presented it to the Pope, no sound came form it. Gildas told the Pope some of the bell’s story, mentioning how Cadoc was infatuated by its special sound. When the Pope heard this he told Gildas to take the bell back to Wales and give it to Cadog. That is what was done and the bell was placed in the monastery tower at Llancarfan, and crowds of people came to hear its song. There it remained for many years until a young boy became captivated by its sound, and undertook to steal it. He climbed to the top of the tower and when he was about to untie the rope which held the bell, the bell came lose in his hand. He and the bell fell to the ground from the top of the tower. The young boy was killed and the bell sunk deep into the ground, so deep that it disappeared entirely, and there it remains to this day. If you put your ear by the ground near Llancarfan church, you may hear the bell ring from the bowels of the earth. Cadog’s Book It was customary for the monks to retreat to isolated places or to islands during Lent. Flatholm Island in the Bristol Channel is one such place that was reputedly used by the monks of this area including Cadog and his friends. One year, Cadog, Barus and Gwalches, went there. During their stay wolves swam from the mainland to the island and attacked the sheep and lambs. Cadog noticed two of them escaping from the island and swimming for the mainland. The saint raised his eyes to the heavens and prayed for help. At once the wolves were turned to stone and that’s where they are still, in the sea not far from the island. Today they are known as Wolves Rocks. When the three friends sailed back for the Vale’s coast Cadog realised that he’d left an important book on Flatholm / Echni Island and he asked both friends to sail back there to retrieve it. Baruc and Gwalches duly turned back to retrieve the book, but on their return journey towards the mainland they were caught in a terrible storm. Their boat sank and both friends drowned. Gwalches’ body was washed to the beach on Flatholm Island and was buried there. Baruc’s body was washed to the shore of another small island and he was buried there and the place was called Baruc Island, which today is known as Barry Island. Although some of the remains of the boat were washed ashore, there was no sign of Cadog’s important book. After a while Llancarfan monks went to fish on the sea and many fish were caught. One day, while some of these fish were being prepared and gutted, Cadog’s book was discovered not much worse for wear after its sojourn in the belly of the sea fish. CAP COCH Cap Coch is possibly one of South Wales’ most notorious and spine chilling villains. His story is centred around The New Inn, which once stood in a hollow on the track that led from Bridgend to Merthyr Mawr. The main road stopped at the river Ogmore where passengers on stage coaches travelling from the west had to alight, cross over at the ford and catch another coach at Ewenny for London. Many of these passengers were packmen carrying merchandise such as flannel, wool, skins and stockings, as Bridgend, at this time, was the centre of the South Wales wool and stocking industry. The New Inn, therefore, was a natural stopping place for these journeymen. The licensee of the inn was known as Cap Coch for the red, stokingnet cap of the so-called freedom fighters involved with the French Revolutionary movement, that he wore on his head. He was a very powerful man with red hair and a bland face who ran a gang of smugglers and outlaws that made frequent raids on the main road, usually picking on the lone travellers, but their richest harvest it seems, was gleaned within the inn itself... Suspicion firstly fell on the inn when bodies were discovered at the mouth of the river Ogmore - the discovery of bodies always coincided with the disappearance of travellers in the vicinity. There was no police force during this time therefore there was no proper investigation, just suspicion and rumor. The mysterious disappearances went on for may years until, as legend has it, while Cap Coch and his associates became richer and richer, the goods of the murdered travellers finding a ready market with the people of the local town. Cap Coch reputedly died peacefully in 1820 at the age of 90. However, the historic record shows that he was hanged on Stalling Down near Cowbridge on the charge of stealing a sheep. Another twist in this mystery. An ancient bridge still crosses the river near to where the inn had been situated; this is known as the Merthyr Mawr Dipping Bridge. At the beginning of the 20th century the dilapidated remains of the inn were demolished and the truth came to light. A cave was found near the kitchen and in it were the remains of some of the booty Cap Coch and his murderous associates had gained. The garden was dug up revealing the bodies of murdered victims in rows of twos and threes at every conceivable spot. In one grave several skeletons were unearthed - the search continued beyond the confines of the house to reveal many more corpses, even in the fields some distance away. Cap Coch had responded to the rumors over the finds in the Ogmore river and changed his tack to burying his victims in a safer place - safe enough for his guilt not to be proved until 80 years after his own death. MAID OF SKER Sker House is situated just outside the village of Kenfig near Bridgend. It began life as a monastic grange of the Cistercian order over 900 years ago. It later became a residential property and was home to many of the area’s historical figures. The house was made famous by the book The Maid of Sker by R D Blackmore, author of Lorna Doone, who set his story there, possibly based on the local tale of a real Maid of Sker House. The original Maid of Sker was Elizabeth Williams (d. 1776). She was an attractive young lady who loved to dance and was an enthusiastic reveller at local festivals and Mabsant or ‘Saint Day’ celebrations held at the old town hall above The Prince of Wales Inn at Kenfig.