The South Wales coast from Chepstow to Aberystwyth . he old regionof Llangyndeyrn, across which the Welshmenonce swept in force to harry the deer ofKidwelly and besiege the Castle. According to Welsh tradition, the first stonecastle on this site was founded by Uchtred, aWelsh lord in the early Norman days ; but thehill was probably stockaded centuries before theNormans fought and built their way into thecountry. Having got to Kidwelly, they musthave seen at once the strategic value of Llan-stephan. The first Norman castle may have beenonly a palisaded tower, strengthening the mainpoint of an e
The South Wales coast from Chepstow to Aberystwyth . he old regionof Llangyndeyrn, across which the Welshmenonce swept in force to harry the deer ofKidwelly and besiege the Castle. According to Welsh tradition, the first stonecastle on this site was founded by Uchtred, aWelsh lord in the early Norman days ; but thehill was probably stockaded centuries before theNormans fought and built their way into thecountry. Having got to Kidwelly, they musthave seen at once the strategic value of Llan-stephan. The first Norman castle may have beenonly a palisaded tower, strengthening the mainpoint of an earlier earth-fort. It was not untilthe time of the Barons de Londres that it gainedits completer form, as shown by the present 1143, the three bold sons of the lord of Towy,Griffith ap Rhys, Cadell, Meredydd and Rhys, whohad grown practised in upsetting the Normanchess-board, made a determined attack on theTowy strongholds. Carmarthen Castle taken,they marched south, leaving Rhys-y-Gors alonefor some reason, and beset Llanstephan by ?n Q Z > j X) H SJO CO a g w H CO Z-) THE TOWY AND FERRYSIDE 225 The Normans could easily convey a signal to thegarrison at Kidwelly. At any rate, a strong forceadvanced from the east, and crossing the Towyattacked the besiegers. But the three sons ofGriffith ap Rhys beat off this counter-attack, andthen took the Castle. St. Anthonys Well may be reached in the dipon the south-west side of the Castle by the paththat skirts the foot of the Castle Hill, huggingthe steep brink above the beach. The Well haspreserved, for a wonder, the old stone-work andthe niche where the Saints figure stood. Thewater used to be thought of sure and miraculouseffect, and is still used by the country-folk foreye-complaint. A pin, or some equivalent, hadto be dropped in the water by the sick pin is nothing to us; but think of the far-comepilgrim kneeling there and praying in the timewhen a pin was an old country womans preciousthing. From St. A
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublisherlondontfisherunwin
