ST. GOVAN’S CHAPEL.
According to another tradition which is still extant in the neighbourhood it was St. Govan (Sir Gawain), one of King Arthur’s knights, that took shelter in this cell when he was pursued by his pagan persecutors. The cell has been used from time immemorial as a “wishing place,” and it is said that “all who turn round therein, and steadfastly cling to the same wish during the operation will most certainly obtain their wish before the expiration of the year.” It is still resorted to I believe by young people.
A few yards lower down in the ravine is a holy well, once much resorted to for the cure of diseases. This well was frequently visited seventy years ago, and, it is said that its water was so efficacious that some who came there on crutches were able to walk away without them.
There are, or at least were, somewhere in this part, three upright stones, about a mile distant from each other. The tradition is, that on a certain day these stones meet to “dance the Hay,” at a place called Saxon’s Ford, and when the dance is over, travel back and resume their places.
The late Mr. Thomas, Greenpark, informed me that there was a moving stone of this kind in the parish of Llandyssul, Cardiganshire.
TREGARON.
At a distance of about three miles from Tregaron there is a ridge running east and west separating Upper and Lower Tregaron. It is called “Cwys yr Ychain Bannog,” the Furrow of the large-horned Oxen. Tradition has it that the “Furrow” was made by two Bannog Oxen dragging along the ground the carcass of a huge reptile which had been killed by the people of the neighbourhood in ancient time. (For more about Tregaron see Lakes.)