Abergwyngregyn
(known as Aber locally) is located between the Menai 
Strait
and the foothills of Snowdonia in Gwynedd North Wales. It sits between
the towns of Bangor to the west and Llanfairfechan to the east. The village
is best known for the magnificent Aber
Falls located
at the head of the Aber valley just a short walk from the village itself.
The waters from the Carneddau range of mountains drop over 100
feet into the beautiful Aber Valley. The valley is popular with nature
lovers, walkers and especially
bird watchers with a range of birds to be seen including buzzards,
falcon, sparrowhawk, ravens, redstart along the woodland edge, and
pied flycatcher and wood warbler in the oak woods. Follow the Afon
Rhaeadr Fawr toward the Menai Strait and there are an abundance of
sea birds to be seen on the Lavan Sands.
Aber itself may not be a
one horse town but a two road village is a fairly accurate description.
But the size of Aber belies it's historical importance. Aber Garth Celyn
as it was known was of great strategic importance as it controlled
the ancient crossing point of the Menai Strait via the Lafan Sands to
Anglesey. There are important sites in the Aber valley and the surrounding
hills showing evidence of occupation from prehistoric times through the
Roman period, the Dark Ages and into Medieval times. A
walk into the hills reveals Maes y Gaer, a prehistoric settlement, the
cairns of Carnedd y Saeson and Meuryn Isaf, the remains of an iron age
round house close to the falls, and within the village itself are Llywelyn's
Mound and the ancient manor house known as Pen y Bryn. The very roads
and tracks echo with the footsteps of early Britons and indeed ancient
Romans. The Roman Road, now a popular walk, from Aber to Rowen via Bwllch
y Ddeufaen linked Roman Segontium in Caernarfon to the Roman settlement
on the banks of the Conwy River.
A look into the
field behind the houses off the main street in Aber reveals a large grassy
mound known variously as "Y Mwd", "Pen y Mwd",
or "Aber Castle Mound". Others know it as
as Llywelyn's Mound after the Welsh Prince Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, or Llywelyn
the Great. The mound is circular, 22 foot high with a flat top 57 feet
by 48 feet. Some say it's origin has probably no
connection to Llywelyn and it has been suggested that it might be a fifth
or sixth century A.D. mound built over the body of a local champion warrior
lord. Another field of thought is that it was built by the Welsh Prince
in the style of the Norman invaders.
But look further across the field and through the trees and
you will see the tower known as Twr Llywelyn, The tower, belonging to
the house once known as Garth Celyn and now known as Pen y Bryn, is reputed
to have been built circa 1200 A.D. Historians again seem to be at loggerheads
over the exact history of Pen y Bryn but the latest evidence points to
it being the home of both the previously mentioned Llywelyn
ap Iorwerth and also Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowdon.
The stone walls of Pen y Bryn hold many secrets and sad tales, probably
none more pitiful than the story of Joan, wife of Llywelyn ap Iorwerth.
Prince Llywelyn had captured the Norman William de Braose at the seige
of Montgomery and brought him to Aber. De Braose fell in love with Llywelyn's
wife Joan, the daughter of King John of England, and she with him. Llywelyn
knew nothing of the intrigue until after De Braose was set free on payment
of a ransom. In 1229 Llywelyn invited De Braose to a banquet to celebrate
easter. As soon as he had him in his power he accused him of the seduction
and had him hanged on a nearby hill. The place now remembered as Gwern
y Grog (Hanging Marsh).
Joan died at Pen y Bryn in 1237 and was buried at the Priory of Llanfaes
on the other side of the Menai Strait. After the dissolution
of the monasteries the coffin was lost until in the 19th century it was
found in a farmyard being used as a watering trough for animals. The
lid on which was carved her effigy was found in a ditch and both
parts are now reunited in the church of St Mary's at Beaumaris, within
site of the Royal home of Aber.
And
if you should see the gentleman who lives in the house that backs on
to Llywelyn's Mound ask him about the secret chamber
below the tower of Llywelyn's home. He might tell you of the hidden tunnel
that runs from Garth Celyn under the Menai Strait to Anglesey, and of
the legend that Prince Llywelyn's horse was hitched to a post in the
cellar in readiness for an attack from the English King. And that he
saw the post still in the cellar to this day................
