Thomas Pennant

In the 1770s, Thomas Pennant wrote about a cairn or a tumulus situated by the sea at Nant Gwrtheyrn. It is believed that this was in fact a stone grave covered with turf, locally referred to as King Gwrtheyrn's Grave (Bedd Gwrtheyrn). Pennant also wrote that the Nant’s inhabitants opened the grave and found a coffin containing the bones of a tall man.


Thomas Pennant
Thomas Gainsborough
With thanks to The National Museum of Wales

Another site connected with King Gwrtheyrn was Gwrtheyrn's Castle (Castell Gwrtheyrn), which was once marked on an old nineteenth - century parish map.

Pennant also described the Nant’s inhabitants:

“Three families live on the land as tenants, growing corn and keeping a few cows, sheep and goats. They find it very difficult to get their small amount of produce to the market."