Tuesday 21 September 2010

Sharing Treasure # 2 - LLigwy

Welcome to Sharing Treasure # 2. This month I have 3 sites to share with you. Lligwy Cromlech, Din Lligwy and Hen Capel Lligwy. All within close walking distance of each other.

Lligwy Cromlech

Lligwy Cromlech, a neolithic burial chamber. Cromlech is a word used to describe a burial mound or Dolmon from Welsh, from crom, feminine of crwm bent, arched + llech flat stone. In France, the word Cromlech is used to describe a stone circle, so maybe it is not accidental that the symbol for pi resembles some burial chambers.

Lligwy Cromlech has also been known as Coetan Arthur, Din Lligwy Burial Chamber and Arthur's Quoit. The Cromlech is said to be built upon a natural fissure in the limestone, rather than being dug out.


The site has a peaceful feeling to it. So much so that my 4 year old daughter instantly climbed inside it and lay down on the protruding stone whilst exclaiming that it was her new house and that is her sofa! I could have happily spent much longer here, and plan to return again very soon.

I did a little research into Lligwy Cromlech, looking for history and folklore. Rhiannon, contributor to 'The Modern Antiquarian' kindly shares a tale of a wild stormy night where a fisherman stumbles across a fair maiden struggling to reach the safety of the shore. He wades into the water and pulls the maiden to safety. After taking the maiden (at her request) to Arthur's Quoit he discovers that she is a witch that has been cast overboard and disguised herself to increase her chances of rescue. Afraid to be in the presence of a witch in a known haunted site the fisherman finds himself rewarded with a ball. The witch cautions the fisherman to keep the snakeskin ball safe, and secret from all and good fortune will be his. He shall only take out the ball from its hiding place once a year to bathe it in the sea, and then return it to hiding. If this is not done bad luck will follow. Please visit 'The Modern Antiquarian' to read the full story and see other pictures and accounts of visits to Lligwy Burial Chamber.

Din Lligwy

Din Lligwy is a settlement that is thought to have been built by natives to Anglesey during the Roman occupation. Din refers to 'defensive walls. It is thought that the site was a farming community and may even date back to the iron age. In the picture to the bottom right hand corner below, you can see the walls for one of the round rooms at Din LLigwy. It certainly 'fits' that the settlement dates back to the iron age, as it is very close to Parys Mountain which was mined for copper and other ores since the copper age 3500 years ago. Also, round houses were considered a symbol of status. The Celts and farming communities continued to use round houses until around 200 ad when they began adopting the Roman shaped houses.


Din Lligwy is known to have been occupied by the Romans until around 400ad. The round houses are thought to have been living quarters and the oblong rooms were workshops for iron working and animal shelters.

Hen Capel Lligwy

Hen Capel Lligwy is a wonderful example of medieval history.



The things that intrigue me most about church sites is their connection to sites of pagan worship, ley lines and trees. The church, pictured above, is very small but the trees alongside it are very large for their species.




The Hawthorn below is very large. I felt very attracted by her energy and found myself spending most of my time at this site beside this tree.

When I got home, I researched methods of aging trees without harming them. The Woodland Trust have a lovely tree hugging guide to aging trees of different species.


A Hawthorn only needs an elbow hug, whatever that may be, to qualify as ancient. I think this tree is more than an 'elbow hug' and displays some hallmarks of an ancient tree so I have registered it with The Woodland Trust to verify its age.

The Woodland Trust believe that ancient trees are living relics of incredible age that inspire in us feelings of awe and mystery. We reveal what makes a tree truly ancient, unlock a few of the fascinating secrets and stories associated with them and help you discover why they can sustain such a wide variety of wildlife. 'The Ancient Tree Hunt' is a project that invites members of the public to register trees that may be ancient or veteran with the Woodland Trust. Some of these trees may then be be granted a 'protected' status depending upon what its needs are. So, next time you are out walking and see an inspirational tree, why not give it a hug?

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If you have a treasure on your doorstep that you would like to share, please add your web link to Mr Linky below.

All are welcome :)


25 comments:

Valerianna said...

Magical spots and quite an impressive tree!

Lululiz said...

Great post, thank you!

Jo Potter said...

Hi Jasmine,
I have just left you a message on facebook. Thanks for the "Sharing Treasure" invitation. :-)
This is a great post. I love all your photos and the Welsh history.
It is good to share all these old legends about places. The folklore about Lligwy Cromlech is magical!
I hope you are having a good weekend.
Jo.x

Jasmine said...

Valerianna -The whole Island is a feast of magical sites. I have a feeling you would love it here :)

Lululiz - Thank you :)

Joanne May - Hi, I thought you'd like the folklore too. Thank you for haring your link here. Have you visited Julian Cope's website, 'The Modern Antiquarian'? I'm sure you will find a lot of wonderful places in Wiltshire. xx

Jasmine said...

Valerianna -The whole Island is a feast of magical sites. I have a feeling you would love it here :)

Lululiz - Thank you :)

Joanne May - Hi, I thought you'd like the folklore too. Thank you for haring your link here. Have you visited Julian Cope's website, 'The Modern Antiquarian'? I'm sure you will find a lot of wonderful places in Wiltshire. xx

Jackie said...

What an intriguing post. I had a family who lived on Anglesey for a time when I was much younger and I used to go and stay with them during the summer. We went to Din Lligwy, I remember it well. So lovely to see it again.

lynne h said...

jasmine, i came by yesterday and left speechless - what was there to say in the face of all this treasure? that's what i felt... each one seems just as incredible *if not more so*, than the one before!! oh how i would love to touch these stones and hug this hawthorne (i'm pondering what an elbow hug might be). a couple of days ago i counted the rings of a giant tree that had just been cut down in the national forest near me. it was dead, but still i am always sad to see them cut down. anyway, i decided to count the rings - i got to 289 and i still had 8" of very close together rings to go...

i linked to my post about glass mountain...

thank you for sharing these treasures.

xoxo

ArtSparker said...

Those trees look as if they have formed a committee and are approaching the interloping church to ask it to leave. This is fascinating information, thank you for sharing it.

Harnett-Hargrove said...

I wish I was your neighbor! -J

SarahA said...

A part of this corner of our world, I have never been to and reading such I know I must! I am loving the 'stones' and (like your Daughter) could quite easierly make such my home.

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

hello Jasmine, I enjoyed reading about your lovely history of the wonderful isle that you now live. Your tree is awesome and Hopefully they can help you heal it now that you have registered it. Big Hugs Judy

Jasmine said...

Jacky, it is a special Island isn't it. Until I moved here this summer, it I used to visit family here too. Special memories. Thank you for sharing a link.

Lynne - Thank you for your kind words. Your tree sounds amazing, I also feel a disappointment when they are felled. They provide a home for so much. If you ever visit Anglesey i will happily play tour guide. Have a wonderful week xx

Susan, I have visions of a 'moot' now :) Thank you for sharing the link x

Jayne - I do feel lucky to live here.

Sarah - They are inviting aren't they :)

Anonymous said...

great shares:) i've been..but it's a distant memory..now i want to visit again lol. i like the wee tale associated with Lligwy Cromlech, will pop back to check out the links when i have more time.

your writings on Hen Capel Lligwy have really drawn me in..it's the tree's.. i'm a hugger too, hug them wherever i go :-) there's some awe inspiring old trees here in Wales.

i didn't get out to take the pics for a post, with the weekend being so wet.. we had a lazy snuggley one instead. i still have it in mind though, and will link when i get it done.

xx

Janine said...

Jasmine, these are wonderful pics! I love the history behind them! Thank you for sharing. I love the Welsh language!

Laura said...

thank you for taking us with you to these fascinating places Jasmine. I love the hawthorn tree...of all the places you showed us though, I think that is the one in which I would like to curl up and rest for a while.

Barb said...

Oh Jasmine, I am loving your blog. Some of those pictures gave me chills. Thank you sooo much for sharing all this :)

Robin said...

And you said my stairway had stories to tell? These sites take my breath away, so much history, so many stories...

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Tammie Lee said...

my goodness, all within walking distance from one another. That is one magical spot. Thank you for this wonderful post.
I had wanted to join in, but life got a way with me. another time I hope.

dorie said...

you're at the right place - must be wonderfull to live surrounded by all those ancient spirits

Barb said...

I've always enjoyed history so it's great to be able to swap stories here.

Jasmine said...

Barb, thatnks for joining in, I love your post about Palm strings and the movie contracts xJ

Dave said...

I guess I didn't realize that hugging a tree could have such practical, even legal consequences. Awesome.

JSK said...

These are wonderful sites and so nicely maintained. Thanks for sharing these with us.

Sparklyjools said...

Fascinating Jasmine, I have a real passion for the old stones, and the folklore around these is wonderful. I love the Modern Antiquarian, such a useful and interesting site. Your tree is wonderful. Thanks fo such a lovely post! x

Leovi said...

Muy bonitos diseños. Un saludo.