Welsh Journals

shield with a portcullis and another heraldic shield over the window bearing the arms of Sir Rhys ap Thomas, who, according to Meyrick the author of the History of Cardiganshire, built the tower in commemoration of the victory of Bosworth Field, and as a result the placing of Henry VII. upon the throne of England. It should not be forgotten that Sir Rhys was more forward than almost any British subject in the movement which secured the throne for Henry, and set the seal on the union of England and Wales, and no doubt he was assisted by many a sturdy yeoman from the parish of Llanwenog. The tower in all probability, originally served the purpose of defence, but at a later period it was converted to another use, namely, that of a goal post in the annual football contest between the parishes of Llanwenog and Llandyssul. The ball was started on a ridge midway between the two towers, and the whole able-bodied male population of each parish took part in the fray with the usual result that before the ball reached either goal what had begun as a friendly game ended in an indescribable melee. There was also a local fixture between the two divisions of the parish, Bro and Blaenau, where the church tower again served the purpose of a goal post. This match, which was usually played on January 12th, generally ended disastrously, broken bones and bruises being the order of the day. ST. GWENOG'S WELL. Water was regarded by primitive man with a species of reverence and superstitious awe. Rivers, lakes and deep wells were not unfrequently designated as divinities by savage and semi-civilized races. In the age of Myths every river had its presiding goddess and its nymphs, and many pleasing legends arose in connexion with them. The first Christian missionaries for purposes of good policy did not at first attempt to wipe out all the prevailing Pagan customs, but rather used them as stocks upon which to graft their new teaching, and the wells at which idolatry had previously flourished were transformed into the shrines of saints. The old gods and godesses were supplanted. It is, I think, generally believed that previously to the introduction of Christianity into this country, certain wells were very highly esteemed by our Celtic forefathers, if not greatly venerated, and it is thought that in consequence of this feeling churches were erected in close proximity to these wells. There is a tradition common to many places where there is a holy well, that it was customary to obtain from it water for the rite of baptism and also for the purpose of cleansing and washing out the church. Ffynon Wenog, or rather the spring of crystal water which used to fill the well, was in a paddock joining the churchyard. No trace of the well itself now remains, but in comparatively recent times it was a place of pilgrimage, parents bringing children suffering from spinal weakness to bathe them in its limpid waters, and in order that the cure might be effective, these ablutions had to be performed before sunrise.