Nant Gwynant, Carnarvonshire
Historical Description
Nant Gwynant, a lordship in Beddgelert parish, Carnarvonshire, containing part of Beddgelert village. A romantic glen ascends north-north-westward, past Dinas Emrys, under the SW side of Snowdon, and is said to have been the retreat of Vortigern and the magician Merlin after Vortigern fled before the Saxon Hengist and prior to his taking final refuge at Nant Gwrtheym. Drayton's " Polyolbion " says-" Thou heardst wise Merlin first relate The destinies' decree of Britain's future fate, Which truly he foretolde proud Vortiger should lose, AB when him from his seat the Saxons should, depose; And to that mightie king which rashly undertooke A strong-wall'd tower to reare, those earthly spirits that shooke The great foundation still, in Dragon's horrid shape, That dreaming wizard told; making the mountaine gape With his most powerfull charms, to view those caverns deepe; And from the top of Britt, so high and wondrous steepe, "Where Dinas Emris stood, show'd where the serpents foughte, The white that tore the red; from whence the Prophet wroughte The Britain's sad decay then shortly to ensue."
Land and Property
The Return of Owners of Land in 1873 for Carnarvonshire is available to browse.
Newspapers and Periodicals
The British Newspaper Archive have fully searchable digitised copies of the following newspapers online: