This site is of disputed antiquity. If you have any information that could help clarify this site's authenticity, please post below or leave a post in the forum.
This enormous stone was once part of the capstone of a large burial chamber. It now sits relatively inconspicuously in the centre of Llanbadarn Fawr where it is has been incorporated into the wall behind the war memorial.
It's very easy to find the Garreg Fawr stone once you've found the war memorial. If you don't know Llanbadarn, then you might miss the centre of the village if you're driving in, because Llanbadarn boasts a (very small) by-pass road. Once you find a one way street with speed bumps on it, you know you're nearly there. The stone is behind the war memorial when you have your back to the hairdresser's (Hayley's Hair Studio).
Thanks to Toby for consistently pointing this site out every time we stumbled out of the Gogerddan Arms. We took the mickey at the time, but here I am writing about it!
According to tradition it was originally a megalithic dolmen about 4000 years old. It has served mainly as a small platform used by preachers, the Parish Clerk and others to make public announcements. In the past there was a large tree in front of it on which were nailed fox tails and the corpses of other creatures which preyed on chickens.
Charming local customs abound. Taken from the village information board near the stone.
Back in 1867 a gentleman called Mr Morgan wrote about Garreg Fawr (the great stone) in his Aberystwyth Guide. He describes how it once "stood on pillars of the same material" but was "fractured by the kindling of a bonfire upon it".
Before it's destruction the tomb appears to have been the focal point for village life. Morgan says that "the [village] crier used to proclaim all matters of public interest" from the monument.
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Posted by Kammer
Posted by thesweetcheat
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