Carreg y Fendith

Also known as:
Carreg Ateb, The Answer Stone and The Blessing Stone
Nearest town:
Cardigan (2km E)
OS reference:
SN16384622
OS sheet:
145
Latitude:
52° 5' 0.07 N
Longitude:
4° 40' 48.66 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Carreg y Fendith (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

The riverside position of the possible orthostats. Mikey (forever in our hearts) may be sharing a memorial with long-forgotten Neolithic proto-Mikeys.

Image credit: A. Brookes (24.4.2022)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 7, 2023
Image of Carreg y Fendith (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

The stones that were speculatively orthostats in a chambered tomb capped by Carreg y Fendith. The Afon Teifi is over the fence to the left.

Image credit: A. Brookes (24.4.2022)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 7, 2023
Image of Carreg y Fendith (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

Afon Teifi from the higher ground immediately above Carreg y Fendith. One of South Wales’ key rivers, how far back does the blessing of the river and fishermen go on this spot? Further back than the Abbot of St Dogmaels maybe.

Image credit: A. Brookes (25.9.2014)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Nov 28, 2014
Image of Carreg y Fendith (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

From above, the stone does rather resemble the Llech-y-Drybedd capstone.

Image credit: A. Brookes (25.9.2014)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Nov 28, 2014
Image of Carreg y Fendith (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

The stone is positioned just above the waterline of the Afon Teifi, but was it always here?

Image credit: A. Brookes (25.9.2014)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Nov 28, 2014

Articles

Folklore

Carreg y Fendith
Natural Rock Feature
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Nov 28, 2014

Information from the board near the site:

Earliest records show that this stone was known as ‘Carreg Ateb’ (Answer Stone) as calling across the river at this point produces an echo.

Legend has it that the Abbot of St Dogmaels blessed the river and fishing boats here, hence its modern name. The tradition has recently been revived.

What is now called The Blessing Stone may well have been the capstone of a dolmen (from the Breton tol-maen – ‘stone table’) that stood on level ground above, where the view is spectacular. Nearby, lie other stones that may have been the uprights originally used to support the capstone. Within 7 miles of St Dogmaels there are many dolmens, most notable being Pentre Ifan, Llech-y-Drybedd, Trellyffant and Carreg Coetan Arthur. The Blessing Stone is of a very similar shape to the Llech-y-Drybedd capstone. Capstone shapes often mirror the local landscape.

Sites within 20km of Carreg y Fendith

Like all websites everywhere, we use cookies.