A really interesting statue. Unfortunately to find out more you need to use your phone. Shame it didn't have a plaque or something to give a little bit of information for those people who couldn't be bothered with scanning and reading something on their phone. Says the guy who took photos and wrote this review on his phone thou.
Luke Huw Llewellyn2 years ago
There's something truly magical about the original names of places around Wales. Through vast stretches of time they have become living, breathing entities, entwined with legend and memories of happenings long ago, becoming more powerful than just words. Places may have been named to commemorate a certain event or an important person, or to describe something unique and prominent within the land. They can be found nearly everywhere you look when travelling around the deep valleys and high mountains, but sadly, with each passing generation much is forgotten or replaced with an English version. Forever losing the stories tied to the very earth we walk on and all that lived, and now lives upon it. It's why telling the histories of our family before us and where they came from is so important. Through the land and it’s tales their memory and deeds collectively live on.
Pillgwenlly in Newport is one of these places with an intriguing story behind it from long ago. It's easy to dismiss a name as just being 'the way it is' and not taking time to recall or conjure up its meaning in your mind when used casually in everyday life. Pîl particularly these days, is known now for it's interesting reputation and eccentric character. Found deep in the heart of Newport city, in days gone by, was the stronghold of Gwynllyw Filwr (Wentloog The Warrior in English and founder of Newport). Gwynllyw was a fearsome Pirate of the Dark Ages who raided the coast lines and terrorised the British Chanel with his fleet of mighty ships, and it so happens that he moored them at Pîl: Pil being an ancient local term for Harbour or Sea inlet, thus the name Pillgwynllyw or Gwynllyw's Harbour. In his early days he was a merciless raider who kept the company of thieves and robbers. However at the death of his father Glywys he inherited a large area of South Wales and the title of King & Overlord along with it....
Pillgwenlly in Newport is one of these places with an intriguing story behind it from long ago. It's easy to dismiss a name as just being 'the way it is' and not taking time to recall or conjure up its meaning in your mind when used casually in everyday life. Pîl particularly these days, is known now for it's interesting reputation and eccentric character. Found deep in the heart of Newport city, in days gone by, was the stronghold of Gwynllyw Filwr (Wentloog The Warrior in English and founder of Newport). Gwynllyw was a fearsome Pirate of the Dark Ages who raided the coast lines and terrorised the British Chanel with his fleet of mighty ships, and it so happens that he moored them at Pîl: Pil being an ancient local term for Harbour or Sea inlet, thus the name Pillgwynllyw or Gwynllyw's Harbour. In his early days he was a merciless raider who kept the company of thieves and robbers. However at the death of his father Glywys he inherited a large area of South Wales and the title of King & Overlord along with it....