St Govan's - Medieval Hermits Chapel in Pembrokeshire, Wales | History & Legends

Today we are visiting St Govan's Chapel - Nestled into a fold on a rugged strip of the Pembrokeshire coastline, this 13th century chapel is built into the cliffs, on a rock formation said to have been used by a 6th century saint. Legends of pirates, pagans and magic stones have endured for over a thousand years, perhaps many more, and looking out from the chapel window you half expect to see a suspicious silhouette, sailing swiftly by… but were the ships the true danger? Or was it really the locals pagans?
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Inside the chapel there is a rough stone alter, which some believe houses the body of the hermit saint. To the left of this is a doorway leads to an interesting formation in the rock. Part of it is hollowed out and gives the appearance of an imprint of a human skeleton, particularly the shape of a ribcage. The story goes that whilst being chased by local pagan persecutors, the rock opened up to allow the saint to hide inside and closed perfectly around him. When the danger was over, the crevice opened up just enough to release him, leaving the imprint of his body remaining where he had stood.
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"This stone may probably be considered as the monkish parallel for the magic stones which confer on their possessor invisibility, as we find them in the romances of enchantment. In the Mabinogion such stones are frequently mentioned, usually in the favourite form of a gem set within a ring...
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Books referenced in this video:
A Historical Tour Through Pembrokeshire (1811) - Richard Fenton - books.google.co.uk/books?id=U...
British Goblins - Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions - Wirt Sikes
- www.gutenberg.org/files/34704...
South Pembrokeshire, Some Of It's History And Records (1910) - Mary Beatrice Mirehouse - archive.org/details/southpemb...
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Great map resource - www.oldmapsonline.org/
Great book resources -
archive.org/
www.gutenberg.org/
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You can also find us on other social media:
/ coraljackz
/ coraljackz
patreon.com/CoralJackz

[@michaeldeanbuttrill3748]

Wow! I share your fondness for these places and am so glad to have found your channel. The research that you have done adds so much to the beauty because it is real, not just my imagination. I hope you guys get your own PBS special someday, thank you again.

[@coraljackz]

Thank you so much, we really enjoy making these videos and comments like this are really encouraging!

[@coraljackz]

Thanks for watching! If you like our video, please consider subscribing to our channel to see more history and folklore 🙂

[@sallyg1523]

I ❤️ this place at the centre of my being x

[@coraljackz]

It is certainly a special place 💚

[@RFAudits]

great subject awesome really enjoyed it ty guys xx

[@coraljackz]

Thank you 🥰

[@toxtravels671]

Great Vid guys, very informative, we visited a few years ago and were lucky enough to stumble on what seemed to be an Orthodox ceremony of some kind happening inside, incense , candles and chanting !
The algorithm has done a good job today, liked and subscribed 😀

[@coraljackz]

Brilliant, we love stumbling upon things like that... and a massive thank you for the lovely feedback!

[@Sally-ol1sy]

Wow, amazing views! Must go there one day

[@coraljackz]

You should! It's quite magical and a beautiful bit coastline to visit on a clear day

[@18Ty]

Cracking work guys commentary is on point 👉 👈 👇 👌 👏 👍

[@coraljackz]

Diolch yn fawr bro✌️❤

[@18Ty]

I want to go here

[@JackyCoralz]

❤