Mwnt
Mwnt is a headland hill on the coast of Cardiganshire, west of Aberporth, at SN194520. It gives a name too to the local parish.
The hill itself is known as 'Y Foel y Mwnt ("The Hill of Mwnt"); a steep, conical hill that rises above the beach and forms a seamark from much of Cardigan Bay. The hill and headlandare owned by the National Trust.
The name of the parish was formerly anglicised as Mount.[1] In Welsh it is known as Y Mwnt.
The beach
Mwnt is best known for its popular beach. The Daily Mail placed Mwnt top of its list of "Europe's top ten loveliest hidden beaches".[2]
The beach has earned a Green Coast Award (an award similar to a Blue Flag beach Award but for rural beaches).
The Irish Sea off Mwnt is rich in wildlife; a regular summer home to dolphins, seals and porpoises.
History and the church
Mwnt was the site of an unsuccessful invasion by Flemings in 1155, and its defeat was long afterwards celebrated on the first Sunday in January as "Sul Coch y Mwnt" ("Red Sunday of Mwnt") in consequence of the blood shed on that day.[3] It is reputed that the bones of the defeated invaders would occasionally be visible under the sand when uncovered by windy conditions in the early 20th century.[1]
The Church of the Holy Cross is an example of a mediæval sailor's chapel of ease. The site is said to have been used since the Age of the Saints, but the present building is probably 14th century. It has an example of a 12th or 13th century font made of Preseli stone.
Mwnt was a civil parish in its own right for several centuries, but before the 17th century it was a detached chapelry of the parish of Llangoedmor. Since 1934, it has been part of the parish of Y Ferwig.
Pictures
| Images of Mwnt | ||||||||||
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Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Mwnt) |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 GENUKI - Mount, Cardinganshire
- ↑ Daily Mail - Europe's secret beaches
- ↑ A Topgraphical Dictionary of the Dominion of Wales, by Nicholas Carlisle, London, 1811 (p.231)