History of the River Towy

Myth and Legend

When Merlin's Oak shall tumble down, so then shall fall Carmarthen Town

According to local legend, this dark prophesy was made by an angry school-age Merlin who had been told that his favourite oak tree was to be felled. Merlin the Magician was born and grew-up near Carmarthen, and King Arthur is also said to have lived nearby. Visitors today need not concern themselves about Merlin's prediction. The tree in question, now just a withered stump, was moved to the town museum for safe keeping some years ago.

Historican fact

The town of Llandeilo is named after St. Teilo, a contemporary of the better known St David, who established a monastic settlement here in the 6th century. Llandeilo thus became a cradle of Christianity and an important medieval centre.

Visitors to the Towy can bear witness to living history via the old fashioned coracles which are still used by local fishermen. Coracles are small boats, traditionally made from willow ash laths and covered with animal skins (originally), calico or canvass (more recently). Their light weight enabled the ‘coracle man' to carry the boat on his shoulders. Coracles have been used in Britain since pre-Roman times, and evidence suggests that Wellington himself made use of them during the Indian campaigns.