St. Govan’s Well is located next to St. Govan’s Chapel, which dates back to the 13th century. It is reached by a long flight of stone steps, the number of which is said to vary depending on whether one is going up or down. The well itself is now dry and filled with small stones. It was once a popular place for making wishes as well as curing failing sight, lameness and rheumatism.

 

NB We do not advise drinking from any of these sources.

 

There are various legends concerning Govan. These range from him being an Irish monk who travelled to Wales late in life to seek the friends and family of the abbot who had trained him, variously identified as Saint David or Saint Ailbe of Emly; that Govan was Gawain, one of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table; that Govan was originally a thief. Whatever the actuality, Govan was set upon by pirates. The cliff opened up and left a fissure just big enough for him to hide in until the pirates left. In thanks for the act of god, he decided to stay and live on the cliff. The legend says St Govan's hand prints are imprinted on the floor of his cave and his body is buried under the chapel's altar.

 

Another legend concerns Govan’s silver bell. He is supposed to have kept the bell in the tower of the chapel and when it peeled its sound was of perfect. Pirates stole the bell, but angels took it from them and returned it to St. Govan. The angels encased the bell in a huge stone and it became known as The Bell Rock. The legend said that that when St. Govan "rang" the stone, its vigour had become a thousand times stronger. It is a lovely legend, regardless of the fact that the tower was not built until the 14th century.