There’s a little village quite close to me that goes by the name of Mathern. Central to the village is its church, Saint Tewdric’s, but who was Tewdric and how did Mathern come by its name?
Saint Tewdric's, Mathern
Depending upon where you look and who you read, Tewdric (Tewdrig or Theodoric) was either a fifth century prince from the kingdom of Glamorgan (Morganwg), a sinner turned hermit who hid himself away at Tintern to worship his God, or a mighty king of Gwent. I’m inclined to believe Tewdric was a little of all three.
Prince Tewdrig of Morganwg, son of King Ceithfalt, is mentioned in the Book of Llan Dav, reproduced from the twelfth century Gwysaney Manuscript in English by Davies, Evans, and Rhys in 1893, which tells us Tewdric resigned his position in favour of his son Meurig in order to become a hermit at Tintern in the latter years of his life.
There have been settlements at Tintern since very ancient times and the site of the eleventh century Cistercian abbey had been regarded by locals as a place of power and a holy place since the Bronze Age or before. If Tewdrig turned to the church, as seems likely, to atone for his misdemeanours then discarding his thrown and moving to Tintern to become a hermit seems equally likely.
In the sixth century, the Saxons invaded Wales under Ceolwulf crossing the River Severn and pressing hard upon Meurig of Morganwg. Tewdric is said to have left his solitude at Tintern to lead his former people and followers as the King of Gwent, engaged Ceolwulf in battle and gained a magnificent victory over the invading Saxons.
Tewdric was mortally wounded by a lance during the battle at a site still known today as Pont y Saison (Bridge of the Saxons) and carried to a nearby well, where his wounds were bathed. The well, Tewdric’s Well in Mathern, can still be seen and one look at the water makes you wonder whether bathing in it was such a brilliant idea!
Tewdric succumbed to his wounds and was buried at Mathern. A church, Saint Tewdric’s, was built on the site of his grave and the settlement of Mathern (original name unknown) was called Merthyr Tewdrig (or Mathern in English) from that point onwards; the name means king’s resting place.
Interestingly a stone coffin containing the bones of an adult male with broken ribs and a fractured skull was unearthed during seventeenth century renovations at Saint Tewdric’s. Bishop Francis Godwin of Llandaff removed the remains for reburial.
The Archway
As fanciful as it may be to believe the archway that stands in Saint Tewdric’s graveyard is the remains of the original church, I’m sad to say this isn’t the case. The romantic in me would like it to be, but in fact it’s the sole remaining part of a stone-built church wardens shed!
msfullphat
and Johnny Depp played our hero in the oscar award winning film of his life ( all 3) which Ms F Phat directed in 2008 shot on location in South Wales, all requests for press photos to mr U Rider...... Seans, Bean and Penn and Mr Rowan Atkinson had all been considered for the role but eventually Mr Depp won over the great Director with a strong audition and even stronger casting couch technique...