History
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Pantygelli lies about 2 miles north of the market town of Abergavenny in Monmouthshire, which nestles in the valley of the River Usk surrounded on three sides by hills forming the southern end of the Black Mountains. This area of South Wales has been settled since Neolithic times and a long glacial mound provided an easily defended site for the first settlers about 6,000 years ago. Settlement in the area continued under the Romans who occupied a fort, known as Gobannium (the place of the Ironsmiths), which was halfway along the route between the Roman fortresses at Caerleon and Brecon. Many of the castles of the area were built during the Norman occupation, including that at Abergavenny which was started in 1087 by Hamelin de Ballon. |
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By the 12th Century the castle had been rebuilt in stone to control the river crossing and protect the lines of communication and supply in the Usk Valley. Six Norman families held the castle and surrounding areas under the lordship of Abergavenny: the de Ballons, de Braoses, Canteloupes, Hastings, Beauchamps and Nevills.
The area witnessed much warfare between the Norman Lords and the Welsh and the castle was the scene of a particularly gruesome massacre still remembered to this day. On Christmas Day 1177 the local lord William de Braose, being determined to rid himself of all Welsh opposition, invited Sitsyllt of Castle Arnallt near Usk plus his warriors and other Welsh Chiefs to a great banquet. There, when they were wined and weaponless, he slaughtered the lot and then topped it off by trekking off to Castle Arnallt where he killed Sitsyllt's young son still in his mothers arms and burnt the Castle to the ground. Abergavenny Castle itself was finally sacked by the great Welshman Owen Glyndwr in 1404.
Today the pub is set on a quiet country lane which is easily accessible and it is reputed to have its own resident ghost. On a hot summer day the flower decked patio is particularly attractive as the evening sun begins to sink, lighting up the nearby sandstone cliffs of the Skirrid Mountain a vivid red brown.
Useful Links
Additional accommodation when we are full:-
Local Information Sites:
The Crown at Pantygelli is close to the Black Mountains in an ideal location to explore the beautiful Wye Valley, Welsh Border Country and the Brecon Beacons.Closer to home, Abergavenny hosts a range of regular markets on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays plus a Flea Market on Wednesdays, a Craft Market on the 2nd Saturday of the month and an Antiques Market on the 3rd Saturday of the month.
There are many activities available throughout the area and hosts Steve, Cherrie and Carys Chadwick will be only too happy to advise.
Other Activities:
For traditional folk entertainment go and watch one of the local tours by:The Isca Morrismen
Or why not try one of the wide variety of locally available outdoor pursuits such as boating, walking, mountain biking, canoeing, pony trekking, etc. to enable you to enjoy the local scenery or to keep fit:-
Beacon Park Boats
Beacons Discovery Tours
Black Mountain Activities
Castle Narrowboats
Celtic Trails
Cycling Sideways Holidays
Ellesmere Riding Centre
Grange Trekking Centre
Capel Y Ffin, Abergavenny 01873 890215
Llanthony Pony Trekking
Llangenny Trekking Centre 01873 810329
Llangorse Activity Centre
Mountain and Water Canoe Hire, Navigation and Orienteering
2 Upper Cwm Nant Garn, Llanelli Hill, Gilwern 01873 831825
Mountain Mayhem Leisure Pursuits
Raglan Garden Centre
Old Abergavenny Road, Raglan 01291 690751
Talybont Outdoor Pursuits Centre
Station Road, Talybont-on-Usk 01874 676648
Tregoyd Mountain Riders
