Aber Alaw facts for kids
Aber Alaw is a special place in North Wales, located on the island of Anglesey. Its name comes from the Welsh language and means "Mouth of the Alaw," because it's where the Afon Alaw river meets the sea. This area is famous for its beautiful scenery and its connection to ancient Welsh legends.
According to the Mabinogion, a collection of old Welsh stories, Aber Alaw is where a sad event took place. It's said that Queen Branwen, a legendary figure, died here. She had escaped a terrible war in Ireland and landed at a place called Talebolyon with seven other survivors from Britain. When she saw the coasts of both Ireland and Britain, she was overcome with sadness. She blamed herself for all the destruction and died of a broken heart.
Queen Branwen's Grave
Not far from Aber Alaw, near a village called Llanddeusant, Anglesey, you can find a place believed to be Queen Branwen's grave. It's called Bedd Branwen, which means "Branwen's Grave." This site is an ancient stone mound, known as a cairn.
What is a Cairn?
A cairn is a pile of stones built as a monument or a landmark. Bedd Branwen is now mostly in ruins, but one tall standing stone still remains.
Archaeological Discoveries
People have explored Bedd Branwen over the years. In 1800, and again in the 1960s, archaeologists dug into the cairn. During these digs, a researcher named Frances Lynch found several urns. These urns were pots that contained human ashes, suggesting the site was indeed a burial place.
Aberalaw in Fiction
The name "Aberalaw" was also used in a famous book called "The Citadel" by A.J. Cronin. In this story, "Aberalaw" is the name of an imaginary town in South Wales. It's a fictional setting, not the real Aber Alaw in Anglesey.
