As a small boy, I used to live a stones trow away from the picture postcard village of Merthyr Mawr and I used to walk my dog across the sand dunes of Candleston on pretty much a daily basis. I always knew there was a settlement buried under the sand but knew very little about it. So I decided the time had come for a thorough investigation and you will be amazed by the stories that uncovered. It was so good I had to make a film about it.
candleston is part of the second largest dune system in Europe, but that’s not all there is to it. In the medieval period it was buzzing.
In 1320 it was described as a farming village surrounded by 200 acres of prime agricultural land. It was also on a major pilgrimage route with a unique connection to a miracle that put it on the map. The De Cantaloupe family owned Candleston and lived in Candleston Court. In fact the village was named after them.
When a member of the family was made a saint for the miracle of the resurrection of William Cragh it put the place on the map. The story of Candleston is an incredible one. It is a story of a lost village, featuring a saint, a miracle, a freedom fighter, a wizard and a wayward inn keepers wife. To say nothing of melons, the Le Mans 24hr and a castle that isn’t a castle. And lots and lots of sand.
Hope you enjoy the film. Just click the image below to watch in full.
These stories and countless others like them, all from Glamorgan, are captured in my book “More Legends and Folklore from Barry, Bridgend and the Vale. Just click to buy your copy or buy from Amazon on this link.
