St. Nectan's Glen
St Nectan (c. AD 468-510)
The eldest of the Children of King Brychan Brycheiniog.
May be brother to St Juliet/Juliana
His feast day is 17th June.
The waterfall is a straight drop of 40ft, when it is caught in a basin and emerges through a hole before falling a futher 10ft to a shallow pool
To the left is a broad ledge - possible an ceremonial platform
St Nectan sailed from Wales to Hartland Point, Devon. At Stoke St. Nectan near Hartland, there is a valley with a spring. He built a little church and a hermitage, forty paces away and lived there many years. He helped the poor people throughout Devon, Cornwall and Brittany. He once helped a swineherd find his lost pigs and, in return, was given two cows who provided his daily needs. Many of St Nectan's siblings followed him from Wales and were instrumental in evangelizing the southwest. St Nectan was their leader and every New Year's Eve they met at Hartland.
St Nectan's two cows were stolen. He tracked them to New Stoke, took them back and tried to convert his persecutors to Christianity. The bandits repaid him by cutting off his head. It is said that St Nectan picked up his head and returned to his chapel at Stoke. The date was 17th June AD 510. His body was moved to a different shrine in the 1030s and later looked after by the Austin Canons who built an Abbey nearby.
He is also said to have had a well the Well of Segais (also known as Conlai’s Well). Nine hazel trees of wisdom grew over it and the haze; nuts which was a rich crimson colour fell into the well causing bubbles of mystic inspiration.
Only he and his three cup bearers were allowed to draw water from the well
Nectan is thought to be of Irish origin "Neachtan" or "Nuadu" which is connected to the Welsh "Nudd" (pronounced Neath) or Lludd Llaw Ereint (the Silver-Handed) King of the Underworld and related to the Arthur of Irish literature "Nu-ardu Necht". Also related to the names " Knighton", the Latin - "Natanus", British "Nodens" and the English- "Nathan". It is also said to relate to the Dagda
Nechtan was Irish God of wisdom. A water-spirit, He was associated with a sacred Well within which live the Salmon of Knowledge. His name means to be “clean”, “pure” or “white”
Nodens was A God of healing and water. River god of the Severn estuary in southwest Britain.
Nectan settled there about 500 AD and built his sanctuary next to the Trevillet River (Its older name is Millcombe River), just above the waterfall and kieve (Kieve is the Cornish word for basin).
Legend tells that behind the chapel was a tower in which a silver bell hung. It use is not known for sure but it is thought it was to warn sailors of the rocks, to summon help for stricken vessels from the monastery or simple to let sailors know he was praying for them.
Towards the end of his life, the newer Roman faiths and the older Celtic faiths were in conflict with each other. St. Nectan prophesied that the older faiths would return and vowing that the bell should never ring for non-believers threw the bell into the basin where it vanished from sight. It is said at times the bell still can be heard, and that hearing it is a sign of ill omen.
After Nectan died two women believed to be his sisters went to live there. Acting on Nectan’s orders they placed his body, sacramental vessels and treasures in an oak box. They diverted the river and dug a grave on the riverbed below the kieve and buried the chest, before the river reverted back to its original course and flowed over his grave.
In the 18th centaury a group of quarrymen tried to recover the box, as they were about to set their charges the sound of the bell was a heard and a voice said "The Child is not yet born who shall recover this treasure". After this the search was discontinued.
The sisters lived isolated lives away from their neighbours and eating wild berries, roots and fish that they could find. After they died locals buried the sisters together under a flat stone, which lies, in the valley a short distance from the falls.
It is said they are the two grey ladies who haunt nearby "Genver Lane"
After that the Chapel fell into ruins. In 1860 a two-roomed cottage was built on the site. The derelict walls, which are three foot thick, were used for the lower parts of the walls, the upper part being made of timber. The rest of the house as it is seen today was built in 1900.
Many legends link the kieve and hermitage with King Arthur and his knights. It is said to be the place were men became Knights by passing through the lower circle to be reborn again cleansed in the pool below. The glen is said to be haunted by monks, mocking laughter and music.
Knight stand with their heads bowed in the kieve-they searched for the holy grail. The king stands on the bridge of rock above the torrent.
The traditional offering to Nechtan is a silver coin.
The path down to it is thought to be a processional path and the glen itself is said to be a fairy glen.
St Nectan's Glen has been linked as Celliweg
At nearby Trethevy stands King Arthur's Quoit
Rocky valley has a carving of a labyrinth dated to 1500BC (the one of the left, the one on the right is a newer copy). Until 1948 they were obscured by vegetation. They are also known as Troy stones. The old mill there was used to make blankets and yarns
There are a number of Holy wells in the area and the Round table of the King Arthur is said to be buried at Bossiney
Trethevy though a small place is said to have had its own courthouse and gibbet or gallows. The gibbet was said to be on the road near the hedge that marks the border between Trevalga and Trethevy.
The manor house in Trethevy use to have a plaster rose surrounded by a circle on the ceiling. It was said to be a symbol of conspiracies and plots and that what was discussed there mustn't be talked about away from there, "Sub rosa"
A Roman granite pillar found in the hamlet bears the inscription "C DOMIN GALLO ET VOLUS" meaning "For the Emperor Ceasars our Lords Gallus and Valusian"
