The Legend of Owain and Nest 

A popular tale associated with Plas Uchaf is that of Owain and Nest. Owain, Prince of Powys at the beginning of the 12th century, became infatuated with his cousin Nest, who was married to Gerald, steward of Pembroke castle. Having heard of the beauty of Nest, Owain visited her at Pembroke castle on the pretext of kinship. He returned with a group of men on the same night, however, and set fire to the castle, intending to kidnap Nest and kill Gerald. Nest made her husband escape through the privy hole, but she was captured by Owain, along with her children, taken to Powys and hidden at his hunting lodge on the site of Plas Uchaf. The kidnap is reported in documents written near to the time. That they hid in a hunting lodge on the site of Plas Uchaf has become part of local folklore.

Plas Uchaf, World's End

 

In 1898 Bradley wrote about Plas Uchaf:- "But it was when the predecessor of the present Tudor house Was the Hafod, or summer retreat, of Cadogan, Prince of Powis and South Wales, that the memorable incident occurred, and think rather of the dare-devil Owen, the son of Cadogan, and the beautiful Nest, popularly known as the " Helen of Wales. ' This lady was the daughter of Rhys ap Tudor, a potent prince in South Wales. Now this was about the year 1106, and Cadogan, who is among the outstanding Princes of Welsh history, though he suffered varied fortunes, was keeping Christmas, and holding a great Eisteddfod in South Wales, to which everybody of distinction flocked. Among the guests came his son Owen, who lived in his father's second kingdom of Powys, and had for a hunting-seat this same Plas Eglwyseg." This would seem to indicate that there was certain knowledge that Plas Uchaf (misnamed by Bradley as Plas Eglwyseg) had belonged to Cadogan and his son Owain.

 

However, the original account of the story, recorded in a manuscript of the Brut y Twysogion around 1330 (Peniarth 20) there is no mention of Plas Uchaf or Eglwyseg - simply that Owain "returned to his land".

The story continues:- . And when the feast was ended, Owain hearing that Nest, daughter of Rhys, son of Tewdwr, and wife of Gerald the steward, was in the castle above mentioned, went, accompanied by a small retinue, to visit her as his kinswoman.

 

 

 

Manuscript of

Brut y Twysogion

 

 

 

 

 

After that, instigated by the devil, he came on a certain night to the castle, having with him a small number, about fourteen persons; and having privately excavated under the threshold, unknown to the keepers of the castle, they got over the wall and the ditch unawares into the castle, where Gerald and Nest were sleeping; and they set up a shout about the castle, and kindled a fire in the surrounding houses to burn them.

Gerald awoke on hearing the shout, not knowing what to do; and then Nest said to him, 'Go not out to the door, for there thy enemies wait for thee; but come and follow me.' And that he did, and she conducted him to a privy, adjoining the castle, whence, it is said, he escaped.

And when Nest knew that he had escaped, she cried and said to the men outside, ' Why call ye out in vain he is not here, whom ye seek; he surely has escaped.' And when they had entered, they searched for him everywhere; and not having found him, they took Nest, with her two sons and daughter, and also another son that he had by a concubine; and spoiled and laid waste the castle. And after burning the castle, and collecting a booty, and having connexion with Nest, Owain returned to his country.

But Cadwgan, his father, was not then in the country; for he had gone to Powys, to pacify those that were at variance, and had separated from Owain. And when Cadwgan became acquainted with that deed, he was sorry and displeased, because of the violation committed upon Nest, the daughter of Rhys, and also for fear king Henry should be enraged at the insult to his steward. Thereupon he returned, and endeavoured to prevail on Owain to restore to Gerald the steward, his wife and spoil; but he did not succeed. Then, through the finesse of the wife, who spoke thus to Owain, 'If thou will have me faithful to thee, and remain with thee, send my children to their father,' he then, from excess of love towards the wife, suffered the children to be returned to the steward.