The earliest mention of a battle at Mwnt beach is in ‘The History and Antiquities of the County of Cardiganshire’ by S R Meyrick published in 1810. In it he states that: “In this parish is a farm called Nant y Flynion, which takes its name from the Flemings having landed at a beach near a small brook just by. The desperate resistance they met with is confirmed by a large heap by this farm near the sea, composed of bones of the invaders, which frequently now appear, as the wind disperses the sand in which they are buried. This mound of sand is very near Mwnt Church, and the tradition is that the Flemings having landed on a small beach called Traeth y Mwnt, were met by the natives, where a bloody battle ensued on the first Sunday after new year’s day …”

Kelly’s Directory of South Wales (1895) states that: “Near Ty Newydd farm, and about 200 yards south-east of the church is a longitudinal barrow or tumulus known as “Beddau’r Flemin (the Flemings’ graves), and said to indicate the burial place of part of a body of Flemish invaders …” The date of the battle is not known for certain but is thought to have occurred during the period known as The Anarchy when in 1136 Welsh leaders took advantage of the civil war that embroiled England and Normandy and rose in revolt.

The death of Rhys ap Tewdwr, king of Deheubarth in battle in Brecon in 1093 left southern Wales open to Norman conquest. The area was secured by castles including the major fortifications at Pembroke and Cardigan on the coast. By 1108 Flemish settlers from Flanders had set up communities along the river Cleddau in south Pembrokeshire. 1136 was a tumultuous year in southern Wales. 0n 1st January the Normans suffered a defeat at the Battle of Lougher but were later victorious at the Battle of Kidwelly (Maes Gwenllian). The execution of Princess Gwenllian at Kidwelly and the ambush and killing of Richard fitz Gilbert de Clare on his journey from Llanthony Priory to his castle at Cardigan led Owain Gwynedd and his brother Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd to seek revenge for the death of their sister. They invaded southwards along the coast from their stronghold in Gwynedd and defeated the Norman army outside Cardigan at Crug Mawr in Sept/Oct of that year. It is conjectured that the Fleming mercenaries were used to regain Ceredigion from Owain Gwynedd. To have landed at Mwnt beach they would have had to sail northwards from their bases along the river Cleddau. Mwnt at that time would have been a busy port with connections to the sea and Ireland. It was an ideal location from where they could start a counterattack. A routeway led directly from Mwnt to Owain Gwynedd’s castles at Blaenporth and Castell Pridd, only a few miles away. It would also have served as a good base for moving further up the coast. The Society is grateful for the research and information provided by our Research Officer Dr John Davies.