The foundations of Gwern-y-Cleppa, the palace of Ivor Hael, have been
traced around a tree in Cleppa Park. Although it has been termed a
palace, I think it more likely to have been something of a manor
house, for Ivor was the younger son of a younger son, and therefore
not likely to have had very large possessions. Ivor's generous nature
has been well depicted by his celebrated bard, Dafydd ap Gwilym.
I have read in a book an account of an incident which tradition
alleges took place near the spot on which we are standing. This was a
contest between Dafydd and his rival bard, Rhys Meigan. Dafydd's
shafts of satire overwhelmed his opponent, who fell dead--the victim
of ridicule.
_Cardiff Naturalists' Visit to Gwern-y-Cleppa,
May 10th, 1893._