One story says Govan was an
Irish monk who travelled to Wales late in life to seek the friends and family of the
abbot who had trained him, variously identified as
Saint David Another story identifies Govan with
Gawain, one of
King Arthur's
Knights of the Round Table;. In
gratitude, he decided to stay on along the cliff, The present small vaulted
chapel of local limestone was built over the cave and dates from the 13th century although the site may have been of monastic importance since the 5th century. St Govan may be identified with Sir Gawain, one of
King Arthur's knights, who entered into a state of retreat in his later years. Originally, Govan caught fish and took water from two nearby springs. Both are now dry; one was where the medieval chapel now stands, the other, which was lower down the cliff, later became a
holy well. A legend says St Govan's hand prints are imprinted on the floor of his cave and his body is buried under the chapel's
altar. The cave was once a popular place for making
wishes.
The Bell Rock Another legend regarding St Govan concerns his silver bell. He is supposed to have kept the bell in the tower of the chapel. When the bell pealed, its sound was of perfect tone and clarity. But pirates who heard the sound left St Govan desolate when they stole the bell. Angels flew in and took it from the pirates and returned it to the hermit. To stop the pirates returning and taking it again, the angels encased the bell in a huge stone, that is, the Bell Rock which is found at the water's edge. The legend said that when St Govan "rang" the stone, its vigour had become a thousand times stronger. ==References==