Quest for the Dragon
Celtic Myth & Welsh Storytelling
April 22-29, 1999
at Old Gwernyfed Manor
in the Hills of Wales
with Robert Béla Wilhelm & Mary Jo
Kelly Wilhelm
The stories and traditions arise out of the Welsh landscape
itself. We have therefore chosen two areas that are most strongly
rooted in the Celtic traditions of the Cauldron, and the medieval
traditions of the Grail: the ancient Welsh kingdoms of Powys
and Gwent in South Wales.
This is the landscape that gave rise to the oldest stories
of the Grail. Here, in pre-historic times the Bronze-age people
crafted vessels that reflected the bounty of the earth. The bronze
vessels of plenty -- valued for themselves and for what they bore
-- became the artistic symbols of the very mystery of life itself.
The cauldron as a metaphor for the great womb of the earth became
a powerful image for the storytellers of ancient times.
The earliest Celtic stories of the Cauldron and Grail can
be found in the medieval epic called the Mabinogion (pronounced
MAB-eh-no-ghee-on.) Three of the four major parts, or "branches"
will be recited by Robert Bela Wilhelm; Kelly Wilhelm will recite
The Fourth Branch, in 16th-century Old Gwernyfed Manor.
The Mabinogion was undoubtedly recited here in ancient times,
in the Celtic long house that stood on this site for centuries,
long before the building of the Elizabethan manor house 400 years
ago.
Stories of Dragons, the Wooing of Olwen, the Magic of Ceridwen
and Taliesin, and the mysterious Owen Glendower will fill the
days. Parsifal's Grail Quest will round off the other two evenings
of storytelling in the Banquet Hall of Old Gwernyfed Manor.
OUR ITINERARY
Thursday, April 22
We assemble in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, where our private
coach meets us in the afternoon at 3 p.m. We drive through the
Welsh valleys for tea at Old Gwernyfed Manor. This evening is
the telling of one of the oldest Dragon stories in Britain: Lludd
and Lleuelys.
Friday, April 23
This morning we explore Old Gwernyfed manor with our host,
Roger Beetham. A resident of the house for over 30 years, Roger
will give us an insider's view of the architecture, art, history,
and legends of his home. Afternoon visit to Hereford Cathedral.
And a visit to the Dragon's Pool in the Hereford countryside.
Evening story is the "First Branch" of the Mabinogion
-- the Romance of Lord Pwyll and Lady Rhiannon, an allegory on
Time & Eternity.
Saturday, April 24
We explore the Roman Legionnary amphitheatre called the Round
Table, at Caerleon. We drive to nearby Caerwent to explore the
well-preserved walls of the ancient Roman City. Lunch near Tintern
Abbey, the magnificent Cistercian Abbey immortalized by the poet
William Wordsworth. A tour of the Abbey and a drive through the
scenic Wye River valley. Evening story is the "Second Branch"
of The Mabinogion -- the Sorrows of Bronwen and the Loss of the
Cauldron.
Sunday, April 25
Morning departure for Hay-on-Wye with options of a variety
of church services or a lovely walk along the River Wye. Lunch
is at Hay-on-Wye, and in the afternoon we explore this ancient
market-town with its numerous antiquarian bookstores and interesting
shops. Tonight is the telling of the "Third Branch"
of the Mabinogion -- the story of Manawyddan and the Enchantment
of Wales.
Monday, April 26
A morning visit to Llanthony Abbey and the legend of the Knight
in the Wood. Nearby we visit Partrishow where Gerald and Baldwin
preached the Crusade to Welsh farmers, and then have lunch in
the Welsh market town of Abergavenny. An afternoon visit to Abbey
Dore and its legends of Jack O' Kent. This evening is time for
the "Fourth Branch" of the Mabinogion -- the tale of
Blodeuedd, the woman made of flowers.
Tuesday, Apil 27
In the morning we visit Little Doward and King Arthur's Cave.
Here are legends of the Sleeping Arthur, ready to awake when Britain
is endangered. Lunch in historic Monmouth. Followed by a late
afternoon visit to Kilpeck Church, a gem of Norman art rich in
stone carvings with Celtic and Nordic themes. A visit to Arthur's
Stone, a magalithic tomb 5000 years old, for storytelling. More
Welsh stories tonight in the Banquet Hall, with a surprise story
from ancient Celtic tradition.
Wednesday, April 28
Today we visit Tretower Castle & Court, and hear the stories
of these ancient dwellings from Norman to Elizabethan times.
Afternoon visit to storytelling in the west at Carreg Cennen.
Final evening of storytelling around the Hearth at Old Gwernyfed
Manor.
Thursday, April 29
Morning departure after breakfast from Old Gwernyfed Manor
and through the Welsh valleys for Cardiff and its rail, bus, and
car rental connections. Travelers to continue on their journeys,
or return homewards.
A Note on Our Lodgings s Old Gwernyfed Manor is a small historic
hotel, and we occupy all the rooms. This means that the atmosphere
will be that of a "house party" rather than a public
hotel. However, it also means that you may perhaps have to share
a room. Rooms in these hotels are not-identical, but are all well-appointed
and unique. We are assigning rooms on a first-come basis, so we
advise early booking.
Old Gweryfed Manor
Gwernyfed, the great Celtic longhouse home for a Welsh chieftain
and his clan, was modernized in 1590. Three wings were added
to the house, transforming its shape from the letter "I"
to the letter "E", in honour of Elizabeth, the reigning
Queen s She would have been pleased to see the great spiral staircase
newly built around the huge oaken post. The oak was a mast from
a ship of the wrecked Spanish Armada, washed up on the Welsh shore
s William Shakespeare delighted in some of the other wood in the
house: he carved a cryptic message on the oaken Minstrel's Screen.
It was correctly deciphered only a few years ago by a British
Intelligence officer who was staying at Old Gwernyfed Manor
s Roger and Dawn Beetham inherited the house from Roger's parents,
who themselves began the extensive renovation and restoration
decades ago. It is our home for six nights.
REGISTRATION
Cost is $2595. Reservations: A non-refundable $300 is due
with registration. Additional $900 is due January 1, and the
balance is due February 15. Cancellations: Full refund (except
deposit) before February 1. 50% refund until March 1. No refund
after March 1. What Is Included: Overnight lodgings (shared room)
for seven nights, all breakfasts & evening dinners, local
ground transportation, all admissions, seminar lectures, guided
tours & storytellings. What Is Not Included: Airfare, ground
connections to Cardiff, lunches & teas, alcohol, laundry,
tips for housekeepers and bus driver, telephone calls, trip
insurance & items of a personal nature.
Please note: We recommend trip insurance, should an illness
or emergency force you to cancel your trip or return early.
Ask your travel agent for details.
Responsibility and Liability
Storyfest and its agents shall not be responsible nor liable
for any injury, damage, loss, accident, expense, nor delay beyond
their control. Storyfest serves only "as agents" for
travel agencies, motorcoaches, hotels, restaurants, historic sites,
tourist guides and offices, and other contractors. Storyfest has
no financial arrangements, and accepts no liability whatsoever,
with any airline carrier; all airline ticketing is the sole responsibility
of your travel agent. Travel delays by airlines or bus companies
are the sole responsibility of the airlines and bus companies.
Storyfest reserves the right to cancel the seminar at any time
before departure, to refuse to accept or retain any person as
a member of the seminar at any time, and to make changes in published
itineraries when, in their sole judgment, such conditions warrant
or are deemed necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety
of seminar participants. If the seminar is canceled by Storyfest,
all fees for the land portion only, including all deposits, will
be refunded to the registrants. However, Storyfest shall bear
no liability nor responsibility for airline tickets or supplemental
travel arrangements purchased by the registrant. If an individual
is not retained for the entire seminar, the unused portion of
the seminar fees will be refunded. Registrants must inform Storyfest
of any and all medical conditions that may be relevant. There
is some light to moderate walking required on some travel seminars.
Registration
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Quest for the Dragon:
Celtic Myth & Welsh Storytelling
Wales · April 22-29, 1999 · Deposit Enclosed:
$300
Return to: Storyfest Journeys
18934 Rolling Road, Hagerstown MD 21742
phone: 301-791-9153 or 800-277-7035
fax: 301-739-2779 or 800-619-7577
A storyfest group in Wales, after visiting King Arthur's Cave
for on-site storytelling, stops to view the winding Wye River
Valley before continuing on for afternoon tea.
Our friend Clive at the entrance booth to
Tretower Castle. Clive has often led walking tours for our group,
and also has come to our lodgings to entertain us. He tells Welsh
stories in front of the fireplace in the medieval banquet hall
of Old Gwernyfed Manor.
Gwernyfed, the great Celtic longhouse home for a Welsh chieftain
and his clan, was modernized in 1590. Three wings were added to
the house, transforming its shape from the letter "I"
to the letter "E", in honour of Elizabeth, the reigning
Queen.
She would have been pleased to see the great spiral staircase
newly built around the huge oaken post. The oak was a mast from
a ship of the wrecked Spanish Armada, washed up on the Welsh shore.
William Shakespeare delighted in some of the other wood in the
house: he carved a cryptic message on the oaken Minstrel's Screen.
It was correctly deciphered only a few years ago by a British
Intelligence officer who was staying at Old Gwernyfed Manor, as
it is now called.
Roger and Dawn Beetham inherited the house from Roger's parents,
who themselves began the extensive renovation and restoration
decades ago. It is our home for six nights.
Celtic Cauldron & Holy
Grail
The bards gathered at Old Gwernyfed manor 500 years ago told the
story of the great Cauldron. How it came to Wales from Ireland,
and how it was lost to Ireland again. How it provided food and
bounty. How it gave Life to those who were dead.
The tale of the Cauldron mingled with the story of the Cup of
the Last Supper, which ancient legend held was brought to Britain
by Joseph of Arimathea. And in the great castles & longhouses
of Wales the bards from Wales and Brittany forged the medieval
epic of the Quest for the Grail, perhaps the central myth of Western
civilization.
Sir Parsifal's quest began in the Welsh hills while he still went
by his Welsh name of Peredur. Here in the Welsh valleys along
the banks of the sacred River Wye, we enter into the tale of the
innocent Parsifal, the wounded Fisher King, and the Grail Maiden
who was so Beautiful and so Hideous to behold.
Most of all, there is the Question of the Grail. What exactly
was it? And what could it do for those who found it? Where is
it now? Hidden? or Found?
The Mysterious Owen Glendower
When the Anglo-Saxons conquered most of Britan, the native Roman-Celtic
population was pushed back into the mountains of Wales. Here,
their culture flowered in medieval times, but the encroachment
of the English was steady and unrelenting. In 1400, Owen Glendower
-- Owain Glyndwr in Welsh -- rallied the Welsh people and for
a brief but glorious time ruled an independent Wales as their
final prince.
Though defeated by the English, Glendower was never captured,
and it was rumoured that he lived in hiding near Old Gwernyfed
Manor. And so he disappeared from history much as King Arthur
had done -- with no recorded death. Glendower became a an incarnation
of Arthur, and people waited for the next one.
In the same area of the Welsh Marches where Glendower has disappeared,
there arose an alchemist, magician, poet and clergyman called
Jack of Kentchurch. Wonderful folktales of his exploits abound
in the Welsh Marches where he now has the name of Jack o' Kent.
Half Arthur and half Merlin, Jack o' Kent keeps alive the hope
in a once and future king.
There are no required readings for our journey. There are some
fascinating books that may help you enjoy the trip more fully.
Some of our favorites are:
-- Celtic Heritage by Alwyn Rees and
Brinley Ree (paperback, Thames & Hudson)
-- Welsh Legends and Fairy Lore by D. Parry Jones (hardcover,
B. T. Batsford, Ltd.)
-- Celtic Fairy Tales, collected by Joseph Jacobs (paperback,
The Bodley Head)
-- Green Man by William Anderson & Clive Hicks (paperback,
Harper San Francisco)
-- People of the Black Mountains by Raymond Williams (paperback,
Paladin)
-- On the Black Hill a novel by Bruce Chatwin
(paperback, Picador)
Our friend Clive at the entrance booth to Tretower Castle. Clive has often led walking tours for our group, and also has come to our lodgings to entertain us. He tells Welsh stories in front of the fireplace in the medieval banquet hall of Old Gwernyfed Manor.
