VOL. XIX. (2) EXCURSION— MONMOUTH AND TRELLECH 
91 
HIC FUIT VICTOR HARALD 
another allusion to the supposed combat. 
On the thii'd side is cut 
MAXIMA FONTE 
and a carving of the famous drinking well of Trellech, and two cups, under 
which is the inscription 
DOM. MAGD. PROBERT OSTENDIT 
The Vicar’s reading of the various inscriptions is that the Parish was 
held to be great in regard to its tumulus, greater on account of its monolithic 
stones, but greatest of all for its well, which was prized for the healing power 
of its waters. 
Leaving the Church, the Vicar drew attention to the remaining portions 
ol a cross, consisting of the base standing on five steps and part of the shaft, 
and near this is a very massive stone, some eight feet long, resting on two up- 
right stones, about which nothing seems to be known. 
Near the Church is “ The Mound,” formerly considered the burial place 
(as the inscription on the sundial records) of men slain in battle when Harold 
was victorious, and by some held to have druidical associations, but well- 
known Welsh archaeologists have pronounced it to be a good specimen of a 
moated mound. It is 17 yards in diameter, and has been well preserved. 
Coxe, in his History of Monmouthshire (1801) states that a castle was erected 
here by one of the Clares. In the Patent Rolls (Henry III., 1258-66, p. 242) 
is the following entry; — 
Feb. 4, 1263. Mandate issued to Humphrey de Bohun Earl of 
Hereford, of the lands late of Richard de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, who 
died in 1262, to deliver to Maud, Countess of Gloucester, the manor of 
Usk, the manor of Trellech, with the fortalice, conveyed to her in dower. 
Before leaving the earth-work, Mr. T. S. Ellis referred to Mr Buckman’s 
suggestion {Proceedings, vol. xiii., p. 32) that in the process of time the stream 
flowing at Trellech might cut back to the Wye, and, having diverted the 
course of that river, leave the Chepstow Gorge in much the same condition 
as that of Cheddar. He pointed out the difficulties which would have to be 
overcome to make such a change. 
Time did not permit close inspection of the ‘‘Three Stones,” though 
these were well seen from the farmyard below ‘‘ The Mound.” They are 
monoliths of red sandstone conglomerate, or ‘‘ pudding-stone,” their measure- 
ments being given by Colonel Bradney as 8 ft. 10 in., 10 ft. 4 in., and 14 ft. 2 in. 
respectively. The space between the first and the second is fifteen feet, and 
between the second and the third, eighteen feet. They have been claimed 
as druidical and said to have formed part of a stone circle, but no definite 
conclusions have been arrived at. Locally they are known as ‘‘Harold’s 
Stones,” in allusion to the battle supposed to have been fought by Harold, 
but the tradition cannot be traced earlier than the carving on Lady Probert’s 
sundial. 
Another tradition, cited by Miss Eyre {Folk-Lore, xvi., 164), is that the 
stones were flung from the top of Trellech Beacon by ‘‘ Jacky Kent,” and 
the Devil. The distance is just under one mile, but that appears to have 
been a trifle to Jacky—” he were always a-flinging stones.” 
About half-a-mile from the Church, in a meadow bounding the road to 
Tintem, are the Wells, known as ‘‘St. Anne’s Well” and “The Virtuous 
Well,” and to these the Members walked. The Chalybeate Well is enclosed 
