Ifor Bach's Treasure

Ifor Bach. or Ifor the Small, was Lord of Senghenydd. Though slight in stature he had a heart of oak and his daring was the debate of the land. Ifor’s warpaths against the wicked Normans were fabled in his own time and the poor Cymry gave their last pennies to sponsor their hero’s sallies.

Ifor built a fortress deep in the forest above Tongwynlais, the hamlet of the Holy Mound. Below this stronghold an underground passage led to a vault which cwtched Ifor’s coffers; and to guard his treasure, he chained three enormous eagles to the chests. So dark was their plumage that they were one with the sunless and starless crypt and their sleepless eyes flickered like torches in the gloom.

Ifor Bach’s treasure has remained in its hiding place for eight centuries, mostly forgotten but sometimes sought.

About ten score yesteryears ago, a band of brigands decided to swipe Ifor’s loot for themselves. Armed to the teeth with pistols they entered the Prince’s cubby and groped forward, blind as beetles, until three pairs of embers smouldered in the dark.

All of a doodah, the bounty-hunters fired at the birds but the bullets rattled harmlessly against their feathered breastplates. The eagles attacked the trespassers with furious beak and claw and deserted by their pluck, the intruders scuttled to safety. The birds flapped their huge wings in triumph, hooting their hurrahs.

No-one has since dared to plunder Ifor’s purse and the treasure will surely remain until the Lord of Senghenydd returns to lead his Welsh braves to battle again.

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