There are a number of legends that describe the birth of Llyn Tegid or Bala Lake.
One story concerns a well – Ffynnon Gower
Ffynnon Gower or Gower’s Well was situated in the old town of Bala. A long time ago the well was considered to be sacred and the abode of a guardian spirit or goddess who insisted that a lid was put in place each evening at nightfall. To please the spirit, a guardian of the well was given the task by the townsfolk and it was his responsibility to ensure that the cover was always put on .
One night after he had been celebrating a festival and drinking a lot of beer the guardian forgot to put the lid on the well. While everyone was sleeping the water poured out of the well. It seeped under doors and into people’s homes. The townsfolk wakened and feared the town was sinking under the escaping water. They rushed outside to see what was happening. They quickly traced the source of the water to the well, from which water was gushing out like a fountain.
They tried in vain to put the lid on, even weighing it down, but the fountain was too powerful.Iit refused to be controlled and kept forcing the lid off. They called for guardian who had neglected his duty to place the lid on before nightfall but they discovered that he had run off in fear, and it was said he was drowned by the rising water.
Realising they could not do anything to stop the well water flooding the town they ran to the highest hill to wait for the dawn. When dawn came they looked out to where the old town of Bala had once been but all they could see was a huge stretch of water. To this day the old town lies submerged beneath the lake which is now called Bala Lake or Llyn Tegid.
Another legend of the birth of Bala Lake concerns Tegid Foel
According to this legend underneath the lake lies the old town of Bala which was once ruled by a wicked prince named Tegid Foel. Tegid Foel had a wife called Ceridwen. They lived in a palace in the town in great opulence. Tegid was known for his cruelty. His advisers gave him numerous warnings that justice and vengeance would be served on him, but he steadfastly refused to change his ways.
Vengeance will come!
At the birth of his first grandson, Tegid Foel held a great celebratory banquet. He invited many important guests and family members from all over Wales to celebrate. He ordered the finest food and wine and to entertain his guests and hired the best bard, harpist and singer in Wales. As the wine began to flow the harper took up his harp and sang songs to entertain the prince’s guests. Every now and then as he was singing the harper thought he heard a small voice behind him which he thought said, “Vengeance will come!”.
At first he thought he must be hearing things but gradually he began to hear the voice again and knew what it said. Startled he looked around and saw a small bird watching him. “Vengeance will come!” said the bird and it seemed to the harper that it wanted him to follow it. Slipping away from the celebrations he followed the bird out of the palace and up to the highest hill overlooking the town.
The bird sang to the Harper who fell into a deep sleep on hearing the song. When he awoke he saw that the town of Bala and the palace of the prince were completely submerged under a great lake of water. All he could see was his harp floating on the water. Rescuing it from the cold lake he made his way home with great gratitude in his heart for the small bird that had saved him.
Local folklore tells that boatmen and those walking near the water’s edge, can still ,at times hear a small voice saying, “Vengeance will come, vengeance will come!” and another asking, “When will it come?” and the first voice answers, “In the third generation, in the third generation!”
