Merlin's Oak

Merlin's Oak stood for centuries at the corner of Oak Lane and Priory Street in the centre of Carmarthen — Caerfyrddin, the fort of Myrddin, the town that bears Merlin's name. It was a dead tree, or nearly dead, preserved in a cage of iron railings long after it ceased to be botanically interesting, because the tradition attached to it was too serious to ignore.

The prophecy, attributed to Merlin himself, was simple and absolute: When Merlin's Oak shall tumble down, Then shall fall Carmarthen town. The oak was damaged on several occasions — a branch was removed in the 1850s during road improvements, and for years the trunk was held together with metal bands — and each time there were reported local accidents or floods. The town absorbed these events without taking them as conclusive proof either way.

In 1978 the stump was finally removed entirely, to make way for road works. Within hours, or within days depending on the account, Carmarthen flooded. The event was widely reported and widely argued over. The remains of the tree are preserved in Carmarthen County Museum, where they can be seen. The town has not flooded catastrophically since, which either refutes the prophecy or suggests the museum is doing its job.