Mystery as ‘Excalibur’ stolen from lake stone
A“SWORD in the stone” inspired by King Arthur’s Excalibur has been stolen after being mysteriously pulled from its lakeside home.
The sword was fixed into the stone with cement next to Llangorse Lake in the Brecon Beacons as a tourist attraction.
But the black metal sword has gone missing after being pulled from the stone – and with no-one yet claiming responsibility nor the rightful King’s crown.
The iron sword was firmly placed in a stone as a popular tourist attraction for people visiting the lake.
It is one of the locations mooted for Camelot in the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Brecon Beacons National Park Authority said no-one had been arrested – and it is baffled by the theft.
Garnett Davies, owner of the Lakeside Caravan Park and boat hire at Llangorse Lake, installed the sword in the stone more than two years ago.
The iron sword was placed in a rock beside the lake which was once home to the ancient kings of Brycheiniog.
He went to open up the viewing centre on Sunday morning – and the sword had gone.
Mr Davies said: “We want it back. It was crafted specially by a blacksmith and cost several hundred pounds.
“The whole purpose is for kids to have a go at it, and every now and again I have had to be bend it straight but perhaps over time it has fractured. The kids will miss it more than anyone but if it doesn’t show up I’ll just have to have another one made. But I’d like it back so the kids can have a bit of fun with it.”
County councillor Emily Durrant said the community “really misses it”.
She said she was “pretty convinced” it was nobody local – and they had “suspicions” about a group that visited the lakeside on Saturday evening.
Local photographer Adam TattonReid, who used a photo of the sword for a Brecon Beacons national park brochure, started a crowdfunder to raise money for a replacement sword if the original was not found. More than £500 has already been raised.
He said: “With little information to go on, it’s unlikely that the sword can be tracked down.
“It would be wonderful if the community and people who have enjoyed the sword could come together and donate to the custodians of the sword to allow them to replace it with a new sword without having to find it themselves again.”