Twm Siôn Cati

Here’s a blog post from Padrig about Twm Siôn Cati, a 16th century Welsh folklore figure who is often dubbed the Welsh Robin Hood. Enjoy!

Who Was Twm Siôn Cati?

Twm Siôn Cati is often presented as a Welsh counterpart to Robin Hood, yet the mixture of fact and folklore surrounding him is more nuanced than the familiar outlaw image.

The man behind the name was Thomas Jones (1532–1609), born near Tregaron in Cardiganshire. His mother, Catherine (Cati) Jones, provided the nickname that has endured. As a young man he attracted a reputation for troublesome behaviour and minor offences, this lies behind the royal pardon he received in 1559, which shows he had come to official attention, though the evidence does not support the later, more elaborate tales of wrongdoing.

One story that helped secure his place in Welsh tradition involves a farmer determined to catch him. In the tale, Twm disguised himself as a beggar near his mother’s home. When the farmer arrived asking after him, the “beggar” offered to hold the man’s horse and whip. Twm then rode straight to the farmer’s house, convinced the wife he was delivering the horse on her husband’s behalf, collected a reward, and vanished. Whether true or not, the episode shows how his reputation for quick thinking and audacity took hold.

Other tales follow similar lines: Twm outwitting travellers or local figures through wit rather than force, evading capture, or seeking refuge at a cave on the slopes of Dinas Hill. According to tradition, he hid there during times of pursuit.

This cave, known as Ogof Twm Siôn Cati, can still be visited today. It lies within the Gwenffrwd-Dinas Nature Reserve, an area noted for its steep wooded valleys, riverside paths and striking rock formations. A marked walking route leads to the cave, and the surrounding landscape is regarded as one of the most attractive stretches of upland Carmarthenshire. Inside the cave are numerous carved names, the earliest believed to date from the early eighteenth century.

A large part of Twm’s modern image comes from the nineteenth century. His exploits were greatly embellished by T. J. Llewelyn Prichard, whose book The Adventures and Vagaries of Twm Shon Catti shaped much of the folklore now attached to his name. Prichard’s version added drama, humour and invention, turning scattered local tales into the lively figure recognised today.

The historical Thomas Jones, however, did not remain on the margins of society. He was literate, interested in genealogy and antiquarian study, and gained the respect of his contemporaries. He owned land, married into an established family, and eventually served as steward of the Lordship of Caron, a role that required reliability, judgement and local standing. Surviving manuscripts suggest he spent his later years engaged in careful historical and genealogical work.

Twm Siôn Cati endures in Welsh memory because the stories surrounding him reflect ingenuity, resilience and a certain mischievous spirit. Yet behind the folklore stands a real man whose life moved from youthful disorder to responsibility and community involvement, leaving a legacy that belongs to both history and legend

It should be noted that there is no evidence that Twm ever gave anything to the poor.

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