'Samuel Meyrick seems to have been the first to allude to this large slab, set on a masonry plinth in the square of Llanbadarn village, but without attaching particular antiquarian significance to it. He records that 'an immense stone still remains in the centre of the village, but this has of late been broken by some wicked boys making a bonfire on it'. This information is enhanced by the depiction on an unpublished map of 1810 by William Couling of a large stone on supporting uprights. It was noted in successive editions of T.O. Morgan's guidebook to Aberystwyth, of which the first in 1848 states that 'in the centre of the open square are the two fragments of a large slab of stone, whence the crier used to proclaim all matters of public interest. It formerly stood upon pillars of the same material, but being fractured by the kindling of a bonfire upon it some years ago, it was afterwards placed upon a foundation of masonry'. George Eyre Evans referred to Garreg Fawr as 'the huge top stone of the Cromlech which, within memory in 1899, used to stand on four legs.'

Extract from Davies, J. L. and Kirby, D. P. eds., 1994. Cardiganshire County History. Volume 1, From the earliest times to the coming of the Normans. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, pages 117-8.

The stone now stands on a plinth, with a plaque mounted with the inscription ' Y Garreg Fawr: This ancient structure belongs to the Powells of Nanteos as Lords of the Manor of Llanbadarn Fawr'.

The tomb occupies the opening of a steep minor stream valley into the main lower valley of the Afon Rheidol, backed by rising ground, and would once have commanded an alluvial terrace; the location was later adopted by the early Christian church.

Visited by T. Driver, RCAHMW, 15th November 2007.