If you take a stroll through the centre of Carmarthen today, you’re walking over nearly 2,000 years of history. Long before it was the bustling market town we know today, it was Moridunum—a Roman “Sea Fort” established around AD 75.
But while the Romans brought the stone walls and one of only seven surviving amphitheatres in the UK, the town’s real magic is found in its name: Caerfyrddin.
The Legend of the Wizard
The name translates to “Merlin’s Fort.” According to local lore and the 12th-century writings of Geoffrey of Monmouth, this very town was the birthplace of the legendary wizard Merlin (or Myrddin Wyllt in the original Welsh).
The connection is so deep that for centuries, an ancient oak tree stood on Priory Street, known as Merlin’s Oak. Legend warned that:
“When Priory’s Oak shall tumble down, then so will fall Carmarthen Town.”
When the tree finally died in the 1970s, the council didn’t take any chances—fragments of the oak are still preserved today in the Civic Hall to keep the prophecy at bay.
A Hub of Making and Movement
Carmarthen has always been a place where things happen. From its days as the most populous borough in Wales during the 16th century to its heritage as a vital river port on the Tywi, this town was built on trade, craftsmanship, and a bit of grit. It has survived Norman invasions, the Black Death, and the Industrial Revolution, evolving from a strategic fortress into the “Garden of Wales.”
Why Merlin 3D?
We chose the name Merlin 3D not just because it sounds cool, but because it pays homage to this history. 3D printing often feels like a bit of modern-day sorcery—taking a digital concept and “conjuring” it into a physical object.
Being based in the oldest town in Wales gives us a unique perspective. We appreciate the ancient history of making things by hand, but we’re using the latest technology to bring those designs to life for the local community and beyond.