The Haunting of Wales

Dangling Corpses

In the small Welsh village of Llanvihangel Crucorney, you'll find the Skirrid Mountain Inn. It is said to be one of the oldest pubs in Wales. Legend has it that at one time it was used as a courtroom and many men and women were sentenced to death here for petty crimes. These criminals were then hung from the well of the staircase in the pub. Today visitors to the pub have reported seeing apparitions of dangling corpses.

There have also been guests assaulted by unseen forces, doors slamming by themselves and broken glasses. Many of the ghostly spirits here are menacing ones. Also being one of the oldest pubs there have been many celebrations here as well and the employees have said they've heard laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses but when the rooms have been checked they've been empty. Overnight ghost hunting expeditions re regularly staged by Haunted Rooms.

Ghost Children

Whittington Castle has many ghosts roaming about. Even though it cannot be proved one way or another this castle supposedly once housed the Holy Grail. Among the ghostly apparitions, you can encounter here is a mysterious dark figure in a black cloak and hood and seems to be guarding the castle gates. Visitors have met up with a ghostly blacksmith wearing his leather apron.

The castle also has apparitions of children looking down from its windows. These ghost children spook visitors who are walking about the grounds and gazing up at the castle.

Witch's Prophesy

The story told is that the original owner of Roch Castle in Pembrokeshire, Adam de Rupe received a prophecy from a witch that he would die from a snake bite within a year. For this reason, he had the castle built so that living in the highest room for a whole year he would not meet up with any venomous snakes.

However, as time went on Rupe became bored with his existence so he began planning what he will do when he returns to the outside world. The year was coming to an end and it was wintertime. He sent a servant out to get wood for the fire so he could warm himself.

Unfortunately, for the patient Rupe waiting out the year the wood brought in had not been properly inspected. Among the logs was a snake and it bit him. He died shortly after and his ghost remains behind haunting the castle. Another ghostly apparition is that of a woman who is thought to be the daughter of a family that once lived at the castle. Her spirit has been seen floating down the halls and then disappearing without a trace.

Today Roch Castle is owned by the Griffith-Roch Foundation and has become a popular getaway for couples who want to have a romantic weekend. However, they might just find that at this castle they are not alone with each other.

Ghostly Activity

Llanthony Secunda Manor has gained the reputation of being one of the most haunted sites in the United Kingdom. It was built in the 12th century and used as a two-story grange by a monastery. Other parts to the manor were added on later. The manor has exchanged hands many times and once belonged to King Henry VIII even though historians might disagree.

The manor was falling into disrepair by the end of the 20th century when it was bought by an America lady who restored it. Today it is a well-known and liked holiday home with travelers from all over the world staying here. Apparently. the restoration work reawakened the ghostly spirits here. Guests have seen their personal belonging taken or moved from one end of a room to another. In some of the rooms, the chanting of monks has been heard. Visitors have felt someone touching them or even being pushed by someone unseen.

Brokenhearted Spirit

Sker House in Bridgend was once used by monks during the beginning of the 1000s. At one time as a single storey grange, it was home to the Cistercian monks of Neath Abbey. When in 1543 the monastery was dissolved the property was sold to Christopher Tuberville. During this time two storeys were added.

The most well-known ghost appeared after Tuberville sold Sker House in 1787. Issac Williams let the house from its owner and lived there with his two daughters. One of his daughters, Elizabeth fell in love with a poor boy from the area. She and Thomas met in secret and wanted to run off and elope. However, Wiliams discovered their plans and locked his daughter up in her bedroom. He only let her out when she agreed to marry a more suitable gentleman. Elizabeth did not forget her love for Thomas and a couple of years later she died of a broken heart.

Today visitors here have said they get an uneasy feeling when walking through the former grange. Shadows and dark figures have been seen, especially in the room where Elizabeth was locked up. There have also been sounds of high pitched wailing and cries coming from this room. Supposedly by the unhappy ghostly spirit of Elizabeth. Some also say that an evil presence can be found here which often shows up in buildings once housing religious orders.

Ghostly Apparition of an Opera Singer

Craig Y Nos Castle means Rock of the Night and was built around 1841. This is a hotel that holds regular ghost tours and events there are seances held and overnight paranormal investigation.

Ghostly apparitions come from two main historical periods. During one period, the castle was owned by once renowned opera singer Adelina Patti in 1878. During this time she added a private opera house which today has become a venue for weddings. During ghost tours of the opera house basement among the ghostly apparitions encountered is Patti.

After Patti died the castle became a tuberculosis hospital and the most haunted spot is the Children's Ward. Children's laughter has been heard, the sounds of balls bouncing, and there have even been sightings.

An Assortment of Ghostly Spirits

At the Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel which sells short getaway packages with tribute band entertainment, you can encounter ghostly spirits. The castle was built in 1460 with renovations done in the 1800s. At the time of renovation, a skeleton was discovered in the wall near a chimney and was left there. In the Sculpture Gallery, you can meet up with the Blue Lady. From the time the castle was a hospital the ghostly apparition of a WW I soldier roams about. In the cellar, you can meet up with the Cellar Man, who enjoys pulling women's hair. Guests staying here won't meet up with the Cellar Man but they will encounter the other apparitions including those of two Victorian girls who enjoy the Toy Room.

The Haunting of the White Lady

Baskerville Hall might sound familiar to some because this was the setting for the novel The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle. It is part of the well-known Sherlock Holmes series. Even though the novel is set in Devon, Doyle often stayed at the Baskerville Hall and heard about the local legends of deadly dogs. However, the haunting here is not by dogs but by a ghostly spirit known as the White Lady who enjoys spending time in the Rose Garden. On the main staircase, you can meet up with a ghostly gentleman. In the dark of night when the lights are out banging noises and footsteps can be heard.

These are just some of the places in Wales where you can encounter ghostly apparitions. There are others so if you are into ghost hunting or you don't mind spending some time with ghosts take a trip to see the beauty of Wales and choose a haunted place to spend the night,