The Paranormal Database

Woman in High Heels

Location: Llantwit Major - The Ham
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Pre-twentieth century
Further Comments: A phantom woman in high heels was said to haunt this building, appearing at midnight. When building alterations were taking place, an identical pair of shoes were discovered concealed within a wall.

White Lady

Location: Llanvithyn (aka Llanveithin and Llanmeuthin) - Former monastery (no longer standing)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The monastery was thought haunted by a woman whose husband had sought shelter there - he was finally found, had his leg cut off and was finally bricked up alive within the walls. Centuries after the event, a legless skeleton was discovered in the building, although legend does not state whether this prevented the female phantom from returning.

Gwyllgi

Location: Mousiad - Path between village and Lisworney Crossways
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This Welsh shuck, with foul breath and a coat as dark as midnight, is said to haunt this piece of road. A servant who encountered the creature had to be helped home as the shock left him unable to walk. Another witness described the dog as having a human-shape, although the body and limbs were that of a large spotted hound.

Death Harbinger

Location: Nantgarw - General area
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This black dog of ill fortune can be fended off with a crucifix, though it is unsure whether this will stop the witness of dying shortly after viewing the hound.

Captain Ramon Hill

Location: Penarth - Kymin House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: An eighteenth century pirate, some say Ramon enjoys remaining earthbound and scaring people.

Crested Dragons

Location: Penllyn - Penllyn Castle, and surrounding woods
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: 1800s
Further Comments: The dragons (or winged snakes, according to other sources) here were once said to be quite common, if not a little shy. They snacked on the local produce, especially chickens, and sparkled and shimmered when escaping farmers. They were hunted to extinction. It has been suggested that the winged snakes were misidentified pheasants or peacocks and not native to the area until introduced by the English.

Winged Snakes

Location: Penmark - General area
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Nineteenth century
Further Comments: An old woman claimed that her grandfather had fought and killed a winged serpent in this area. The man had skinned the creature, though the evidence had been thrown away after his death.

Giant Arthur

Location: Reynoldston - Arthur's Stone
Type: Legend
Date / Time: 01 January (reoccurring) (walking stone legend said to occur)
Further Comments: One story associated with this Neolithic tomb has King Arthur finding a stone in his boot. The king picked the pebble out and threw it to one side, thus placing the stone where it now stands. Another legend says the stone walks down to the sea once a year for a quick drink. Finally, another story says the stone was split by a miller who was after a millstone - unable to lift it, the split stone has remained laying there since.

White Lady

Location: Rhiwsaeson - Unknown road in the area
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A woman in white who haunted the area was said to have tried to locate a newborn baby, the kiss of which would release her from her fate.

Ghost's Treasure

Location: River Ogmore - Exact location not known
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A tailor's wife was asked by a ghost to cast some treasure, gained during the phantom's lifetime by nefarious means, into the river so it could rest easy. The woman did as asked, but tossed the treasure upstream rather than downstream, condemning the ghost to remain earthbound. The ghost created a strong wind which whisked the woman high into the air and she was later found unconscious along a lane.

A ghostly blue woman.

Green Lady

Location: Southerndown - Hill where Dunraven Castle once stood
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This castle was formally the haunt of a blue lady and a ship wrecker. The latter ghost is said to appear walking the coastline on the anniversary of his death (which is not known), shouting and screaming.

Lady de Clare

Location: St Athan - Area around site of West Orchard castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Rumoured to have been buried alive by her cruel husband who (incorrectly) believed she was having an affair, this white lady was once said to walk the castle and the surrounding area.

Peter the Pirate

Location: St Donats - Large cave at Tresilian Bay
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: First New Moon of the New Year (reoccurring)
Further Comments: Peter, pirate, was buried alive at the mouth of a large cave here. For one evening a year he screams out for help.

Gwrach-y-rhibyn

Location: St Donats - St Donats Castle
Type: Crisis Manifestation
Date / Time: When death occurs in the family
Further Comments: This ghost heralds a death in the family very much like a banshee - wailing pierces the night air, and scratching is heard at windows. The entity was named as Lady Stradling, murdered by another member of her family. The apparition is also seen, some writing at it resembles an old, haggled woman, while others claim the figure wears high heels and a gown made of fine silk. If this was not enough, the castle is also reported to be home to a large floating eye that glows, a semi-transparent large black cat, and a piano that has a habit of playing itself.

Haunted Woman

Location: St Donats - Unnamed cottage close to the castle
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A housekeeper who lived in this cottage after the death of her employer became haunted by his ghost. A prayer meeting was held in the cottage during which the ghost manifested to the housekeeper and revealed a hidden bag of coins, instructing the lady to take them and discard the loot into the nearby River Ogmore.

New Shoes for the Devil

Location: St Nicholas - Dusty Forge Inn
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This inn was once a blacksmith, where the Devil was caught making new shoes for himself.

Dancing Women

Location: St Nicholas - Tinkinswood Cromlech
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Stones still present
Further Comments: The small standing stones around this cromlech were once women who were petrified for dancing on the Sabbath. It is said that if one sleeps between them, there is a chance of becoming a great poet, going mad, or dying.

Waiting Wife

Location: Swanbridge - Captain's Wife public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This public house is named after a local tale which says a phantom fisherman's wife haunts the area, awaiting the return of her husband lost at sea during a storm. Another legend says when the captain's wife died, her body was kept in a box - the box was stolen, mistaken for treasure.

Grey Lady

Location: Taff's Well - Area around natural spring
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The waters of the well were once used to cure rheumatism and are said to have been in use since Roman times. The area is reputedly home to a phantom grey lady.