Llandeilo and Ystradgynlais stories in The Folklore of Wales: Ghosts

Delyth Badder has always had an interest in Welsh folklore and has worked together with Mark Norman to create the book The Folklore of Wales: Ghosts.

The book has more than 200 pages of stories relating to ghosts and spectral figures from across Wales and how they link into Welsh folklore as well as establishing Wales’ history, culture and the variations throughout the regions and communities.

Speaking to the South Wales Guardian, Ms Badder spoke about how she has her own collection of rare Welsh manuscripts and stories and spent a couple of years building this and choosing the stories to be used in the book, using original manuscripts written in Welsh, some of which have never been translated into English before now, and others that have never been published in Welsh or English prior to this book. Around 85 per cent of the stories used in the book have come from her own personal collection.

Delyth Badder (Image: Jon Pountney)

“One of the things I wanted to do most with the book was to use Welsh language stories. When you read through books about Welsh ghosts these stories have been omitted and it is really important for me to use these stories verbatim in the text so these are translated as best as possible so Welsh speakers, English speakers and Welsh learners can read them so they have all been included.

“So many of our Welsh folklore stories have been mis translated or misunderstood.” This is something that Ms Badder attributes to the formal language used which can be hard to translate word for word at times.

She said how she hoped it would provide readers with an insight into life in Wales throughout the years and also providing stories that people may not have heard before, including stories from Carmarthenshire and Neath Port Talbot.

One of the stories featured in the book includes a Llandeilo story of a strange gentleman approaching Evan the weaver outside his home and asking for a favour, which Evan agreed to. The gentleman is said to have spoken the words: ‘Very well, that is a promise that must be kept, or else you shall have no peace, and until it is done, you shall never have peace from me; name your time, but the sooner the better.’

Evan became fearful and said that they should meet in three weeks to settle the matter however, on the agreed date, Evan tried to hide in his room, with his door bolted, but he found himself ‘thrown to the floor and unceremoniously pushed outside by unseen forces.’ The gentleman was stood waiting and ordered him to follow him to a large rock on top of Glan Ty’nybedw. Under the rock was an iron vessel with something rattling inside. Evan was ordered to throw it into the depths of Llyn y Fan lake which would complete the promise. Evan was then carried through the air and he then awoke half-frozen and alone near the banks of the River Towy.

This story is one of many throughout Wales where ghosts are said to appear because they have unfinished business, with the person they are appearing in front of is tasked with carrying out the unfinished business and then they are never bothered again.

There is another example of a request from a ghost that happened in Ystradgynlais and it is recorded as a very unusual request. It was recorded by Edmund Jones about the son of an innkeeper. Word of mouth was a way to tell the stories in the past, but it can – as noted by the authors of the book – lead to changes and exaggerations in events.

The Folklore of Wales: Ghosts (Image: Newsquest)

In the book, the story is told how on the third encounter the innkeeper’s son had with the spirit of a ‘well-dressed woman’, he plucked up the courage to speak to her and she asked him to travel to Philadelphia in Pennsylvania to retrieve her property. He was to pick up 200 pounds in half crowns and had to meet her the following Friday night.

He agreed to attend a prayer meeting on the Friday night in the hope of missing the rendezvous, but as he was leaving to get his horse, the apparition appeared and carried him to a strange house where he found the money under a board in one of the rooms. He was then carried to ‘the black sea’ which he said was a clear lake, where he was asked to cast the box.

He returned home on the Monday night looking sickly and was unable to look another man in the face, which was something that had been referenced in a number of other interactions with ghosts.

Throughout the book, Ms Badder and Mr Norman speak about how similar stories are shared throughout the various parts of Wales, with differences to reflect the local area. It details how there is a story that treasure has been buried beneath Carreg y Bwci on Craig Twrch mountain and if disturbed, a devastating storm would hit, there is also a similar story told about Pembrokeshire’s Frenni Fawr and Ceredigion’s Dyffryn-bern, which showed that despite differing locations, the same stories are told throughout and adjusted to reflect the local area.

Throughout the book, references are made to various stories coming from what was described as the lower class, such as maids and servant boys, who were said to have been the most likely to witness these encounters, potentially due to the condescending nature of the middle and upper class, whereas many of the publicised and well-known stories from a more historical period have come from gentry and upper or middle class individuals.

The book makes a conscious effort to ensure that the full stories are told throughout the book, where there are separate chapters for different types of ghosts and the same story will be referenced if it ties in with other chapters to showcase how the stories and spectral beings can be tied into folklore and with each other.

The Folklore of Wales: Ghosts is an interesting read showcasing a large number of relatively unknown stories from across Wales and providing an insight into the differences between areas both within Wales and between Wales and England, providing an insight into Wales’ independent folklore and some unique spectral related stories and traditions that are not seen elsewhere.

The Folklore of Wales: Ghosts is available to buy in independent bookstores throughout Wales.