Llancaiach Fawr isn't one of the most well known locations for hauntings but it didn’t disappoint. A large country manor house situated in vast grounds, It’s now owned by the local council about it’s history runs deep..
Built in 1530 for Dafydd ap Richard it was designed to be easily defended during the turbulent reigns of Tudor Kings and Queens. By the start of the Stuart dynasty the Prichard’s had prospered and the house was extended in 1628.
This was a first for us as we were taking guests on this ghost hunt and rather skeptical guests at that. As we approached the building the first thing that became visible is the tall front tower of the house, it’s walls leaning inward at an exaggerated angle add to the mystery and macabre of the building. Small dark glass windows are randomly dotted over the surface with iron criss-cross wire on every one. Llancaiach is most definitely one thing – lonely and desolate.
After a brief introduction about the history of the building the small group of 6 of us are ushered through into room 1.......
Room 1 – the entrance room and main staircase. Two young boys are said to haunt the stairs and have been seen and heard running and playing up and down the stairwell. Tonight they seemed to be just patiently watching us…. The room seemed quiet apart from a few slow small whimpering sounds coming from one corner which were heard by 2 of the group, could have been the outside wind whistling under the door frame so we moved on.
Room 2 – Mattie’s Kitchen An intriguing room, full of old pots and pans and a large solid oak table in the centre, we circled the table and stood quietly, as soon as we had closed our eyes there was a swift bang on metal from the corner of the room, a few screeches were heard – mostly human!.. followed by a small almond shaped white light that shot from the window through the opposite wall. An amazing sight and one to quiet the skeptics amongst us.. Mattie may have been there – had we disturbed her cooking the evening meal I wondered….
Built in 1530 for Dafydd ap Richard it was designed to be easily defended during the turbulent reigns of Tudor Kings and Queens. By the start of the Stuart dynasty the Prichard’s had prospered and the house was extended in 1628.
This was a first for us as we were taking guests on this ghost hunt and rather skeptical guests at that. As we approached the building the first thing that became visible is the tall front tower of the house, it’s walls leaning inward at an exaggerated angle add to the mystery and macabre of the building. Small dark glass windows are randomly dotted over the surface with iron criss-cross wire on every one. Llancaiach is most definitely one thing – lonely and desolate.
After a brief introduction about the history of the building the small group of 6 of us are ushered through into room 1.......
Room 1 – the entrance room and main staircase. Two young boys are said to haunt the stairs and have been seen and heard running and playing up and down the stairwell. Tonight they seemed to be just patiently watching us…. The room seemed quiet apart from a few slow small whimpering sounds coming from one corner which were heard by 2 of the group, could have been the outside wind whistling under the door frame so we moved on.
Room 2 – Mattie’s Kitchen An intriguing room, full of old pots and pans and a large solid oak table in the centre, we circled the table and stood quietly, as soon as we had closed our eyes there was a swift bang on metal from the corner of the room, a few screeches were heard – mostly human!.. followed by a small almond shaped white light that shot from the window through the opposite wall. An amazing sight and one to quiet the skeptics amongst us.. Mattie may have been there – had we disturbed her cooking the evening meal I wondered….
Room 3 – the invisible hand that rocks the cradle.. This room is accessed via a metal staircase and on first glance seems open and friendly, but the furtherest corner where the cradle sits is heavy and dark. The main activity in this room is a feeling of swaying and the cradle being rocked on its own, this has been caught on camera numerous times. We experienced a strange creaking noises but didn’t capture any movement on the cradle, there were some curious squeaks from near ground level that seemed to be moving around the group… could easily have been the creaking floorboards as the floor was very uneven.
To sum up Llancaiach Fawr it is a magnificent manor house with a deceptive and queasy feel in every room, on advice beware of loosing the group as it seems that this old, and dominant house can pick people off and target their fears….
Check out the Live web cam on the BBC Site for up to date images of the Manor....you may even spot something yourself..........
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/southeastwales/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8418000/8418089.stm
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