Location: Vale of Neath and surrounding area
THE ORIGINAL PUBLIC HOUSE called the Vale of Neath Arms was a small public house located on Tunnel Road in the Wern district of town.
On the evening of the 22 May 1861 a group of men had been drinking in the Vale of Neath Arms when a dispute had arisen between two young men. The disagreement was not settled and in the early hours of 23 May, between two and three o’clock, William Harry, William Brazel and four others went to Bigyn Hill to continue the fight.
The two young men resumed their fight on Bigyn Hill, which continued for some considerable time until William Brazel collapsed and was left lying on the ground in a state of unconsciousness. Police Sergeant Lewis was informed and he called a medical gentleman to the scene to examine the body.
Unfortunately Brazel was dead; William Harry was taken into custody, pending investigations. It is said locally that the ghost of William Brazel still haunts the Vale of Neath and the surrounding area.
This story is courtesy of Llanelli, Birth of a Town, By William & Benita Rees. http://llanelli-history.co.uk/index.htm
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