by Jonathan Williams
Llanellitown.com decided to do a feature on Halloween and we looked for people who had any interesting ghost stories. We had plenty of interest and were contacted by Paul Francis, the owner of The Halfway Hotel.
Following a couple of quick emails, I found myself outside this iconic building with strange thoughts in my head. I had nothing to worry about as it was a sunny October morning, which was hardly the weather you’d expect for Ghost Hunting!
Paul gave me a brief introduction to the history of the building (for more click here) and to be honest I wasn’t aware that there has been a dwelling on this site for at least 210 years!
It hasn’t always just been a hotel and pub. There’s been a toll house, coaching house with stables, hospital and a jail on the site. Over 210 years there isn’t much that the building hasn’t been used for!
What about the paranormal activity? One could expect that such an old building would have many a tale to tell and luckily Paul is on hand to enlighten me.
Above pic, the bar where the Train driver stands.
“We’ve had Ghost Hunt Uk coming here over the last four years to carry out investigations on the place. So far they have been 3 times and they will be back on Halloween night to do some more. They have to come about 5 or 6 times to get an accurate picture of any activity as ghosts are notorious for not showing up. There’s the saying as soon as the ghost hunter enters the front door, the ghost leaves by the back!”
“This year, the Hotel is tying it in with a charity Spook Night and raising funds for SA15. When the party is over and the pub closes, Ghost Watch Uk will be locked in and stay the night carrying out their investigations with all the latest technological equipment that is used today, and also some old things like sprinkling flour on the floors. They’ll put tape recorders in the rooms and use thermometers to find cold spots.”
What activity has been seen or heard?
“The bar appears to have the most activity. There’s the ghost of a Train Driver that stands at the bar. We’ve done some research and found that a railway line used to run past here.”
“Glasses smash for no apparent reason and there’s a strange ringing sound. It sounds like someone’s running their fingers over the top of 2 glasses but with more of a crystal sound. We’ve tried to investigate it by switching off equipment but we can’t seem to find out where it is coming from.”
“There’s a girl called Sarah that used to work here but can’t leave the place.”
“A lot of people have said that they have seen the ghost of one of the old landlords in the lounge, and there’s also been activity in the cellar. I’ve even heard that a spirit of a large rabbit has been seen.
Above, The Lounge where the ghost of a previous landlord has been seen.
“The stables have a lot of activity and haven’t been used for 80 years as the result of a big fire in the past. We do have plans for redevelopment and we’ve managed to find out about the spirit of a 5 year old boy called Jack.”
“The function room has a lot of activity but we don’t know what and there’s also an old well that has attracted the attention of the ghost hunters.”
How do the staff feel?
“Over the years the day staff have heard strange noises and seen things in the corner of their eyes. One of them even gets straws and cocktail sticks thrown at them!”
“It mostly affects the night staff e.g. the porter and the cleaners. They don’t like going into the bar and definitely won’t go anywhere near the cellar.”
“There’s nothing evil, more mischievous.”
Above, the ghostly cellar?
What about you, have you seen or heard anything?
“I’ve heard the ringing noise and also one night I awoke because I could hear distinct voices. I thought it was the cleaners but when I got up to check, there was no one there.”
“When I was showing Ghost Watch around, they found a cold spot in the passageway. The temperature had dropped about 10 degrees. I know its a big building but it shouldn’t drop that much!”
“I’ve never seen anything but if Ghost Watch didn’t feel there was anything here then they wouldn’t visit. They won’t tell me what they have found so far as they don’t want to spoil the investigation. However, once it has been investigated, they will provide me with a report on all the paranormal activity.”
Above, the passage where the cold spot was recorded.
What do you think it could all be?
“I’m not into ghosts or spirits that much, but if the building could talk it would have a lot stories to tell.”
“I’ve tried to look for hidden panels and tunnels and through our research we’ve discovered that there’s a period of 15 years during and after the First World War that is secret. We can’t find any information at all which only deepens the mystery. It’s as if the building didn’t exist!”
Is this Llanelli’s most Haunted place? I don’t know, but after hearing
Paul’s story you do wonder what can be happening there. Old buildings always seem to have more character and contain a hint of mystery so let’s hope that the only ghosts at their Halloween Spook Night are the fancy dressed ones!
Please let us know if you have seen any ghosts or experienced anything strange in The Halfway Hotel. Also if you spot anything unusual in the pictures above!
For more information on the Hotel, the ghosts and the Spook Night, please visit http://www.halfwayhotel.co.uk/
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