Tales of ghosts and ghouls

TALES of ghosts and ghouls in Llanelli have been revived since a spooky photograph was handed in to the town library.

 

The picture, apparently showing a ghostly figure of a woman standing outside Llanelly House, was given to staff at Llanelli Library. They discovered it was a hoax as the same image could be downloaded from the internet.

However, it has sparked interest in the ghost of Llanelly House and of other spooky tales around the town. It has also brought back memories of TV’s Most Haunted programme, filmed in Llanelli in 2009.

Library staff have had people call in to discuss the photograph and the many tales of ghosts in the area. The most famous is Mira Turner, the serving girl who killed herself at Llanelly House after rumours surrounding her and a married butler. However, there are many other stories of ghostly goings-on in Llanelli. They include:

• Parc Howard Mansion where a nurse and World War One soldier are said to haunt.
• Stradey Woods where different sightings have been reported, including one of a jogger dressed in old fashioned clothing who ran “through” walkers. They later discovered a runner was killed on that road by a car in the 1930s.
• Cefn Sidan where several reports of ghostly ships have been made.
• Pembrey Country Park, which has a long history of ghostly sightings.
• Halfway Hotel where glasses smash for no apparent reason and there are tales of a ghostly train driver who stands at the bar. Research shows a railway line used to run through there.

• At Cilymaenllwyd servant bells which weren’t connected were heard ringing and the top floor is said to be haunted by a woman and child.
• Many ghostly sightings have been reported at Kidwelly Castle.
• Two phantom stagecoaches are said to run through Llanelli – one from Trimsaran which goes down past the Farriers has been reported by motorists, and legend has it that at midnight on New Year’s Eve Thomas Stepney’s funeral coach starts in Parc Howard and goes down past Parish Church.
• At Machynys, tales of a ghostly young girl with a lamp and figures of monks in habits have been seen.

Regional Library Manager Mark Jewell said: “The ghostly photograph has certainly been a talking point and renewed interest in all the ghost tales surrounding Llanelli.”

The DVD series of Most Haunted featuring the Llanelli episode can be rented from the library for £2.50 per week. The programme shows footage from Llanelly House, Parc Howard Mansion and Kidwelly Castle.

To read more about Wales mosts haunted Town and the area’s Ghosts click here.

Have you seen any of the ghosts or something strange?  Then please email us at info@llanellitown.com with details.