Welsh UFO sightings from 1857. For sightings from other years please click HERE.
PRESS
August 1857
Dowlais
Three Irishmen were passing over one of the tips when one man went ahead and was accosted by a 'Lady ghost' who proceeded to beat him so badly he was covered in bruises and 'even his life was at one time endangered'.
A GHOST STORY. - A tale is being circulated throughout the neighbourhood of Dowlais that an Irishman residing near Bethania, had been severely maltreated by a vindictive ghost. The circumstances are these: - Three Irishmen were passing over one of the neighbouring tips, when one of them went somewhat in advance of the others, and was shortly afterwards confronted by what he terms a "Lady ghost." This singular "spirit," unlike its fellows, immediately began chastising its haunted victim, until he was covered by bruises that even his life was at one time endangered. Various surmises are given as to the cause of this evil spirit's appearance, but the most probable among the many conjectures, may be inferred from the fact that the young man had lately acted unworthily toward her whom he ought to support; and it is thought her influence may have had something to do with the deserved chastisement.
PRESS
October 1857
Aberdare
A ghost was accused of throwing rocks at people and causing property damage in Aberdare by the Merthyr Telegraph of 17/10/1857. Ultimately the police believed the culprit to be 'a certain gentleman in black' from a nearby property, but the court was unconvinced they could accurately identify him from 78 yards away in the dark and he escaped punishment...
The magistrates weren't the only people unconvinced by the police's identification. Joseph Thomas of Aberdare Reformers' Chapel wrote to the editor on 24th October 1857 to complain that, among other things, the ghostly activity continued after the summons. Here is the letter printed in the 31st October 1857 edition.
PRESS
December 1857
The Usk Observer of December 19th 1857 reported:
GHOST STORY. The public is every now and then startled by some strange recitation, and some of the most marvellous are those related in connexion with nocturnal visitants. According to the authority of one individual, he was proceeding a few nights ago from the Cwm to the Race, and on his journey he felt a tug at his garment. On turning round to ascertain the cause, he observed an apparition, whose lineaments he recognised as being those of a departed fellow workman. The traveller accosted the intruder with the interrogatory exclamation of, "Good God, man! What do you want with me?"
The ghost replied : "You speak well - I want you to go with me to obtain a knife which is deposited in a secret place, and destroy it." The man proceeded with the ghost, found the knife, which the former threw into the furnace, and the ghost departed. Now all this is wonderful - absurd enough even to relate to children to induce them not to roam out at night; but when related by men, of whom we expect better things, to their friends and acquaintances, and related too with protestations of its being truth, we come to question whether they are "square" in their "upper stories."
PRESS
1857
Llangollen
The ghost of a local man was said to be terrorising his family over issues with his property, according to the North Wales Chronicle (23rd January 1857):
A WELSH GHOST. Within one mile of Llangollen station, at the place called the Fron, there have been some strange and singular scenes. Some months ago a person named Joseph Hughes died very suddenly on his way to chapel. Unfortunately he had neglected to make a will as to the bequeathment of his property, which con- sisted of a few pounds in gold, a silver watch, some household furniture, a fine pig, and a large hog of potatoes.
The property has been left to be divided between three surviving sisters, two of whom reside in the neighbourhood, and one in Chester, or its vicinity. It appears that the elder one has thought she had a greater claim upon the property so left, and, in opposition to her sisters, had taken it. This conduct made such a commotion in the family, both dead and alive, that it is said their late brother Joe, like the ghost in Hamlet, is "doomed for a season to walk the earth," and pays (much to the astonishment and terror of the neighbourhood) a visit to his late resideuce with the intention of settling matters, and enquiring as to where his money has gone, in such words as these, "Lle mae pwrs coch Joe?" - English, "Where is Joe's red purse?"
After each sentence he would run with the swiftness of a greyhound round the garden. On one occasion he was seen in the attitude of making a fire, and then walking about the house as though in search of something. Not content with this he makes his appearance at the hour of midnight, hurling bricks and other missiles in and about the house, which has not been inhabited since his death, and seriously affrighting a family which resides in the adjoining tenement.
He was heard to say recently "Oh, Sarah! Sarah!" —alluding, it is supposed to one of his sisters-" if these matters are not settled to my satisfaction I will haunt this place by night and by day." If so, the sooner matters are squared the better. -Chester Chronicle,
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