Welsh UFO sightings from 1868. For sightings from other years please click HERE.
PRESS
January 1868
Abernant
The Cardiff Times (02/02/1868) carried a report of a poltergeist like disturbance at a cottage near Abernant, on the Merthyr road. China, glass, and a clock were mysteriously broken and the terrified occupant - John Robberdy - was convinced it was the ghost of his recently deceased wife. Police Inspector Matthews investigated and, via a hole in the roof, determined that the culprit of ghostly falling plaster and other events was likely Robberdy's daughter who lived in the house next door.
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THE GHOST LAID. - Some extraordinary stories of the doings of a ghost have been current among the superstitious of this neighbourhood during the last week. The locality of the ghost's pranks is on the Aberdare side of the Merthyr mountain, beyond the Abernant station. In a lonely spot near the incline are two cottages - one inhabited by a man named James Robberdy, who buried his wife a short time ago. Since her death a quantity of china and other ware, a clock, mirror, and other domestic articles have been destroyed in a most unaccountable manner. Strange noises were heard in the house, and other unusual manifestations took place that terrified and excited Robberdy to a fearful extent. Watchings were held without discovering the mystery, consequently the troubled spirit of the deceased woman was credited with all the mischief. The police watched with no better result. Inspector Matthews examined the house, and up-stairs was some plastering on the floor that seemed in part to have fallen there, but some of it excited suspicion of having been thrown. A little closer examination revealed a hole in the thin partition near the roof that separated the rooms of the two houses, and through which it appeared possible for the plaster to have come. In this next house was staying a daughter of Robberdy, under fifteen years of age, and who was not on the best terms with her father. Suspicion pointed to her, and to her surprised the police cautioned her not to play any more such tricks. Suffice it to say that the ghost was laid thenceforth.
The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian of February 22nd 1868 reported:
A GHOST STORY. - A short distance beyond Abernant station, on the Merthy road, are two cottages, which have been the scene of considerable excitement for several days. In one of them lived man named John Robbendy, whose wife died a short time ago. Last week a quantity of property, including a clock, a glass, and china, were unaccountably broken. This circumstance gave rise to a belief that the dead woman was the cause of all the mischief. In consequence the most extravagant reports have been circulated. The poor man living in the house was frightened out of his wits, and was in a state of great excitement. The police were called upon; and Inspector Matthews examined the premises, and for some time kept watch. In the sleeping room was a quantity of fallen plaster, the falling of which was attributed to supernatural effects. But near the roof was a hole through the partition that separated the two houses, and from the appearance of the plaster on the floor, a strong suspicion arose that it had been thrown through there. In the next house lives a young girl, a daughter of Robbendy. She was suspected as the author of the mischief, and was duly warned by the police. The ghost has made no sign since.
Many local papers carried the report below, seen here in the Pembrokeshire Herald of March 6th 1868:
A WELSH GHOST. - Abernant, near Aberdare, is at present in the enjoyment of a ghost, locally certified as the spirit of the deceased wife of a workman who had threatened her husband before her death that she would haunt him if he ill-treated her children, and who seems to have had reason for keeping her word. The spiritual influence if chiefly manifested by jugs, chairs, and tables jumping about in the house; but the ex-parish constable, who was sent for to lay the ghost, was made the subject of a different manifestation. In reply to a solemn request, he received a blow with a stone, and was laid himself instead of laying the ghost. The police were sent for, and they tied the deceased's daughter's hands, thinking she was at the bottom of the affair, but the latest accounts say the ghost continues its manifestations.
PRESS
November 1868
Snatchwood
Rumours were spreading of a ghost in Snatchwood following a local suicide, but the Pontypool Free Press (28/11/1868) summed up the general news media stance at the time by advising people to hide themselves in hedges with 'stout cudgels' and give the so called ghost a good whack!
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A GHOST! A correspondent writes as follows: - The age of ghosts and hobgoblins is all gone by; but all people in this enlightened age will not allow us to believe so. Many are now ready to tell us that a ghost has made his appearance in the neighbourhood of Snatchwood, in consequence of a man having committed suicide there, that something differing in certain respects from human form is occasionally to be seen by the gates at midnight. We do not hear that it does harm to any one beyond casting a spell over the timid and weak-minded. The fact that a man has hung himself near the droll old pear tree beside the road to Abersychan may easily suggest to the imaginative the idea of a the figure of a man suspended to the upper branches of that eccentric tree, emerging from Snatchwood gates, or slowly marching up to the Queen Adelaide.
But ghosts are no longer such solemn messengers as Shakespeare represented them to be. He brought them before murdering kings to horrify them with remorse for their crimes. Now-a-days, one is somewhat puzzled to know what can be the reasons for their appearance and for the vagaries attributed to them. Some of their freaks, instead of "making night hideous" are highly amusing. For instance, we hear of a lady in white riding on a grey horse round a certain field. Perhaps she is the shade of some "pretty horsebreaker," whose vanity is too strong even for King Death to conquer, and who has cajoled the old fellow into giving her leave to create a greater sensation than ever by the display of her airs and graces. We can understand her ladyship's dodges, but we can't understand the horse.
Metaphysicians have a sort of Maine Liquor Law: they won't allow too free a distribution of spirits; the line must be drawn somewhere, and it may not be stretched beyond two feet and two hands: dogs, horses, elephants, &c., though a great deal more intelligent than many human beings, are treated just as the Maine Law fanatics would, if they could, treat their more sensible fellow subjects, they "are not allowed to have a soul of their own." And of course as metaphysicians "know all about it," we bow to their ruling, and therefore can't swallow grey horses or black dogs; and for the same reason the clothes won't go down; the ghosts must come out like Adam and Eve, or we can't believe that they are genuine.
And when one does appear, whether in white, red, or blue, we recommend all the young fellows in the neighbourhood to provide themselves with stout cudgels, hide themselves in the hedges, and the ghost makes his appearance (it will be sure to be a "him," so that there need be no hesitation on the score of gallantry) to walk up to it and LAY ON HARD! Depend upon it, the ghost will be effectually laid by one dressing! And all ghosts, whether at Snatchwood or elsewhere, are "by these presents" to take warning that we shall write no milder prescription, having thoroughly studied their complaint and being convinced that the dose for them must, to do any good, be hot, strong, and dealt with by nothing more pungent than pepper.
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