Welsh UFO sightings from 1905. For sightings from other years please click HERE.
Most of the 1905 sightings are directly linked to the revival movement, particularly Mary Jones 'the Egryn prophetess'. (For more info on her - and the revival more generally - there's a great article HERE and a contemporary piece from The Welshman of 24/02/1905 HERE and HERE.) In May she claimed during a service at Trealaw that the lights had once assumed the shape of a dove. (Cardiff Times, 20/05/1905) At another she thanked God for not letting pressmen see the lights:
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January and February 1905
Lampeter
The South Wales Daily News for Thursday 16th February 1905 reported on the ongoing case of an alleged poltergeist in Lampeter.
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The short version can be summed up by this report from the Aberystwyth Observer (16th Feb 1905):
GHOST AT LAMPETER. MYSTERIOUS RAPPINGS. For some time past there have been mysterious rappings at the house of Mr Howell, registrar of the County Court. One of Mr Howell's sons, Jack, eleven years old, is looked upon as the medium, as the rapping follows him from one bedroom to another. The lad's little bed has also been seen to move.
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January and February 1905
Towyn
Mr Bowen, station master at Towyn, saw a strange star in the night sky with a yellowish ring around it over a period of a few weeks.
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February 1905
Porthmadoc
The Aberystwyth Observer of March 2nd 1905 reported:
THE PORTMADOC GHOST. For six weeks Portmadoc has been greatly disturbed over ghostly doings in a butcher's shop. Night after night movable things were thrown about, and great damage done. Watch parties and police were utterly baffled until one night a tin can fell in a back yard. On the can was scrawled a message that the ghost would trouble the occupants no more. The police tested the writing, and finding it similar to that of a servant girl named Mary Hughes they charged her. Frightened, she confessed to playing ghost, and that she threw the can through the skylight window. The magistrates fined the ghost 65s., including costs, for malicious damage.
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February / March 1905
Rhymney
The Bargoed Journal of February 18th reported on a ghost that was creating a stir at the Salvation Army barracks:
The Rhymney Ghost has been the cause of much, excitement during the last few days. Hundreds of persons assemble nightly to watch for it, but up to now only a few persons have been favoured with a visit. One of these persons is a young lady Captain in the Salvation Army, and this lady has been under raedical attendance ever since. The "ghost" is dressed in yellow (rather an unusual colour for a supernatural visitor) with wide open eyes, and finger uplifted heavenwards.
The Rhymney tradesmen had evidently not compared stories with the captain, for his ghost was dressed in black silk. This gentleman asked the visitor was it in trouble, but the ghost only opened his eyes wider and vanished. "I would not go through the same experience for £100," said the gentleman. Both persons are equally certain of receiving a visit. The haunted house is now the Salvation Army Barracks, but originally was an old inn, called Mount Pleasant. The Army are not desirous of making the acquaintance of this supernatral visitor, and have changed their lodging. Someone is laughing grandly over his good joke.
The February 25th edition of the Bargoed Journal opined on the lack of ghostly action, despite the return of the Salvation Army:
The spectral form, which was alleged to have made an uncany appearance on two occasions, has once more disappeared. Undoubtedly it has relegated itself to a merciful oblivion with respect to its numerous would-be admirers and has repaired to Mars or some other higher civilised world to give an account of its nocturnal visits to one of this earth's most beautiful spots.
But on March 11th the Bargoed Journal reported:
The startling story in connection with the Salvation Army ghost has been brought prominently before the public by Mr. C. Spencer, Pengelly, a prominent member of the Army. Mr. Pengelly, who is alleged to have seen the "woman in yellow," has made a written statement re-affirming his previous assertions regarding the true witnessing of the spectre and all efforts to shake his version of the mysterious affair have proved utterly futile.
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1905
Bryncrug
Mr Beriah G. Evans invesigated claims linked to Mrs Jones for the newspapers. The Llandudno Advertiser (18/02/1905) carried his report:
"On the preceding night [to events at Bontddu], at Bryncrug, between Towyn and Abergynolwyn, twenty-five miles from Dyffryn, the chapel where the meeting was held became bathed in mysterious light, illuminating the gallery within. After the meeting a professional gentleman returning homeward suddenly saw a gigantic human figure rising over the hedgerow [in Penybont Field], with the right arm extended over the road. Then a ball of fire appeared above, and a long white ray, descending, pierced the figure, which vanished. Only this long ray was white; the other shorter rays were blue. This extraordinary manifestation - apparition and light - was witnessed simultaneously by a prominent local farmer from another standpoint. The same light again appeared to both."
Naysayers claimed the 'professional gentleman' had simply mistaken a horse looking over the hedge... (Merioneth County Times, March 2nd 1905.)
The same night other attendees of the meeting saw a ball of fire in the sky:
Evans defended his report against various naysayers in the 03/03/1905 edition of the Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria, though declined to give any further details.
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1905
Abergynolwyn
The Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times (16/02/1905) reported that "whilst a young man was proceeding in the direction of the Cemetery, which is beyond Aber in the direction of Talyllyn, a brilliant light shone upon the graves in the Cemetery, which enabled him to read the names on the tomb stones quite plainly. But he thought discretion the better part of valour, and took to his heels, and reached Abergynolwyn in an exhausted state."
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Saturday 11th February 1905
Bontddu
"A brilliant effulgence of stars paled the lights of a room she (Mrs Jones) occupied. Returning homewards after the meeting her carriage was suddenly bathed in brilliant light, descending from a radiant ball from the heavens above."
The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard of February 17th reported: "The light was distinctly observed on Saturday evening when Mrs Jones was driving home from Bontddu and it appeared to envelope the carriage which she occupied, although at first she herself thought it was the illumination of a bicycle lamp coming behind. This phenomena was witnessed by a special correspondent, who had requested Mrs Jones to extinguish the carriage lights but, together with other explorers, he confessed himself bewildered and those who pride themselves on being free from superstition and supernatural notions have acknowledged that there must be something unnatural.
There are conflicting opinions as to the origin of the light, ranging from beliefs in spiritual consciousness to scoffing allusions at ignii fatui."
Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times of 16th February reported:
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Tuesday 21st February
Talybont
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February
Glanynant, Llanidloes
MORE STRANGE LIGHTS
Mysterious Star at Llanidloes.
On Friday night two young revivalists of Llanidloes, Mr D. Lloyd and Mr Fred Jones, were visiting the chapel at Glanynant, a few miles from Llanidloes. They noticed a very bright star above them, but put the fact down the nothing extraordinary.
When, however, the star lowered and rested above the building which they were now approaching they became rather alarmed. The star increased in brilliance, and in its light there appeared the figure of a man with arms outstretched. This only appeared for a moment, and then the star vanished. Many others noticed the extreme brilliance and exceptional magnitude of the star, but as yet we only know of these two men having seen the figure. The story was told our representative by each of the revivalists unknown to the other. Neither Mr Lloyd nor Mr Jones knew that his friend had also seen the supposed manifestation.
Source: Aberdare Leader, 25/02/1905 and Cardiff Times, 25/02/1905.
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Thursday 23rd February, night. Dyffryn
Police-constable Jones, of Dyffryn, has an interesting tale to tell of how he saw the phenomenon near Dyffryn. He had been to a conference with another constable, when, a few hundred yards on the Dyffryn side of Egryn Chapel, he saw a flashing light on the road. He at first thought it was a bicycle lamp, but he was soon disillusioned by seeing the light on the top of the hill on the left hand side and radiating in all directions. The flash lighted up the spot as if it were midday. There rose also from the top of the wall three columns of fire of brilliant copper colour, each of them about three feet in height and about six inches wide.
The constable, as befitted his occupation, boldly approached the light, which, however, suddenly disappeared. Being without superstition, nor, perhaps, devout enough to believe in supernatural phenomena, the constable inquired at the next farm whether any of the occupants bad just then been out of doors with a lantern or an open lamp, but none had been, and to Police Constable Jones, as to many more of the residents of that district, the Egryn lights remain a mystery.
Source: Evening Express, 11th March 1905
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Thursday 2nd March
Caernarfon
STRANGE LIGHTS IN CARNARVON
Sir, - About four o'clock on Thursday afternoon, at Carnarvon, I observed two or three flashes of light, somewhat blueish in colour and in appearance something like stars. They appeared with extraordinary rapidity, and were accompanied by considerable noise. I can give the names of any number of persons who observed the lights, if necessary. I neither affirm nor deny anything, but have these strange lights any connection with the Revival? - Yours, OBSERVER.
Source: 'Caernarvon and Denbigh Herald and North and South Wales Independent' 10 March 1905.
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April 1905
I found this article from the Cambrian of April 7th really interesting for its (tongue in cheek!) suggestion that strange lights might be a "Martian airship" visiting Earth. The go to explanation at this time is still very much ghosts.
Here is a story from Cherbourg:— "A ball of brilliant light rose at eight o'clock in the evening over the sea. Its apparent diameter was about seven inches and it was surrounded by a glowing halo extending to some fourteen inches from the circumference of the orb. The latter sailed majestically towards the land, passing over the forts commanding the roadstead, over the harbour and the inner basin, then over the town itself, remaining at a considerable height. Then it slowly circled round, and was wafted away in the direction whence it had come.
All Cherbourg was out in the streets to watch the phenomenon. Was it a luminous balloon, some mysterious signal, a kind of slow travelling meteor, or a Martian airship come to prospect the Earth? The ball of light remained visible for three hours and a half. During the time the naval authorities kept marine glasses pointed at the phenomenon, but failed to determine what it was. It was stated that the admiral has reported on the occurrence to the Ministry of Marine in Paris, and meanwhile has ordered a torpedo-boat to be in readiness to pursue the luminous orb out to sea if it should re-appear.
The lights have evidently gone from Arthog across the Channel. By the way, we heard the other day of some very vivid lights on a tributary of the Dovey. They were explained by salmon poachers.
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Wednesday 29th March
Cardiff
A STRANGE LIGHT
Mr. Arthur Mee writes: "I have received a number of communications relative to the curious light seen in the sky on the evening of March 29, I did not see the light myself. The evening was a clear one, according to my note-book, and I observed a meteor in the east at 9.15; but was not on the look out at the time of the phenomenon. Moreover, anything seen in the southern sky at Llanishen is interfered with by the glare of Cardiff and the Dowlais Works.
The first I heard of the light was from my friend Mr. Gunstone, of Llanishen, who saw the strange beam of light at the time specified in the south-east. He and others watched it for some time, and he was sure it was neither from the works nor a searchlight. Mr. T. Skeats, of Whitchurch, watched the band of light for sometime, and was much struck by it. Mr. Ansaldo, of Llandaff, writes that on the evening in question about ten o'clock he saw in the south-east what at first looked like a long cluster of stars obscured by a thin film or mist.
It gradually grew brighter and brighter until it looked like an incandescent light, and lasted for about 25 or 30 minutes. Mr. Ansaldo saw several people watching it. Mr. J. Havard, Peterson-Super-Ely, says he and several others saw the light, which looked like an iron bar heated to an orange-coloured glow, suspended vertically. These accounts are explicit but other less on, or referring to other lights or on other dates, are to hand from Mrs. James Thomas, Haverfordwest; Mr. Jesse Williams the chemist, and Mr. Wm. Yeo Talbot-street, Cardiff. I confess I am unable to explain the above phenomenon, and only wish I had seen it for myself. Perhaps some other correspondent can help to clear up the mystery."
Source: 'Weekly Mail' 15 April 1905.
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March, night
Barmouth
A young local woman in Barmouth was reportedly visited for three consecutive nights in her bedroom by a humanoid figure totally dressed in black. The figure supposedly delivered a message to the girl, which was too 'frightening' to reveal.
Source: 'Humanoid Encounters 1900 - 1929' Albert S. Rosales 2016 page 44 citing 'The UFO Encyclopedia' Vol. II Jerome Clark and 'Barmouth Advertiser' 30 March 1905.
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Monday 17th April
Zion Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Wrexham
The Cardiff Times of April 22nd reported that at the afternoon meeting a number of women saw a light hovering over Mary Jones while she was speaking and praying. At the evening meeting there were three flashes like lightning while she was talking. Later on 'a beam of light and a star' were seen over Bron Haul, where Mrs Jones was staying.
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Friday 21st April
Ruabon
A sighting of strange lights turned out to be an oil lamp in a shop window... (Fuller story in the Evening Express 24/04/1905 and North Wales Times 29/04/1905)
27th May, 22:00
Tylorstown
A doctor from Tylorstown recounted for the SPR enquiry this incident:
"About 10 pm on Saturday night I was coming home with my wife, when she drew my attention to a bright light over the Libanus Chapel, towards the side of the mountain. It appeared as a ball of fire about the size of a cheese-plate; it was perfectly fixed. As soon as I saw it I marked its position, in order to be sure that it could not be someone with a light on the road which passes over the mountain, but its position was far enough away from the road."
Source: The Unexplained 1980-83.
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Monday 10th July, 23:05
Abergele
Lights were seen above the bridge by multiple witnesses. They moved in a westerly direction and disappeared suddenly.
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Wednesday 19th July
Pontycymmer
Mr. Beriah Evans writes: - The mysterious lights which were seen in connection with the early missions of the Welsh seeress, Mrs Jones, Egryn, are once more in evidence. Recently the seeress went to South Wales, but even in the crowded Rhondda Valley the lights appear to have been visible as in the quiet seclusion of Merionethshire.
Now she has left the Rhondda and commenced a mission in the colliery districts in the Bridgend area, and here again the lights have been repeatedly seen.
Stranger still, Mr Evan Roberts, having returned from North Wales and been associated with Mrs Jones in this her latest mission, is now visited by the lights.
The Rev. David Hughes, a well-known Welsh minister, who resides at Pontycymmer, Glamorganshire, contributes to the current Genedl newspaper a signed article, in which he gives an account of the combined mission. Mrs Jones addressed a crowd of between 3,000 and 4,000 people, in the open air, and when darkness fell the audience proceeded to the Tabernacle Chapel, where Mr Evan Roberts conducted the meeting, which lasted until midnight.
Mr Davies goes on the say:- "We were given to understand that the lights had now visited the neighbourhood, and of this my wife and myself are living witnesses. We each saw the lights about the house where Evan Roberts stays. A little after one o'clock in the morning of Wednesday last my wife and myself saw a strange lightsimilar in appearance to the upper segment of the setting sun, and throwing out sparklets of light from its circumference crossing from side to side of an old quarry where the youths of the place had held nightly prayer meetings for a week, and where, as I subsequently learnt, a prayer meeting was then in progress.
"It soon vanished, and was followed by a ball of fire about the size of a cricket ball, which rose vertically instead of travelling horizontally as had the first seen.
"Then we saw a bar of light, apparently about nine inches (? in width), climbing the wall of the house where Evan Roberts was then staying.
"Our sensations may be better imagined than described; but that which our eyes saw; that do we testify."
Source: 'The Welsh Coast Pioneer and review for North Cambria (Abergele edition) 4 August 1905.
The 'Evening Express' of Tuesday 18 July 1905 gives an account of the meeting at Tabernacle Chapel and states that this was held on Monday (which would be 17 July 1905) and states that Evan Roberts will be staying in Pontycymmer for several days. The Wednesday referred to above would have been 19 July 1905.
The 'Evening Express' of 21 July 1905 gives an account of Evan Roberts' meeting which lasted until midnight, but states that the meeting was held at Bethel Chapel in Pontycymmer.
Sunday 23rd July
Ynysybwl
A group of young people returning from a prayer meeting at Ynysybwl, near Pontypridd, Glamorgan, had a remarkable experience. They told local reporters: 'There appeared in the heavens a very large and bright ball of fire. It had two brilliant arms which protruded towards the earth. Between these arms appeared lights resembling a cluster of stars, quivering with varying brightness. It lasted for ten minutes.....'
Source: 'The Unexplained' 1980-83
PRESS
July
Treharris
The Evening Express (02/08/1905) reported that "Mrs. Jones on her visit to Treharris has been followed thither by the lights which have been inseparable from her mission from the start. To the prophetess herself they were visible inside the chapels where she preached, but other people only saw them outside. Now it is time this mystery should be cleared up. If there are lights to be seen at all, why cannot ordinary people see them where Mrs. Jones asserts she sees them? A believer in visions some time ago tried to explain the phenomenon by saying that the lights were subjective—that is, lights visible only to the mental eye of Mrs. Jones. In ordinary language such visions are called delusions."
2nd September
Llangollen
The Cambrian Natural Observer recorded a strange sighting of a black object, at least 10ft in width, resembling 'a huge pig with webbed feet'.
Here is another mysterious phenomenon, reported in the S.W. Daily News of Sept. 4th:— Shortly after four o'clock on Saturday afternoon a crowd of persons noticed a remarkable object approaching in the heavens from the direction of Merionethshire and crossing the town of Llangollen. The unknown and puzzling object glided majestically over the Vale of Llangollen, and was evidently about two miles from the earth's surface.
When over the district of the School House at Vroncysyllte powerful field glasses were directed to the object, which travelled at a speed of approximately 20 miles an hour and was intensely black. It possessed short wings and evidently gained impetus to its progress through the air by casually inclining sideways. The curiosity possessed four legs apparently, and disappeared over Wynnstay Park towards Overton and making for Cheshire.
The strange object was at least 10ft. in width, glided along with a strong wind. It resembled a huge pig with webbed feet, averred several witnesses. Much speculation is rife as to what the mysterious object was. [We have not heard it claimed as an outcome of the Revival. Ed. C.N.O.] Colonel Markwick suggested in the English Mechanic, 86-100, that people were actually seeing a balloon of some kind...
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Friday 6th October
Abergele
A sighting of strange lights turned out to be a chimney fire...
The first issue of the Fountain Journal from Easter 1976 had a feature on the 1905 lights:
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