In Pure Spirit

Oystermouth Castle has been built, destroyed and rebuilt more than once. It was first built by William de Londres in 1106. The castle stood for about 10 years before it was destroyed in a conflict with the Welsh. The castle was destroyed again in 1137 and finally rebuilt in stone by the de Braose family [...]

Dyfed Powys Police in Wales have reported a list of supernatural and paranormal events they have been called out to investigate. The list includes 26 ghosts, 20 UFO sightings, 11 witches, two vampires and two zombies. In none of the cases did Dyfed Powys Police find any evidence of supernatural or paranormal activity. In one [...]

Image by rchughtai — “not very active” via Flickr Sian Barr, a student veterinary nurse, has carried out research on sick cats being treated at a vet’s sugery. Miss Barr, a recent graduate with a first class honours, concluded that yoga medication music can help. Cats become less stressed when they listen to the music. [...]

Bodelwyddan house and estate date back before 1440 when it was built by the Humphreys of Anglesey. The Williams (Williams-Wynn) family, so closely associated with the castle, began their association from around 1690. The castle is believed to be haunted and runs overnight paranormal tours. The tours make use of electromagnetic field (EMF) detectors, digital [...]

SoulSearchers NW investigated the Stiwt theatre in Rhosllannerchrugog, Wrexham, and reportedly discovered a large number of haunting spirits.

Soulsearchers NW employ a number of mediums as well as hi-tech equipment such as infra-red cameras and ‘K2’ metres designed to detect traces of electrical energy.

“We arrived at 8pm and even before our cameras began filming, our mediums, Eileen and Lizzy, picked up a man called Edwards.” said spokesman Steven Pryce.

“He is connected to the theatre and has previously been seen there by staff.

“We know a Mr D. Edwards was involved with the construction and first management committee of the institute in 1926.

On 17th February in 1903 William Hughes was hanged in the jail and his body buried in the grounds. Hughes, from Denbugh, had fought with the British army in India, separated from his wife in 1901 after the death of one of their children.

William was prosecuted for “family desertion” and in 1902 was sentenced to three months in the gaol. He was released in November 1902, procured a double-barrel gun, went to the home where his wife was working and shot her dead.

Hughes surrendered to the police. Despite a plea of insanity he was found guilty of murder, the jury taking only ten minutes to decide his fate.

He was executed at 8 o’clock in the morning and it is said the last thing he did before his death was look at a photograph of his family.

The National Trust is an important and valuable institution. It looks after sites of historic interest in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It rules on important decisions like the Druid Keiller battle.

The National Trust raises money in a few ways. It collects money directly at some locations. However, as the credit crunch bites people travel less and visit those protected and managed locations less. As a result the National Trust collects less donations.

Another key way the National Trust raises money to help protect some of the most important buildings and landscapes in the UK is through memberships.

Newton House Newton House is in Dinefwr Park, Wales and contains the remains of Dinefwr Castle. The building is currently owned by the National Trust but historically was the residence of Earl Cawdor. The title ‘Earl Cawdor’ was created in 1827 for John Campbell, one of the Clan Campbell. Dinefwr Castle The castle was constructed [...]

Megaliths (or standing stones) can be single vertical stones, complete or incomplete circles. Many of the standing stones in Wales date from the Neolithic period (circa 4000 BC) and this is fairly common for megaliths in Europe. Barclodiad y Gawres Burial Chamber Bodowyr Burial Chamber Bron Y Foel Isaf Burial Chamber Bryn Cader Faner Stone [...]