1947
Ithel the Giant
This story is taken from “St. Illtyd’s Church, Llanhilleth”, Archaeologia Cambrensis XXVI, Pages 153-8. Dated 1872, unfortunately the writer was anonymous.
"Ithel and Phillis were two friendly giants who lived in the Parish. Ithel feeling the need for a dwelling-place set off for Cefn Crib to collect some stones which he carried back in his apron. On one return journey however, he let fall a load – thus forming the mound which is still to be seen next to the old Parish Church. Thus, according to legend, did the place take its name and become known as Llanithel while Phillis in like manner gave her name to Caerphilly."
This mound has been researched by various authorities and is generally known to have been a castle. Stories abound of tunnels running from here to nearby farms.
The Railway Man
In 1947 Harold
Wm Bailey, a teenager living in Llanhilleth, wrote a thesis for Caerleon Teachers Training College. The college was later to become part of the University of Wales Newport. His thesis covered the history of Llanhilleth from Roman times, and included an interesting section on the local myths and legends:
“...the people (of Llanhilleth) until
comparatively recent times were very superstitious and their lonely existence
coupled with the vivid Celtic imagination (and perhaps, the presence of a large
number of public houses per head of population) makes it easy to understand why
Llanhilleth came to be regarded as the haunted mountain.”
His material was gathered
by Bailey from several folk-lore sources.
One, was Prophet Edmund Jones, who was for many years pastor of the congregation of
Protestant Dissenters at the Ebenezer Chapel, near Pontypool, and lived at 'The
Tranch,' nearby. He wrote and published
two books, an Account of the Parish of
Aberystruth, printed at Trevecca, and a Relation
of Apparitions of Spirits in the County of Monmouth and the Principality of
Wales, printed at Newport;
Bailey’s second source book was Wirt
Sikes' British Goblins. Wirt Sykes, (or Sikes) was the American Consul
in Cardiff in the 1870s.
This story is taken from “St. Illtyd’s Church, Llanhilleth”, Archaeologia Cambrensis XXVI, Pages 153-8. Dated 1872, unfortunately the writer was anonymous.
"Ithel and Phillis were two friendly giants who lived in the Parish. Ithel feeling the need for a dwelling-place set off for Cefn Crib to collect some stones which he carried back in his apron. On one return journey however, he let fall a load – thus forming the mound which is still to be seen next to the old Parish Church. Thus, according to legend, did the place take its name and become known as Llanithel while Phillis in like manner gave her name to Caerphilly."
‘Peggy’ Evans
The next tale were related to me by a resident of
Llanhilleth. I have been unable to
identify the particular Dr Frost
mentioned. I have names of several who
practiced in Llanhilleth, including one who laid a foundation stone at the
Institute in 1904.
Some years ago, Dr Frost the new GP of Llanhilleth was relating his urgent wish for a
telephone to a local parishioner. He
found it very difficult having to go to the Post Office or the Police Station
every time he needed to make a call. He
felt it was even more difficult for his wife, isolated in Wales from her
friends and family.
The parishioner decided it was time the Doctor was told of Peggy
Evans. Apparently there was a young lad
who went to work down Llanhilleth pit.
He was there for a few years before losing his leg at age 13. (Hence the name ‘Peggy.’) When he recovered, the supervisor found him
a new job signalling. The men organised
for him to move about when necessary, but mostly he sat and sent
signals around the pit. This job he did
very successfully until he died, aged 42.
Then, according to the parishioner, he started visiting the local
doctor, Dr. Reynolds, (Dr Frost’s predecessor). The Doctor didn’t quite understand the visits at
first, But he later claimed that if ever he was needed urgently at the pit, Peggy Evans would
appear in Dr Reynold’s lounge and signal by pulling the thick red bell-rope
with the big tassel at the side of the fireplace. Hence, Dr Reynolds had no need of a
telephone. Dr Frost reportedly only saw
Peggy Evans once.
Old Ben
Dr Frost had been up
the mountain to visit a patient. He
usually took his pony Jason, but the roadway was rough and unmade, so he
decided to walk up. As he returned, it
was turning dusk and he decided to take a shorter route home. It was then he came upon a tunnel of tall
trees covering the lane. Inside was
black with not a chink of light. He
tried to enter several times, telling himself it was only trees, but he
retreated back into daylight. Suddenly
he realised there was a black and white sheep dog standing next to him. The dog licked his hand and they entered the
dark tunnel together. In the darkness the
Doctor felt the dog beneath his hand.
They walked together until the Doctor emerged at the other end. Looking around, he found he was not fifty
yards from Maescynew Farm gate. A thatcher
saw the Doctor, and thought he appeared quite pale and shaken, so offered him a
drink and a seat to recover. The Doctor
approached, but looked around for the dog beneath his hand. Not finding the soft fur, he thought the dog
had changed sides. But there was no
dog. He questioned the Thatcher
about the dog.
“Oh, that’s old Ben,” said the man. “He won’t go any further than this. He only comes this far when he knows the children are afraid.” They chatted for a while, the Doctor being a little upset at being compared to a child. When the Thatcher felt Dr Frost had recovered sufficiently from his scare, he explained that Ben had died at the age of sixteen, three years earlier.
“Oh, that’s old Ben,” said the man. “He won’t go any further than this. He only comes this far when he knows the children are afraid.” They chatted for a while, the Doctor being a little upset at being compared to a child. When the Thatcher felt Dr Frost had recovered sufficiently from his scare, he explained that Ben had died at the age of sixteen, three years earlier.
The Railway Man
This tale was
told to me a few years ago by a well-known local resident who sadly died in
2011.
(This happened almost
within living memory, so no names), "a railway worker approached and held a
conversation with his colleagues, who knew him well. They
carried on with their lunch break and he left with a cheery word and a wave. But later, according to others, he had been
killed a few hours earlier in a tragic train accident further down the line."
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