Spooky stories of strange sightings at local landmarks The Thomas Arms Hotel
FROM flickering lights, the sounds of footsteps pattering or unexplained bangs - we’ve all heard tales of paranormal activity.
With dozens of buildings and settings encompassing centuries of history, some claim that Llanelli has seen more than its fair share of unexplained incidents and hauntings.
And while sceptics might argue that there are plausable explanations for the majority of ghost stories throughout the town, many stories have remained consistent with what’s been seen or heard.
And with Halloween season in full swing - a time when it is believed that the boundary between our world and the ‘Otherworld’ becomes thinner - we’d advise you not to wander through these parts alone at night.
In no particular order, here are some of the strangest and scariest ghost stories heard from Llanelli...
LLANELLY HOUSE
As one of the most historic buildings in Carmarthenshire and having stood in Llanelli since the early 18th century, there have been a number of chilling claims made from inside the four walls of the grand house.
The most noteable ghost story associated with Llanelly House comes in the form of a 22-year-old housemade named Mira Turner. The story goes that the young maid fell pregnant before taking a dose of laudanum poison and throwing herself down the stairs.
A number of workers, visitors and ghost hunters have all claimed to see Mira roam the upper floors of the Georgian home.
Ghost hunting thermal detectors have monitored activity, visitors have witnessed unexplained shadows and have felt colder especially around the stairs and in Mira Turner’s old room.
And on one occassion, a Post reporter visited the house for some ghost hunting and found that stones had covered the floor near the chimney - something that had never happened before.
THE THOMAS ARMS HOTEL
One of Llanelli’s oldest watering holes, The Thomas Arms has a wealth of history, some of which still can’t be explained.
Staff and visitors have claimed to see apparitions, orbs, heard voices and have seen objects move.
It is thought that the source of much of the haunting activities comes from the ancient cellar which dates back to 1830 and staff have emerged from the cellar crying and refusing to go back down.
In 2014, then landlord of the pub, David LangleyEvans, caught on CCTV a strange blurred figure crawling up the stairs of the ancient pub.
But it wasn’t the landlord’s first brush with the supernatural as he claimed that he’d seen the apparition in real life, as well as an occassion where both he and his wife saw a fishbowl slide along the length of the bar before falling to the floor.
Just outside of Llanelli and with tales of ancient settlements, shipwrecks, explosions and war stories, it is no wonder that Pembrey Woods have been a hub for paranormal claims.
As a vital area in World War One and Two, claims have been made by people who have believed to have witnessed soldiers roaming through the woods, dismembered figures and a number of people have claimed to have fallen over after it has felt like someone was grabbing at their ankles.
The claims led ghosthunting television show ‘Most Haunted’ to journey to the woods in 2008, where they held a seance on the nearby Pembrey beach and claimed to witness a number of spirits, including the ghost of a drowned sailor.
PARC HOWARD MANSION
Although now mostly known as an area for history, dog walking and children playing, Parc Howard between Felinfoel and Furnace has a tragic history.
During both world wars, the estate was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers and sadly many soldiers died in the home.
The most common story from witnesses says that they have seen both a solider and a nurse walking through the gardens while others have claimed to see a grand horse and carriage lap the estate.
But perhaps the most chilling tale is of a young boy who died after becoming trapped in the network of chimneys and legend says that if you’re very quiet, you can still hear him scrape at the walls, trying to escape.
STRADEY WOODS
The most common story from eerie Stradey Woods is that of a young runner who was run over on the road from Trimsaran to Strade in the 1930s.
Numerous people have claimed to see the young man, still running in 1930s gear. Even the local police have confirmed that they have had a number of calls associated to a young running figure.
KIDWELLY CASTLE
Gwenllian, ferch Gruffydd, was Princess of Deheubarth and known for leading the Welsh to battle against the Normans near Kidwelly Castle.
But, despite inspiring a comeback that held off the enemy for years, Gwenllian was ultimately captured by the Normans and beheaded in 1136.
History has branded Gwenllian as a fierce warrior and a free spirit and because of her spirit, and the injustice of how she was executed, it is said that Gwenllian’s headless body still roams the grounds of the castle, seeking justice.
Various sightings have said to spot a grey-hooded figure stalking the grounds of the castle and the bloody battlefield.