Eight Welsh locations on UK’s most haunted list
Wales has eight sites which have made it into a list of the most haunted places in the UK. Joshua Knapman takes a look...
THE most haunted places in the UK have been revealed – with eight Welsh locations making the list of 100.
The list has been created by Higgypop, a YouTube channel that specialises in all things paranormal.
These locations are Wales’ most haunted (rankings included):
■ The Skirrid Inn, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire – 8
■ Cardiff Royal Infirmary, hospital – 54
■ Ruthin Castle, Ruthin, Denbighshire – 70
■ Denbigh Asylum, Denbigh, Denbighshire, hospital asylum – 81
■ Pembrey Woods, Pembrey, Carmarthenshire – 87
■ Castell Coch, near Cardiff, castle attraction – 89
■ Margam Castle, Port Talbot, Glamorgan castle – 98
■ Llanfyllin Union Workhouse, Llanfyllin, Powys, school workhouse – 99.
Coming out on top for Wales is the Skirrid Inn, near Abergavenny.
The pub, which is nearly 500 years old, is said to have been the site of hundreds of reported sightings of the supernatural.
At least four spirits are said to linger within the walls of the former farmhouse.
Some, they say, have good intentions, but others return with a vendetta.
They are:
■ Colonel Prichard, once lord of the manor and an ally to King Charles I before joining the revolt against him – he has been spotted drawing up battle plans and contemplating his next moves;
■ Mattie, a former maid who tragically died at the manor, haunts her bedroom and is said to fill the room with feelings of grief, sadness and anguish;
■ A little boy who fell to an early death from his bedroom – he is said to tug on your clothes for safety;
■ The man in black, a presumed murderer, is said to stalk tour groups and patrol the perimeter of the house.
Steve Higgins, who’s been running Higgypop since 2000, said: “We have some rules we use to score the haunting based on the longevity of the reports, credibility of witnesses and type of reports.
“For example, a pub landlord who says he saw a ghost in his pub would score less than if an independent member of the public reported seeing the same in that pub – because the landlord may have a vested interest.”
The 39-year-old added: “Reports of phenomena like unexplained footsteps and objects moving score a location the minimum number of points, while a report of a fully fledged identifiable apparition gives them maximum points.
“The 2019 top 100 list also gives locations a multiplier if they have appeared in the news in the last 12 months or been featured in a prominent investigation or television show.”