In the early 1900s, Maesteg became a hub for eerie encounters, with tales of ghosts mischief, and deep-rooted local legends terrorising the Welsh town
The quiet town of Maesteg, in Bridgend, saw a surge in supernatural happenings in the early 1900s, blurring the lines between genuine fear, folklore and human folly.
“Two persons residing at Maesteg declare they saw on Monday evening last, not far from their homes, a spectre, which had the appearance of seven horses, and behind them was a ghostly figure,” reported the Evening Express on 18 September 1904.
This uncanny vision was just the tip of an eerie iceberg, as the region bubbled with tales of apparitions from both the past and present.
However, the fervour didn’t escape scepticism.
As the report continued: “The majority of the inhabitants regard the whole thing as a huge joke, and believe that someone has been playing pranks.”
Nantyffyllon, a neighbouring community, didn’t hide its envy either.
Their young men even attempted to fake spectral sightings, perhaps jealous of Maesteg’s ghostly limelight.
Yet, Maesteg’s historical lore, notably the “White Horse of Llangynwyd”, wasn’t something to scoff at.
According to a piece dated 17 September 1904, many had encountered this spectral steed, reinforcing the deep-rooted belief in such tales. To this day, Llangynwyd, a village two miles south of Maesteg, still celebrates New Year, or Calennig, with the Mari Lwyd – a horse’s skull draped in a white sheet with flowers.
While genuine fears haunted many, mischief-makers saw an opportunity.
In what might have been the height of ghostly comedy, a sceptic’s bravery was tested in the town’s churchyard.
A jovial account from 24 September 1904 reads, “Some Maesteg humourists after discussing the ghost in a local public-house, went to the churchyard, and one of them lay down in an open grave… When the sceptic arrived on the scene, the ‘corpse’ rose up with a loud groan…” The result? A terrified sceptic and a town roaring with laughter.
Amid the hilarity and fear, there was a piece of sage advice. One newspaper article ended with a warning: “It is dangerous these days to impersonate a ghost, for there are so many real ones about.”
Whether spectres genuinely roamed the streets of Maesteg or the town merely enjoyed a brief dalliance with the world of spirits, one thing was certain – Maesteg’s supernatural season was a blend of deep-rooted legends, contemporary fears, and human mischief.
Following up on earlier accounts of eerie tales, The Cardiff Times in September 1904 brought to light more spine-chilling narratives from Maesteg and its surrounding areas.
Directly from the coal miners of Maesteg, stories emerged “of a lurid type”, comparable in their fantastical nature to the “imaginative stories of the Arabian Nights.” At St David’s Welsh Church, tales spoke of “phantom horses… driven around the yard by a transparent bogey” with a fiery breath so intense it was believed to have “scorched the churchyard grass and warped the paint on the boundary railings.”
However, it wasn’t just horses that captured the townsfolk’s attention. Another account mentioned “a phantom donkey [that] vanished into space on being aroused by a correspondent with a kick.”
Llangynwyd has its own eerie legends, specifically the tale of the “White Horse of Llangynwyd.” This spectral creature, “white as snow,” was said to wander “the lanes and fields near Llangynwyd.” One butcher recalled an unnerving experience, admitting that upon seeing the horse, he was “so startled… [he] turned his mount around and galloped homewards as fast as his frightened steed would go.”
Adding to the town’s spectral reputation were accounts of “phantom funerals met on the way to Llangynwyd Churchyard.” One man recalled a particularly chilling encounter, where, convinced he had witnessed “a phantom funeral, he whipped up his trembling horse and took a short cut to Cwmcerdin.”
But the tales didn’t end there. Maesteg’s taverns also had their share of ghostly encounters. One group of card players in a local pub was horrified when “a midget black man suddenly and mysteriously appeared on the table and began dancing about.”
Among all these eerie stories, the haunting legend of the “White Lady of Llantwit Major” stands out. Local tradition tells of a spot known as Gallows Way, where “thieves were hanged in the good old times” from trees lining the road. Nearby lies the White Pool, haunted by “a lady dressed all in white” who is said to “hurry across the road near the pool, and suddenly vanish with a blood-curdling shriek.”
Whether “founded on fact or purely fictional,” these tales have become part of Maesteg’s folklore, often recounted during “winter evenings, and among groups of colliers during their dinner break.” As the nights grow longer, Maesteg’s phantoms are sure to keep the town’s inhabitants both intrigued and apprehensive.
What did you think of these ghostly tales from Maesteg? Have you ever experienced anything supernatural in this area? Tell us about it in the comments section!
