Uncover the chilling stories behind Gower’s five most haunted places, where ghosts, curses and eerie legends still haunt the land, thanks to Paranormal Swansea and Gower author MARK REES
From haunted houses to legendary landmarks, each location on the Gower Peninsula holds a unique story that has long fascinated – and terrified – locals and visitors alike. For more information on these haunted sites and many more, be sure to get a copy of the newly-published Paranormal Swansea and Gower by Mark Rees.
The Demon House
In the mid-1600s, news of strange disturbances in a Gower house captivated the public. The home of army officer Henry Bowen in Llanelen became infamous for its supernatural activity.
According to accounts, Bowen had lost his faith after the Civil War and turned to drink, leaving his wife alone in the house while he was away in Ireland. One night, she encountered a man who looked like her husband, but something felt wrong. When he asked to join her in bed, she refused and prayed, realising the figure was not human.
The spirit left, but the hauntings grew worse. Thick smoke filled the house, and a presence began tormenting her in her bedroom, even lifting her from the floor. Local church members joined her in prayer, but the attacks continued nightly.
When her husband finally returned, he remained indifferent to the hauntings, continuing his reckless ways. Legend says the house remained plagued by these demonic forces, with Bowen himself cursed by his own actions.
The Curse of Pennard Castle
Pennard Castle is said to be guarded by a fearsome omen of death, the Gwrach y Rhibyn. Known as the “hag of the mist”, this winged spectre, which shares similarities with the Irish banshee, is said to deliver death warnings to those who encounter her.
Legend has it that one Carmarthen man, daring to spend the night in the ruined castle, was attacked by the Gwrach. The ghostly figure swooped down upon him, leaving him bruised and bloodied. Though he survived, he was cursed to live the rest of his life as a madman.
The castle itself has a dark history. While it was built for the Braose family in the thirteenth century, folklore suggests it appeared overnight through a sorcerer’s magic. A particularly wicked lord, drunk with power, once attacked the fairy folk in the nearby woods.
In retaliation, the queen of the fairies cursed him, and a fierce sandstorm buried the castle and all within, as the wailing cry of the Gwrach y Rhibyn filled the air. Though the castle was indeed abandoned due to encroaching sand, locals still claim to hear the hag’s shriek on stormy nights.
Arthur’s Stone
Arthur’s Stone, or Maen Ceti, is one of Gower’s most famous landmarks, standing atop the Cefn Bryn ridge. This massive capstone, balanced on smaller stones, is thought to be part of a Neolithic tomb.
Folklore, however, connects it to the legendary King Arthur. As the tale goes, Arthur, while walking along the coast, grew frustrated by a small pebble in his shoe. He tossed it over the estuary, where it grew into the massive stone we see today. Some have even reported seeing a ghostly knight in the area, possibly linked to the legend.
More eerie still, locals believed the stone moved at night, heading toward the water to drink. The site is also associated with romance, where maidens can perform a moonlit ritual. If the ghost of their lover appears during the ceremony, it signifies devotion.
Rhossili Old Rectory
Overlooking the vast expanse of Rhossili Bay, the old rectory sits in isolation, its history marked by strange, ghostly happenings. The house, now a National Trust property, dates back to the mid-nineteenth century, but was built on much older foundations.
After a new rectory was established closer to the church, stories of paranormal activity began to emerge at the ‘old’ rectory. Cold drafts, eerie whispers, and full-bodied apparitions have been witnessed by residents, including clergy.
Some believe the spirits come from the sea, drawn inland to disturb those who live on land. The nearby sand is no less haunted, said to be home to the ghost of Rev John Ponsonby Lucas, who was once the longest-serving vicar.
The Oxwich Water Horse
The Church of St Illtyd sits above the crashing waves of Oxwich Bay, its ancient structure said to draw an unusual visitor at night. This twelfth-century Grade II* Listed Building stands on the site of older churches, and a local legend speaks of a strange encounter from the late Victorian period.
The Rev John David Davies once recounted how his elder brother was fishing late into the night with their father. As they climbed the winding path back home, the boy felt an eerie sensation, as if they were not alone. When he turned, he saw a white horse walking upright on its hind legs, slowly making its way toward the church.
His father, also witnessing the strange creature, watched as it crossed into the churchyard and disappeared. Years passed before the reverend finally spoke of the event, hinting at a deeper mystery. This was to be the first, but not the last, recorded encounter with the Oxwich Water Horse.
Paranormal Swansea and Gower by Mark Rees is available from Amberley Publishing.
Have you seens something spooky in Gower? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section!
MARK REES is a journalist and author from Port Talbot. He has written several books, including Ghosts of Wales: Accounts from the Victorian Archives (2017), The A-Z of Curious Wales (2019), Paranormal Wales (2020), Paranormal Cardiff (2023), and Paranormal Swansea and Gower (2024). In 2017, he hosted the first annual ‘Ghosts of Wales – Live!’ event, and in 2020, launched the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast.
