This book is a chilling account of history, ghost stories and paranormal investigations to captivate the imagination.   It also introduces forefathers who took on the challenge of building the unique structures in the town.  I chose to investigate the unusual occurrences on my own doorstep in Porthcawl, which has quite a reputation for its eerie tales around the towns and villages which are accompanied by fascinating tales and legends as well as a colourful history.  I obtained information from record offices and also interviewed neighbouring residents who described the living conditions of days gone by.

 

Haunted Porthcawl is not available in book form at present, but it is at the publishing stage.  Watch this space for updates on this breath-taking paperback.  You will not regret the wait!!

 

EERIE TALES OF SOUTH WALES

 

Have you ever felt scared, felt uneasy, or seen something unusual in the corner of your eye you can't explain?  Well, in theory, many or us have, but have either chosen to ignore it and put it to the back of our mind, or taken on the challenge to explore it further. 

Sometimes, this strange vision could be a deceased relative who wants to ensure you that they are okay to just give you peace of mind.  Other versions suggest that what you have seen is a re-enaction from a time lapse.  This means that the spirit had a particular incident at a certain time in their earthly life.

Eerie Tales of South Wales is an interesting subject on the history, ghostly tales around the counties of Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan.  It is a collaboration of a weekly column I wrote for a local newspaper for several years, and is an exciting read.  This book is available on Amazon.co.uk and Cambria Publishing and is great value for money at £11.49.

 

 

GRAVEYARDS

Graveyards are known to stretch out a creepy atmosphere as apparitions have been witnessed on many occasions. It is a natural assumption that the dead return to haunt graveyards and remain around the place where their body lies.  But in my opinion, why would they want to remain there?  Maybe the spirits we see in these eerie places are not able to reach their normal place in a world beyond our grasp.

This could be because they have committed gruesome crimes during their time on earth and are not welcome in paradise.  Some may have suffered a harrowing death and are traumatised to the point of unrest.  These spirits may even be unable to find their new world towards the light and may need a helping hand as they are trapped.  Spiritualist Mediums are known to successfully performed prayers to help these forlorn spirits find the light and rest in peace.  My Paranormal team believe we achieved this action by reciting a prayer for spiritual rest, particularly around an eerie lane.

 

WHAT IS A GHOST

 

I have been writing about ghosts and the paranormal for around twenty years, and one question which always arises prompted me to think of answers.  What are ghosts and why do they visit us on earth?

Well, the word ghost comes from the old English word ghost, which means breath or spirit, and was described as misty white vapourised figures.

Ghosts appear to us in many forms.  But apparitions are the most common as they are probable the energy of a deceased person or animal.  This could be because they do not recognise they are dead, have died in traumatic or emotional circumstances, or even criminals where they are said to be unwelcome in the world outside our human existence.

Ghosts do not always express themselves in bodily form but have also been known to make their presence known by releasing smells such as perfume, odour, food, drink or others into the atmosphere.

Ghosts do not always show themselves in full view either, and can present themselves disembodied.  This means only part of their anatomy is displayed and may be because their body was not complete when they passed, and they are searching for the remainder of their anatomy.  Ghosts can also display themselves as orbs, which are strange lights normally picked up on cameras.

But in some cases, ghosts appear with the intent on harming the living whichever way they choose to materialise.  This would be known as a poltergeist, which is a German word meaning ‘noisy ghost’.

Ghosts are not committed to time and can appear during the day or night.  In fact, ⅔ of sightings occur during the afternoon, banishing the myth that they only materialise during the hours of darkness.  They usually appear to us for a short time before disappearing into thin air.

Ghosts have the power to move objects, an exciting and intriguing action to witness.  They can obtain their energy from the living, therefore draining ours to the point of exhaustion.

Some spirits are known as friendly ghosts and can extract noises to let you know of their presence.  This could be in the form of touch, a sharp breath or even whispering words.  These in my eyes are past relatives letting us know they are ok.

Why do old buildings bring the spirits of the dead to the forefront?  Well, it is said that they are part of the fabric of the building and roam as if they were still on earth.

Whatever your belief is in ghosts and their existence, would you really want to disregard their intrusion because who knows what may happen if you do?  They may return to haunt YOU!

But fact or fiction?  Only you can decide …………………………………

 

PHANTOM HOUNDS

Ghostly dogs are another terrifying spectre to witness as they appear to look menacing to the naked eye.  There are many different types of hounds, but the majority of these menacing creatures are large and black with piercing red or yellow eyes which resemble flames.  The black dog is a supernatural image which is said to have demonic connections.  Some phantom dogs move silently as if on a mission and are less harmful to the imagination.

Most phantom hounds tend to be alone, but some have also been seen in groups giving witnesses a frightful shiver down the spine.  These petrifying hounds have been renamed demonic hellhounds as they are reported to run at pace in one particular direction.  However, they only appear for a short period of time as they vanish in haste.

Some hellhounds send noises out into the atmosphere.  These can be sinister growls or even eerie howls.  Hearing such horrific sounds would be a terrifying experience, as the growling can become louder and more intense. 

One witness claimed to have seen a dog like figure emerge from foliage. It appeared to almost resemble wolf-like features with dark and smokey fur and red eyes. This was described as a hellhound, and with its teeth snarling, it bounded towards its victim only to evaporate in a flash. 

Whatever your feelings about black demonic hellhounds are, what would you really do if you were unlucky enough to see one on your leisurely stroll?

Could my findings be fact or fiction?  I will leave you to decide.

 

 

PHANTOM GHOST SHIPS

 

What is a ghost ship and why does an eerie image of an unrecognisable vessel suddenly appear on the treacherous waters of our coastline?  As the British Isles has a vast coastline, it is inevitable that it is a graveyard for shipwrecks, particularly before lighthouses were thought of in 18th Century.

It would seem that olden vessels would have fallen victim to the hazardous waters, with many lives lost to the perils of the stormy waters.

But why weren’t these unfortunate seamen rescued?  Well, it is a horrific thought, but during past centuries, the public were paid handsomely for the recovery of dead bodies, but not survivors.  This meant they did not attempt to rescue drowning mariners in distress, leaving them to perish.  In fact, history states that callous souls would place beacons on sheep on the hills to lure ships to disaster, and claim money for the drown crew.

Some ghost ships like the Mary Celeste were abandoned, so not all ghost ships fell victim to the stormy seas.

My answer to this strange vision of ghost ships which normally appear along the coastline on particular times and dates is that it is a reenactment of when the tragedy took place where the crew were lost to the perilous waters.  They maybe yearning to be remembered and not lost in time in their watery grave.

But we will never exactly know why these hazy ships reappear to the naked eye.  Some people believe that seeing a ghost ship is a bad omen and that they are cursed.  But I will leave you to come to your own conclusion about these strange sightings.