Save Llancaich Fawr!
Llancaiach Fawr at Risk of Closure
Caerphilly council is proposing to ‘mothball’ stunning Tudor mansion Llancaiach Fawr, in an effort to save money. There are a lot of voices raised against this, and against the imminent closure of Blackwood Miner’s Institute in Blackwood.
The manor house is such a community hub, offering a wide variety of events, workshops, ghost tours etc… as well as meals in their lovely restaurants, the Lounge and the Conservatory. Apart from anything else, it seems to me that rather than saving money, they will be cutting off a means of bringing money in, not to mention the loss of jobs when those currently employed there lose their positions.
That this is even being contemplated is unbelievable to me. Llancaiach Fawr is always so popular, you have to get in quick if you want to take part in their events. Especially at Christmas, when the house is even more beautiful than ever. I understand the need to budget, money is tight and so on, but to close down such an historically important venue that brings money in makes no sense to me. All of which also applies to Blackwood Miner’s Institute. I have enjoyed several shows there. My little granddaughter has seen shows and pantomimes there. The thought of losing it makes me very sad.
It is worth noting that the same council also proposed stopping a meal delivery service, which delivers meals to some of the most vulnerable people in the community, again in a bid to save money. Why does it always seem to be the case that the most needy are the first to suffer? Thankfully, this proposal has recently been reversed.
The word ‘mothballing’ bothers me here. I have a feeling that once mothballed, these places will remain closed permanently, being sold off to some rich developer or private buyer or something.
Something similar happened years ago now, to a building called Insole Court in Radyr, Cardiff. That wonderful place was saved by the community and is now a thriving hub, with all kinds of amazing things going on there, including a community garden, which I personally think is fabulous. If they saved Insole Court, then they can save Llancaiach Fawr and Blackwood Miner’s Institute too.
I will watch carefully, with fingers crossed, to see what happens regarding this important and beautiful buildings. I hope that when I report back, it will be with good news. Surely, there are other ways the council could cut back, without causing such upset and damage to the communities involved, and without depriving necessary causes such as schools, medical facilities and so on. I hope so.
https://blackwoodminersinstitute.com
Llancaiach Fawr by S P Oldham
Llancaiach Fawr
This past Thursday evening I went on a Ghost Tour of the beautiful sixteenth century Llancaiach Fawr Manor with my mother -in-law and daughter-in-law.
Llancaiach Fawr has been featured on television many times. It was used as a location for filming (I believe) ‘Dr. Who’ amongst other things and is well known for its beauty and intriguing history. Above all, it is famed for being ‘one of the most haunted houses in Wales.’ Taking the guided tour by torchlight, it is easy to believe that might be true.
Even the grounds leading up to the house are thought to be haunted, many people reporting seeing figures there. Various parts of the house are believed to be haunted, some areas more so than others. I am being deliberately vague just in case anyone plans to go there. I don’t want to give anything away.
Anyway, on the tour a few people reported being poked in the back, having their hair pulled and other similar things. Now, it might be that some of us are highly suggestible, especially in such an atmosphere of expectation. It might also be that these people were genuinely touched by spirits. Who am I to say one way or the other? However, there was one thing that gave us all pause, as a group. Only a very small thing, but it was odd.
We had all gathered in the final room of the tour. One of the guides was telling us about the ghosts that are said to haunt that particular area. We were having a moment of silence, listening for anything out of the ordinary, when a tiny stone rolled across the floor.
Big deal, you might think. Except I was sitting opposite the direction it came from. There was some muted torchlight on, allowing me to see the feet of the people opposite. They were leaning against a table, nothing behind it but a bare, whitewashed wall. I was looking at the ground, concentrating. I did not see the stone, but we all heard it rolling across the stone floor.
A few of us said, at the same time, “What was that?” One of the tour guides (there were two) switched on the big torch and began to search the ground. She found the tiny stone in the middle of the room. To demonstrate the noise, she threw it so that it rolled across the floor and sure enough, it was the same sound.
Nothing big. No apparitions or strange vapours. No moaning or rattling of chains. But something caused that stone to be thrown between the legs of those people standing opposite, to come to rest in the centre of the room. Strange.
I should also add that two of our group were given EMF metres to carry round. I am on the fence about whether these things work. I suspect that there might be natural electricity, so to speak, in certain areas, or electrical cables or whatever that we don’t know about that set the devices off. Regardless, one of the EMF metres flickered quite vigorously at certain points during the tour, mostly when the names of individuals who existed were spoken. Like I say, I am not entirely convinced, but it was interesting.
There were definitely parts of the house that made me uncomfortable to stand in, especially in the dark. Suggestibility, or genuine haunting? Who knows.
The house is most definitely creepy at night, as beautiful as it is. A family lived in it until fairly recently. They have reported all kinds of weird, unsettling events happening there.
All I know is, I would not sleep in it and I certainly wouldn’t stay there alone! Don’t listen to me though, go see for yourself.
They are about to run mock Witch Trials there, based on real-life trials that were held there. If I get a chance to visit when they are on, I will share the experience here.
Happy Halloween!
Put you in the mood to visit? Find out more here: Llancaiach Fawr -What's On
Have you been there? Experience anything? Feel free to share in the comments!