Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees

Ghostly encounters that defy explanation are reported at two haunted houses. Are you brave enough to explore these mysterious cases where the line between the living and the dead blurs, and every shadow holds a secret?

In our first story, we delve into the grisly crimes of a house shrouded in a sinister past. Who—or what—haunts its halls, leaving guests trembling in fear? What secrets lurk within the walls, and why does the specter...

Mischievous spectral beings wreak havoc in a Welsh mansion that promises thrills and chills at every turn.

Fact with folklore intertwine in this mysterious tale that blurs the lines between reality and the paranormal. Was it truly the work of supernatural forces, or merely the imaginings of a frightened community?

As we explore the remnants of a once grand Welsh mansion, now reduced to ruins since the tragic fire of 1807, we encoun...

Spectral hounds roam the land at night. Some possess the bodies of half-humans, with eyes like moons and mouths that emit smoke. What do these unearthly creatures signify? And why do they haunt the valleys and mountains of Wales?

In our exploration, we'll encounter tales of evil fishermen chased into the sea, lost travelers saved by the power of prayer, and clergyman harassed for their sermons. But amidst the terror, there's a thre...

Step into the realm of the uncanny and delve into the mysterious world of death omens and supernatural secrets.

From the infamous corpse candles to chilling premonitions, uncover the spine-tingling tales that have haunted communities for generations.

What do these strange signs really signify? How do they choose their harbingers of death? And could you be the next witness to an otherworldly phenomenon?

Explore the lore with Mark Re...

Unravel the mysterious realm of exorcism, a practice as old as time itself, employed to banish ghouls, ghosts, and goblins from our world.

Is there a safeguard against the forces of darkness? Could your daily piety be the key to repelling the bogeys and fairies lurking in the shadows? Are you ready to unravel the secrets of exorcism, spirituality, and the age-old battle between light and darkness?

Delve into the very fabric of Wels...

Can the most terrifying paranormal activity also be the most boring? Are dull ghosts really the scariest of all?

In this chilling episode, Mark Rees unravels a paranormal theory that turns the mundane into the terrifying. What if the most ordinary ghost stories held a power that could send shivers down your spine?

Delve into a "dull" ghost tale in a Romantic, Gothic house shrouded in eerie charm that may, in fact, be the scariest e...

Picture this: snarling spectral dogs traversing the air in hot pursuit of their prey. Their haunting howls are harbingers of death, and their appearance cannot be easily defined, ranging from small white creatures with rose-coloured ears to "ugly beasts" with fiery eyes.

On this chilling episode, we delve into the eerie realm of the Welsh otherworld to unravel the spine-tingling tales of the Cŵn Annwn — the Hounds of the Underworld...

Dive into the Christmas revelry with singing and dancing, but beware: there's a darker side to these Victorian traditions involving a frightening hag and a horse-skulled Christmas visitor.

Uncover strange tales of festive celebrations, the Welsh love for singing in the 'land of song', the long-standing links between Morris Dancing and the Mari Lwyd, and introducing the bizarre Aderyn Pig Llwyd, a horse-headed creature adding an eer...

Christmas Gremlins have struck the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast HQ.

Sadly, there is no new episode this week due to some potentially paranormal technical difficulties.

Instead, here's a quick update from Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) in which he explains what you can expect over the festive season, and calls on the Mari Lwyd to deliver some seasonal good luck.

See you soon - merry Christmas/ Nadolig llawen!

 

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A haunting described as "one of the biggest poltergeist cases ever" saw a Welsh business plagued by paranormal activity.

The chilling case of Peter the Poltergeist/ Pete the Polt is one of the most significant poltergeist cases documented. A haunting that spanned a decade, mysterious objects were thrown around a workshop in Cardiff that led the bewildered owners to suspect a paranormal presence.

What sets this case apart is its inv...

Can an "uncanny piece of furniture" really suck your blood like Dracula? Is this vampire bed possessed by Nosferatu? 

When a young family in seventeenth-century Cardiff acquire a heavy four-posted bedstead at a bankruptcy sale, little could they have known it was the soon-to-be infamous "vampire bed."

It caused a four-month-old baby to scream in terror, and the man of the house was lost for words - could their bedroom be haunted by...

Dare you join Mark Rees and a team of paranormal investigators for an "as-live" spine-tingling ghost hunt in Wales?

Nos Calan Gaeaf - as Halloween is known in the Welsh language - is the perfect time of year for ghost stories and, of course, ghost hunting.

The "most haunted" location for this year's eerie exploration is a live music venue in the heart of Swansea city centre just off the Kingsway that has never featured on a recorde...

Halloween folklore of Wales and the world: explore the haunted history of Nos Calan Gaeaf with Mark Rees and a special guest on this eerie seasonal special.

Nos Calan Gaeaf, as Halloween is known in the Welsh language, has long been a time for tradition and festivities. But how did Victorian celebrations differ from modern-day parties?

By teaming up with fellow cultural writer Chris Carra (Planet Health), they aim to investigate th...

Journey into the haunted heart of Welsh folklore, exploring eerie accounts of encounters with mysterious apparitions known as corpse candles (canwyll corff).

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, innocent individuals walking through the Welsh countryside found themselves face to face with ghostly lights that foretold impending deaths. Tales from Maesydderwen and Silian talk of enigmatic lights that lead to bone-chilling revelations...

Corpse candles were once a common sight in Wales. What's truly spine-tingling is that sometimes these lights were carried by ghostly figures, believed to be the very souls soon to depart. 

This episode delves into historical cases of individuals who regularly witnessed corpse candles, shedding light on the eerie prevalence of this phenomenon. We also explore the belief that St. David himself prayed for corpse candles to demonstrate...

Were witches, devils and fairies responsible for destroying cities? And what about the lake monsters and dragons lurking in the depths?   

Events that some people might describe as an act of god have been blamed on all manner of supernatural creatures. What do you believe?

Explore the lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast... if you dare!

 

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Can you see, hear, smell and feel a ghost? Can you trust your senses in a haunted location? 

The waft of lavender might suggests a Victorian woman’s perfume; a fleeting white shape might suggest the death shroud of a tormented soul; and the sensation of being touched by icy fingers might suggest that somebody, or something, is reaching out to grope you from beyond the veil.

Explore the lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the G...

There's witchcraft in the earth, death omens in the dirt, and all manner of gothic graveyard traditions associated with the soil beneath out feet.

Can these strange superstitions and unusual traditions bring good luck, bad luck, and a whole lot more?

Explore the lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast... if you dare!

 

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Sceptics and believers are divided when a "violent" entity targets an unassuming home and and transforms it into a haunted mansion.

Can you solve the mystery of the Pembrokeshire poltergeist?

Explore the lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast... if you dare!

 

BUY MARK REES A COFFEE:

If you'd like to support the GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES podcast you can treat Mark to a coffee here: Mark...