Ffrith Farm Ghost

: STORIES OF SATAN, GHOSTS, ETC.
: Welsh Folk-lore

I am indebted to Mr. Williams, schoolmaster, Bryneglwys, for the history

of this Ghost.



It was not known why Ffrith farm was troubled by a Ghost; but when the

servants were busily engaged in cheese making the Spirit would suddenly

throw mortar, or filthy matter, into the milk, and thus spoil the curds.

The dairy was visited by the Ghost, and there he played havoc with the

milk and dishes. He sent the pan , one after the other, around the room,

and dashed them to pieces. The terrible doings of the Ghost was a topic

of general conversation in those parts. The farmer offered a reward of

five pounds to anyone who would lay the Spirit. One Sunday afternoon,

about 2 o'clock, an aged priest visited the farm yard, and in the

presence of a crowd of spectators exorcised the Ghost, but without

effect. In fact, the Ghost waved a woman's bonnet right in the face of

the priest. The farmer then sent for Griffiths, an Independent minister

at Llanarmon, who enticed the Ghost to the barn. Here the Ghost appeared

in the form of a lion, but he could not touch Griffiths, because he stood

in the centre of a circle, which the lion could not pass over. Griffiths

persuaded the Ghost to appear in a less formidable shape, or otherwise he

would have nothing to do with him. The Ghost next came in the form of a

mastiff, but Griffiths objected even to this appearance; at last, the

Ghost appeared as a fly, which was captured by Griffiths and secured in

his tobacco box, and carried away. Griffiths acknowledged that this

Ghost was the most formidable one that he had ever conquered.



From this tale it would appear that some ghosts were more easily overcome

than others.