Monmouth, Monmouthshire, Wales
The Gatehouse on Monnow Bridge
Bailey Pit
Set in the slopes of White Hill, this old building is reputedly haunted by the ghosts of a cripple and a murdered maid. The original building was destroyed in a fire in 1993, but has since been rebuilt.
Reported phenomena include the sound of the crippled man's wooden leg as he walks on the stairs, and the screams of the murdered maid. Doors have also reportedly slammed shut.
Pictured left is Bailey Pit courtesy of Chris Heaton.
White Hill,
Monmouth,
Monmouthshire,
NP25 5DW.
For further information, please read The Ghosts of Gwent by Alan Roderick and The Hangman, The Hound and Other Hauntings by Thomas Corum Caldas.
Brook Crescent
During the mid 1950's, strange occurrences were reported at two council houses in Brook Crescent. Uncomfortable nights were spent trying to sleep as lights switched themselves on and off, doors were locked and unlocked and objects were moved. On a more serious nature, were the unexplained fires. However, the occurrences simply seemed to stop quite abruptly.
Brook Crescent,
Monmouth,
Monmouthshire,
NP25 5AX.
For further information, please read The Ghosts of Gwent by Alan Roderick.
Buckholt
In September 1961, a local man reported driving through the ghost of a large black dog at Buckholt.
Could this have been the infamous Buckholt Ghost Donkey, said to be a headless apparition seen along the Hereford Road (pictured left courtesy of Jonathan Billinger)? Or is it the Cwn Annwn - the Welsh Hound of Death?
According to the author Stephen Clarke, the Buckholt was also the “celebrated” haunt of witches.
Unconfirmed
For further information, please read The Ghosts of Gwent by Alan Roderick.
Croft-y-Bwla
On the old Monmouth to Abergavenny road, you might find a somewhat unusual ghost... that of a sleeping cow!
Dixton Churchyard
A tramp with a parcel is said to haunt the churchyard and vicarage of Dixton (pictured left courtesy of Tim Harrison).
Is it the apparition of a tramp who drowned in the vicinity many years ago?
Unconfirmed
For further information, please read The Ghosts of Gwent by Alan Roderick.
Dixton Fields
The fields of Dixton (pictured left courtesy of Jaggery) are said to be haunted by the ghost of a man accompanied by a large white dog.
Witnesses stated that they simply vanish into mid air when seen.
Unconfirmed
For further information, please read The Ghosts of Gwent by Alan Roderick.
Hadnock
The apparition of a faceless and "hazy, bluish colour, almost transparent" woman wearing a long flowing dress has been seen in the field near to the banks of the River Wye (pictured left courtesy of Jaggery).
Hereford Street
According to Roderick, there is a house just off Hereford Street that is supposedly the place where ghostly footsteps have been heard approaching the front door. However, we can only find a Hereford Road in Monmouth.
Hereford Road,
Monmouth,
Monmouthshire,
NP25 3HJ.
For further information, please read The Ghosts of Gwent by Alan Roderick.
The Kymin
The Kymin is a spectacular Monmouth viewpoint. However, the ghost of a man dressed in 18th or 19th century clothing and a tall hat has been seen there. But the appearance of the ghost is said to foretell the death of a Kymin Hill resident.
Local author, Stephen Clarke, states that the Kymin was a “celebrated haunt for witches” many hundreds of years ago. He recalls an old rhyme that goes, “Buckle for witches, the Kymin for more”, and an account regarding an old woman named Mary Nicholas, who was accused of killing cattle by casting a spell in 1827.
Pictured left is The Round House at the Kymin (courtesy of Jonathan Billinger). It is a folly with a purpose; built in the 18th century as a banqueting house with a spectacular view, the whitewashed castle-like building dominates view east from Monmouth and beyond. The National Trust owns it.
The Kymin,
Monmouth,
Monmouthshire,
NP25 3SF.
For further information, please read The Ghosts of Gwent by Alan Roderick.
Monnow Street
The sounds of horses' hooves have been heard in Monnow Street and going around the corner of Chippenham House. Theories as to the cause vary from the ghost of a highwayman to the sounds from an ancient battle. It is said that the sounds are heard during the late afternoon, but more frequently during the autumn months. A pair of phantom, and eerie, glaring eyes has also been reported here.
Monnow Street,
Monmouth,
Monmouthshire,
NP25 3EN.
For further information, please read The Ghosts of Gwent by Alan Roderick.
The Old Timber Yard
The site of a former timber yard, known as "Swifts Saw Mill", located between Monmouth Boathouse and Granville Street, the ghost of a former owner has been reported. He is said to be chopping wood every night!
Unconfirmed
For further information, please read The Ghosts of Gwent by Alan Roderick.
The Queens Head
The Queens Head (pictured left courtesy of Chris Whippet), is reputedly haunted.
It is located at 1 St James Street, Monmouth, Gwent, NP25 3DL.
A shadowy figure has been seen in one of the bedrooms.
Unconfirmed
For further information, please read The Ghosts of Gwent by Alan Roderick and The Hangman, The Hound and Other Hauntings by Thomas Corum Caldas.
The Riverside Hotel
Originally a 19th coaching inn the Riverside (pictured left courtesy of Pauline E) is now a busy 19-bedroom hotel.
It is located at Cinderhill Street, Monmouth, NP25 5EY.
Taps on beer barrels turning themselves off and glasses moving by themselves are some of the phenomena reported here.
Watery Lane
Witnesses have seen the ghost of a man thought to have committed suicide by leaping into one of the pools that once dotted Watery Lane. The apparition is said to leap from mid air where a high banking once was, then disappears into the road, where a pool once was.
A phantom postman has been seen carrying out his deliveries at the junction of Watery Lane and Brook Estate. However, there is no explanation as to his identity at this time.
An evil and unseen presence has been reported accompanying residents home whilst on foot at night where Watery Lane takes a bend near to a bridge.
Watery Lane,
Monmouth,
Monmouthshire,
NP25 5AU.
For further information, please read The Ghosts of Gwent by Alan Roderick.
White Hill
The sounds of a crying baby have been heard in the area of White Hill. According to local legend, a gipsy murdered a baby and hid the body in a thorn bush at this location.
White Hill,
Monmouth,
Monmouthshire,
NP25 5DW.
For further information, please read The Ghosts of Gwent by Alan Roderick.
White Hill and Wonastow Court
Between White Hill and Wonastow Court, there have been reports of a ghostly coach and horses.
Wye Bridge
An interesting account from centuries past concerns a lady walking the Wye Bridge to a house where the school now stands, when she was confronted by a ghostly coach and four (headless, of course) dashed past her and dived into the waters. The poor woman was understandably frightened, but managed to make her way to the house.
On knocking the door, she was surprised to be confronted by a clergyman who was a bath of sweat, and rather irritably questioned her presence. He let her in, and as she made her way to the back of the house, she noticed a group of clergymen standing in a circle - conducting an exorcism. Was the coach and four avoiding the exorcism, or was it being cast into the water of the Wye? Pictured left is a view of the Wye Bridge courtesy of Tom Courtney.
Location
Visitor Information
Monmouth (Welsh: Trefynwy, meaning "town on the Monnow") is a traditional county town in Monmouthshire, Wales.
It is situated where the River Monnow meets the River Wye, within 2 miles of the border with England. The town is 36 miles northeast of Cardiff.
Pictured above left is the Gatehouse on Monnow Bridge courtesy of Pauline Eccles. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
