Tell Them of Us update

It was a couple of weeks ago I went along to the Torfaen at war roadshow at the Cwmbran Big Event. I asked them if they would like a copy of my book, 'Tell Them of Us', and they said they'd love one.  So to update on what has happened to my book since then, it is going to be used in the Torfaen World War One exhibition during the next four years.  It looks as though the stories of my ancestors will be used at certain points along the timeline of the war.  At the moment it is the story of my great great Uncle William Jones that is being concentrated on as part of the story of the Christmas Truce. A photo of him has been sent to the Torfaen WW1 project plus this morning I have sent over his service records.  The launch of the project is fast approaching and I have been lucky enough to be invited to it, so photos of that when it happens in a few weeks.

Available now from www.amazon.co.uk or download to Kindle

In medieval times you could be burned alive for dreaming of the devil

People have always been fascinated by dreams.  The earliest known recorded dreams were in Mesopotamia about five thousand years ago.

The Egyptians believed a person was blessed if they had vivid dreams.  They believed they were messages from the gods, for example the account of Joseph and his dream of seven fat cows and seven thin ones.  Interpreted to Pharaoh as seven years of plenty then seven years of famine.

The Greeks also studied dreams.  They built dream temples, often on hillsides.  They believed the gods took an interest in the everyday life of mortals and would contact them through dreams.  Hippocrates supported a theory that dreams reflected a persons bodily health.

The Romans also placed great significance on dreams as did the native American Indians.  They believed it was the ancestors who communicated through dreams

Unfortunately with the coming of Christianity a negative attitude evolved towards dreams.  Instead of a tool for receiving messages from God, they were seen as proof of worshipping the devil.  Dreams were even used as evidence in court to convict witches.  If there was any suggestion a person had met with the devil or evil spirits in a dream, they could be burned alive.

And so it became, people disregarded their dreams and stayed quiet about them. They also forgot how to interpret them.  It wasn't until the 19th century that  theories of the unconscious started to emerge, most famously with Sigmund Freud that an interest in dreams started to re emerge.

You can read more about the history of dreams and how to interpret your own in my new book 'Dreams - The Forgotten Craft'  available now from Amazon or as a download to Kindle.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dreams-Forgotten-Craft-carol-lewis-ebook/dp/B00KVXD9D6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402467423&sr=8-1&keywords=dreams+the+forgotten+craft+kindle

The Ghosts of Llanyrafon Manor

Llanyrafon Manor, set in its peaceful garden is something of a haven in the busy town of Cwmbran.  Originally owned by the Griffiths family from the 1600's to the end of the 19th century it is now a heritage centre.  It is also perhaps, one of the most haunted places in Cwmbran.

Being a volunteer at the Manor, I've got to hear many stories from other volunteers, staff and visitors.  Some of them Ive already written about in my book 'Cwmbran History and Mystery' but the Manor just keeps on producing more.  Read on and find out more.

Entrance -  Even before you get into the house ghost stories abound here.  Some people have reported being drawn to the window above the porch without knowing why.  Some visitors will walk around the grounds quite happily but refuse to enter the house.  There have also been sightings of a tall figure by the stables and a monk.

The Kitchen -  A medium picked up on the spirit of a woman drying herbs and a visitor claimed to have felt the presence of a spirit here.

The Study - Here the sound of rustling dried flowers has been heard.

The original staircase - can be accessed downstairs in the parlour.  Visitors on the ghost tours have reported the smell of bacon in this spot.

Hallway leading from Tudor Hall to the Great Chamber - a very eerie spot, lights are known to flicker for no reason.  Also during a ghost tour the word 'no' was heard in answer to the question of whether the group could enter one of the rooms.

The Attic -  Its very creepy, not many like being up here.  It is supposedly haunted by the ghosts of two children, one of whom drowned.  Beyond the door is another part of the attic, here cold spots are felt and a general feeling of uneasiness.  Footsteps have been heard on the stairs when no one is there.  I know this, I was there!

2nd floor corridor - This leads to the room that  overlooks the porch.  Here the ghost of a boy called James looks out of the window waiting for his mother.  She left the manor one day and never returned, so he watches for her return.  In this room another volunteer felt a child tug at them as if to get attention.  

Other reports of ghostly goings on at the Manor include mysterious puddles of water appearing over night and cakes being thrown off the counter!  Don't be put off though, it really is a great place:)

You can read more about the ghosts of Cwmbran in 'Cwmbran History and Mystery' available now from Amazon

Victorian Cwmbran - Some extracts from my book

These are some extracts from Victorian Cwmbran and relate to Forge Hammer and the Cwmbran Works which was on the site of the retail park and stretching up through Springvale.

17 May 1856

“On Tuesday week, a lad named David Davies, while engaged near the rolls at Cwmbran Works, was accidentally drawn into a portion of the machinery called 'the box' and received such serious injuries that he died the following morning. An inquest was held on the body Thursday last and a verdict of accidental death returned”

7 May 1859

“An inquest was held on Saturday at the Bridge End Inn before Mr W H Brewer deputy coroner, on the body of Isaac James, age 17 years who came by his death under the following painful circumstances. The deceased was a haulier on the incline tramway between the iron works and the colliery. On Wednesday, the 27^th while bringing down some coal trams, the gradient being heavy and the brakes insufficient, the tram obtained too much momentum which placed the horses in danger. Deceased, in order it is thought, to rescue them, attempted to uncouple their chain from the tram, when he fell across the road the trucks passing on, his legs, body and head were frightfully broken, bruised and lacerated. Surgical skill was of no avail and the unfortunate youth died on Friday. Verdict 'Accidental death'”

8 March 1879

“John Lyons, landlord of the Moon Public House was charged with keeping his house open during prohibited hours on 15^th. A police officer said that he was passing near the house at 11.5 pm and heard some conversation. On going into the premises he saw a man named Crine there. He asked him what he had got under his coat, which he declined to show. He afterwards threw something into the canal which witness believed to be a jar. He asked the landlord what Crine wanted at his house and he replied that he had some beer. Mr David who appeared for the defendant said, Crine was on the premises at work at the time. Crine was then charged with being in the house during illegal hours which he admitted but said he staying to supper after work. The Bench dismissed the case.

15 December 1883

“An inquest on the body of Mr Joseph Williams, a fireman aged 59 years, who was killed on 3^rd December by an explosion of gas at the Cwmbran Colliery, belonging to the Patent Nut and Bolt Company, was held on Monday at the Pontnewydd Inn before Mr Martin Edwards. A verdict of 'Accidental Death by an explosion of gas underground' was given Mr Bain, Government Inspector attended to watch the inquiry”

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Victorian-Cwmbran-Carol-Ann-Lewis/dp/1490970177/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401220382&sr=8-1&keywords=victorian+cwmbran

Paranormal Evening at the Horse & Jockey

     I was invited to go along to a paranormal evening at the Horse and Jockey pub in Pontymoile on 12 May 2014.  I've always wanted to go on a ghost hunt but wasn't sure if I should or whether I'd like it, but this one was different.
     I've already written about the ghostly goings on at the pub in my book Gwent History and Mystery, its the place where my great great grandfather was killed in 1902.  So I decided to go out of curiosity, see if any of the mediums would pick anything up!
     There were about twenty of us at the pub. We sat in the oldest part, what used to be the coaching inn, dating from around the 15th century. We had a meal first, it being only seven o clock and still light outside.  It was planned then to go into the churchyard next door and have a look around once dark enough.  As the night progressed I mentioned to the host that my ancestor had been killed in the area in which we were eating and she suggested I should tell the story to the group before we went out.  I didn't say how he had been killed but at the end of the story one lady said that she had felt the sensation of being hit in the back of the head as she walked through the entrance.  She had described exactly how he was killed, from behind.
     The current landlord also related a spooky experience he had had one night.  He was sat downstairs in the bar with another person and they heard footsteps running upstairs when there was no one up there!
     Once it was dark, about 10 pm, we went out into the churchyard and had a look around, quite a few said they could sense figures but I couldn't see anything.  At the top of the church tower I thought I saw a figure looking down on us, so did a few of the others but on shining a torch up there the windows were boarded up!.
     Back in the pub, the lights were off and we held a group seance.  Plenty of cold spots and a woman close to me describing the feeling of having a very upset stomach.  This made me think of the landlord Isaac Walford who had died in 1862.  One night he had been drinking heavily and had suffered from diarrhoea, weakness and trembling.  He had to be assisted to bed and died a few hours later. The ghost of a vicar with a round hat was mentioned next, the building having been a vicarage in the 17th century. The ghosts of two women also came through.  One was described as being very short and the other as quite large.  I know of three landladies, Martha, Elizabeth Walford, wife of Isaac and Elizabeth Jeremiah who was landlady by 1875. There could of course have been more.
     Around 11ish, seances and and divination was in full swing.  The ghost of a little boy came through to some, dressed in scruffy clothes and dirty, why he was there couldn't be ascertained but maybe the fact the pub was used for the inquest on the body of a baby boy found dumped in the woods in the 1850's might be the answer!
     At 12.30 the evening came to a close.  All in all, a really interesting, sometimes freaky but never scary night!  The Horse and Jockey is a lovely pub, especially the 15th century part which is very cosy with its big fireplace.  I would definitely go on another paranormal evening there, though not alone!




The 15th century part of the pub

The 15th century part with original staircase to the right of the fireplace

The church tower

Scene of the crime !!!

Looking into the newer part of the pub

Read more of Gwent's ghost stories in my book ...



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gwent-History-Mystery-Carol-Lewis/dp/1492171395/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420997432&sr=1-1&keywords=gwent+history+and+mystery

Hanbury Park promotional video

Well, I've been busy today making another video to promote my books.  This time its for my novel Hanbury Park.  I've taken all the photos, except one, myself and unfortunately, for the moment anyway, I don't have any other books to make videos for!  But, I am in the process of writing another one, its still in the research stages at the moment but hopefully I will get it finished soon.  In the meantime here is the link for the video and some of the photos.  Enjoy


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBUZAs92qD0


A very cold winter morning in North Wales

Cwmbran Boating Lake

Blaenavon

 Cwmbran in winter

Tell Them of Us - Press Release

New book commemorates brave Torfaen ancestors

'Tell Them of Us' is a new book by author Carol Ann Lewis.

2014 will see events taking place around the world to commemorate the start of World War One.  'Tell Them of Us' is the story of seven men from Torfaen who left their families to fight in France.

Gripped by the patriotism that swept the land in 1914 in face of the German threat, along with millions of others, they signed up to fight.  They were mostly volunteers - miners, shopkeepers - ordinary people and with the minimum of training they were sent to the trenches of the Western Front.  Instead of being home by Christmas, the war dragged on for four long years and as a result they experienced horrors we can never imagine.  For many, their first experience of battle would be their last.

But from the carnage also stepped heroes - Richard Jones from Pontypool who fought with the South Wales Borderers at the Battle of Gheluvelt, where the battalion stood alone to face the German army and protect the village until reinforcements arrived.  Had the Germans got through, the French ports would have been next.  William Jones, also of Pontypool who tied a page of the Pontypool Free Press to his rifle and stepped out into no mans land on Christmas Day 1914 to try and instigate peace with the Germans and John Hancock of Abersychan who fought at the Somme and was awarded the Military Medal for bravery. 

'Tell Them of Us' is a history book of local interest on a subject that was shared by millions.

Carol Ann Lewis is the author of four local history books and is the secretary of Cwmbran Writers Group.  She can be contacted on 07722300002 or emailed at carolannlewis@ntlworld.com

Her books are available from www.amazon.co.uk  or as a download to Kindle.