Children of Nature

The history of witches goes back a very long time to a pre christian age and the days of worshipping nature and the goddess.  Ancient peoples lived by the cycles of nature, by observing these cycles they knew when to plant crops and when to harvest etc.  As a result rituals and celebrations evolved along with beliefs that everything had a spirit.
When Christianity came along these children of nature were considered to be pagans and witches and therefore evil.  What I have tried to look at in my book is what exactly were these people doing that caused so much outrage.  We are generally taught of the stereotypical witch, the old hag dressed in black flying on a broomstick.  She is usually poor with a cat for company.  However out of the thousands accused, a percentage were men, in Iceland most of those executed were men.  They were mostly healers with a knowledge of herbs, astrologers, midwives, fortune tellers.  Many were poor people in the wrong place at the wrong time while others were from wealthy families.  Some were old, others were children.  What they had in common was to be accused of crimes they couldn't possibly have committed, such as weather magic, causing illness by bewitchment, flying on broomsticks, turning themselves into animals. Many would just admit to these impossibilities than suffer the ordeal of being tortured.  Methods of torture included sleep deprivation, continual walking, thumbscrews, the rack and many more.  One woman confessed to killing her own children, even though they were alive and well.  Once a confession was secured the victim was usually decapitated and burned at the stake or sometimes burned alive.  Witch hunters began to appear, offering their services to towns and villages of ridding the area of witches and making a good living in the process.  How many people were killed depends on what source you read, some say fifty thousand, others say two hundred and fifty thousand.

Children of Nature is available from www.amazon.co.uk  or as a download to Kindle

Victorian Pontypool - extracts from my book

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

February 1838

 “The sufferings of the poor of Pontypool and it's neighbourhood have been greatly alleviated, during this inclement season by the praiseworthy exertions of many benevolent individuals who have interested themselves in their behalf. The annual subscription of the inhabitants to the soup fund have been much increased, and the liberal donation of Mrs Hanbury Leigh, of Pontypool Park, has enabled the committee to distribute 950 quarts of nutritious food to the necessitous twice a week during the winter months. Mr E H Phillips has taken an active part in this charitable undertaking and in addition has liberally given a number of loaves of bread to many deserving families who feel thankful for the relief afforded them in time of need”

3 August 1839

The destruction of property owing to the late heavy rains in the vicinity of Pontypool has been truly awful and we we are very sorry to say that two unfortunate fellow creatures have been hurried into eternity. About 10 o clock on Tuesday night, the large pond at the British Works, Abersychan gave way, the water rushing with terrific violence, destroying everything in its way. We also hear the following effects from the storm:- Mr C H Leigh's park completely inundated. A large slip of the Darren mountain fell on a man from which he was fortunately extricated. Pontypool bridge almost down and the large iron bridge at the New Forge, destroyed with a large portion of the rail road. The mill house at Abersychan was partly carried away. A horse and donkey were observed going down with the stream, the donkey trying to reach the land but was soon dashed to pieces. The British Company's Forge had a very desolate appearance; not a man was at work, stones, coal, rubbish and timber blocking up the place. Several hundred tons of coal and heaps of mine were carried off. A small house was observed buried in sand to the upper windows. The engine house near the pits was quite filled with rubbish, the water having flowed through it, filling the pits, drowning, we are sorry to say, two men and seven horses. Nearly all the bridges and three houses at Varteg were washed away. At Trosnant, the people were obliged to be taken out of their bedroom windows, at twelve o clock at night: their screams being truly awful.

15 March 1856

“An inquest was held on Saturday last at the Cwmffrwd Inn before Thomas Hughes Esq, coroner, and a respectable jury on the body of William Jacob, who was, on the previous day found suspended from a hook in a beam at the top of the house, quite dead. The finding of the body having been proved by Mr E Evans, who lived next door to the deceased. P C Roberts stated that deceased had been deranged for a length of time and continued so to the day of his death. There being no doubt of the lunacy and that he had committed the act himself the jury found a verdict that 'the deceased had destroyed himself in a fit of insanity"

Torfaen at War Exhibition Launch

The 4th August was the centenary of Britain's entry into the First World War.  It was also the launch of a digital exhibition by Torfaen Heritage telling the story of local people who had fought in the war..
Last June I donated my book 'Tell Them of Us' to the exhibition by going along to their van at the Cwmbran Big Event.  I was also interviewed at the time and this interview was recorded for use in the project.
 Over the next few weeks I sent further information to be used in the exhibition, my ancestors service records and any photographs that I had though unfortunately I was later told my recording probably wouldn't be used because of all the background noise from recording outside.

Anyway, I was invited to the launch of the project on 4th August at the Blaenavon Heritage Centre.  It took place in a big old classroom in the former St Peter's School and the place was full of people who had contributed their stories.

The first part of the afternoon was taken up with talks about the project and then our first chance to see the film that had been created from all the stories collected.  I remembered that my recording wasn't going to be used so sat back to watch the dvd, feeling a bit disappointed.  

However this was not to be.  A few minutes in and one of my photographs was on the tv screen, one of my Great Great Uncle William and there was a voice, telling the story of his experience of the Christmas Day Truce, it was me!!  A strange moment, felt a bit shocked at first, but then I glanced around, people were listening, then I felt proud.  There are some moments money cant buy, that was one of them.

When the film ended all the contributors were called up one by one to collect a copy of the dvd.  My name was called out so I got up and went to collect mine, to lots of applause, just like everyone else.  Shook hands with the mayor and had my photograph taken with her.  

Then it was time for tea and cake and a look around at the display boards.  Each board tells the story of someone from Torfaen who took part in World War 1.  Only the story of one of my ancestors has been told at the moment, that of Great Great Uncle William, mainly because he took part in the Christmas Day Truce of 1914.  I believe the exhibition is following the timeline of the war for the next four years, so the book I donated may be referred to in future and other ancestors of mine included in the exhibition.

The Torfaen at War Exhibition is at Blaenavon Heritage Centre until 31 October then it will be travelling around the county for the next four years.

Llantarnam Ghost Story

Following on from the story of the strange lights in Llantarnam in Cwmbran History and Mystery, another ghostly sighting has emerged in the same area.  The story was told to me by a friend and concerns a mysterious figure that stands on the road at Abbey Lane, Llantarnam.  The figure has been seen many times apparently and is that of a man wearing a bowler hat.

If you walk up Abbey Lane you will come to a small row of houses.  The house with the coat of arms above the door used to be the police station and there was also a pub here, the Coopers Arms, where inquests on bodies took place.  Both are now gone and converted into houses.

So who is the mysterious figure?  The Weekly Mail of 1883 might give a clue.

Printed in the February 24th issue was an article concerning a man, Michael Sullivan, who, on a Sunday morning was walking along the canal from Newport to Cwmbran.  At Llantarnam he stopped in his path as he found a set of clothing lying on the ground.  He gathered the items up and took them to the police station, but no one came to claim them nor did anyone report any missing persons.  The police searched the canal but found nothing and as far as is known the case was never solved.  So the owner of the clothes - a pair of boots, two shirts, a jacket, a blue and white handkerchief and a bowler hat - remains a mystery to this day.

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