by Vi 

I have a story to tell that is creepy and true. Most of you know I was born and raised in Wales and it was in that mysterious country that my story takes place. My father worked as a chauffeur for a wealthy man and because of that we lived in a cottage on the  estate.

As a child, I roamed the grounds, happy in my world, which I felt was full of adventure. My father’s best buddy was also a chauffeur. He was in the employ of Old Mrs. Powell who amused me the few times I saw her because she used a ear trumpet. She lived at Nanteos Mansion which was reputed to be haunted.

I was there on a number of occasions with my father when he was visiting his friend.  Old Mrs. Powel wasMargaret Powell who lived there from 1861 until her death in 1951. She was, I believe, the last of the Powell family to live there. But back to my story.  In those days, the place was creepy, at least it was to my child’s mind. While my father was visiting with his friend, I roamed the grounds much like I did at home at Plas Hendre, talking to the trees and the animals that I considered my friends.   Often I would look up at the windows of the old mansion and I believed I saw ghostly figures looking back at me. The place was reputed to be haunted then, as it is now.  

I clearly remember…it was early one winter evening and I was waiting for my father. Our car, a small Austin seven, was parked at the end of a long imposing driveway. It was getting dark and I was wandering around in the vicinity of the vehicle when I heard the most terrifying screech. I was scared out of my shoes. I jumped into the car and lay down in the back, on the floor.

Now they tell me that all I heard was an owl. But I had heard owls before and they had never scared me. This was an out of this world screech. I don’t care what they say, what I heard that night was no owl. I’m convinced to this day that it was something out of this world.   

I never went to Nanteos again. The Powell family no longer lives there and it has become a hotel. I think if I visit Wales again, I should stay there and put to rest my conviction that the spirits that roam the corridors and grounds of Nanteos are friendly. I’m sure Old Mrs. Powell roams the rooms and corridors hearing all with her ear trumpet.

Vi

If you would like to learn more about Nanteos visit the following sites:

 http://www.geocities.com/janjoeluk/Nanteos_Mansion.html?20072http://www.nanteos.co.uk/history.html