What was the best way to rid your community of a troublesome ghost in 18th-century Radnorshire? For the residents of Disserth, the answer was clear.

When a widely disliked tanner - famed for using different sets of scales depending on whether he was buying or selling - died in an accident, locals hoped their troubles were over. But soon after, unsettling reports began to emerge.

Once the sun had set over the distant Llanafan hills, anyone traversing the deserted lanes ran the risk of being accosted by the tanner's ghost. A favourite trick was to jump up behind riders, causing the horses to gallop, and to announce in a chilling voice: “I am Charles Lewis of the light and double weights: once I was a man; now I am a devil!”

Local protocol for dealing with such spirits involved calling on the clergy to "read the spirit down." Disserth’s vicar, Rev Jones, enlisted three colleagues to confront the ghost at the tanner’s former home. When that failed, they summoned it to St Cewydd’s Church. There, the spirit blew out the lights held by the three guest clergy - deemed “unworthy” by the account - but Rev Jones had cleverly hidden his candle in his boot.

Retrieving it, he began hours of fervent Bible reading. The spirit gradually shrank, eventually transforming into a bluebottle. Rev Jones trapped it in a goose quill, sealed it inside a snuffbox, and buried it deep in a local bog under an iron stake to prevent its return.

A simple tombstone was erected over the grave, said to have been decorated with carvings of reptiles. Though many remembered it, by 1911 no trace remained.

Now, Builth Wells Community Arts (BWCAS) is bringing the tale to the stage. A comedy-drama with music based on the story will be performed at Wyeside Arts Centre on March 14 and 15, 2026.

As part of the production, pupils in Years 5 and 6 at Newbridge-on-Wye School recently worked with artist Geraint Edwards to create four giant bluebottles for display in the Wyeside foyer.

To mark the story's roots, a community walk took place on Sunday, July 13 - the nearest weekend to St Cewydd’s feast day. Known as the Welsh equivalent of St Swithin, St Cewydd is traditionally linked to rain, but on this occasion, sunshine prevailed. After singing an opening song in the churchyard, a cheerful group walked to the Aberithon Nature Reserve, where a dead, symbolic fly was ceremoniously submerged.

The production coincides with the end of nearly 700 years of St Cewydd’s Church being used as a parish church. The charity Friends of Friendless Churches will soon take over the care of the historic building, which will still be used for up to six services a year and community events.

Ahead of rehearsals starting in November, BWCAS will host workshops in acting, singing, dance and set design. Anyone interested in taking part - on stage or behind the scenes - is invited to contact Kate at [email protected].