The nights are drawing in, and there’s a chill in the air, so settle down with stories of myths, ghosts and legends of Powys.

The cold fate of Silver John

There’s a lake near New Radnor known as Llyn Heilyn, where swans and wildlife thrive. Nearby is the Fforest Inn, where those who walk the area can visit from Friday to Sunday, where they’re welcomed with hospitable arms.

Once, a man called John Lloyd lived on a sheep farm, in the Harley Valley. He got the name Silver John when he helped set the leg of a local boy, refusing money for his service, instead taking two silver buttons. He became known locally as a bonesetter, with many people going to him for help.

But in 1830, he made his way to Builth Fair, and was never seen alive again.

Four months later, the daughter of the landlord at the Fforest Inn, Mary, went skating on the iced surface of Llyn Heilyn lake. She slipped, falling hard onto the ice, and let out a piercing scream.

She had come face to face with the frozen body of Silver John, underneath the lake. The rumour was that he had been murdered for his silver buttons.

Now, it is said Silver John lies in a grave somewhere on the Great Creigiau above New Radnor.

The Skirrid Inn

Known as the oldest inn in Wales, The Skirrid Inn has a long history involving a bloody judge, hangings, and hauntings. Many people have reported feeling as though a noose has been wrapped around their neck, and when you visit the inn, you can see the beam used to condemn men.

Others have reported hearing the whisper of the deceased landlord, Fanny Price.

Many ghost hunters investigate The Skirrid Inn, reporting all sorts of activity from knocking to full body apparitions.

Ghost or tramp?

This spooky story was submitted to The Brecon and Radnor Express in 2021, and you can revisit it here.

The story goes that Rod Williams from Talgarth and two others witnessed a ghostly entity. Rod was in Cusop, and decided to walk a spooky lane which would eventually take him and his partner at the time back into Hay for a beer or two. They took a lane close to Llydiartyway Farm, which Rod described as always being scary to him. He described hearing a ‘very odd voice’, which he couldn’t understand. It was followed by footsteps, which continued to follow them even when they ran. After escaping and reaching the pub, Rod and his partner convinced themselves it was nothing but ‘a tramp’.

A few years later, Rod returned, and had the same experience. A disembodied voice and footsteps following. He never did get to the bottom of whether or not it was the same living person, or something other.

Tindle Hauntings?

Now imagine the fear of working in the newsrooms of the Brecon and Radnor Express, and The Abergavenny Chronicle all alone...and getting a ghostly experience.

Well, that’s what happened to a previous reporter back in 2021. The story goes that as the evening drew in, the reporter in The Brecon and Radnor office started to feel like she was being observed. She then sees a figure in the neighbouring room. She writes: “I crept towards the sales office, my eyes fixed on the figure. I was sure I could see two reflective eyes staring back at me.

“My gaze locked with the unblinking stare of the figure, I continue walking forwards before slamming my hand on the light switch...”

She then hears footsteps in an empty office above her own. It’s all very scary!

But it’s not just the Brecon and Radnor office that has some ghostly activity. No, The Abergavenny Chronicle comes with its own, too.

The Abergavenny Chronicle office was closed for a while, but the office was never truly empty.

Ghost hunting group Beyond the Grave held an investigation there, and the group heard furniture scraping sounds across the ceiling above the group, yet nobody was upstairs. Light anomalies were witnessed by many guests; these can look like small fast moving balls or dots of white, blue or red lights in the darkness.

A sinister black shadow was seen lurking at the top of the stairs in the corridor by many guests.

Powys has many ghost stories, much folklore and myth and legend. What stories do you wish to share?

If you’re looking for more, The Folklore of Radnorshire by Roy Palmer has you covered.