Llancaiach Fawr Manor House
The Llancaiach Fawr Manor House is located in Wales and its first written documentation is on a work schedule done by John Leland in 1537. The house was originally built for the Prichard family, and based on an inference from the four foot thick walls, the house was built to be a safe haven against any outside attackers.
As the years went by and the family became wealthier, the manor was built onto and became a much larger building. A feud between the Prichard and Lewis family began when a man named Lewis William was murdered in 1601. Edmund Lewis accused one of Edward Prichard’s servant for committing the crime.
The servant was consequently hung for the crimes, but Edward Prichard did not believe that his servant had ever done such a deed. This feud would last for the rest of Edward’s life and would even go into the next generation to follow. To this day, it is believed that the members of the Prichard family haunt their old home. The ghost of King Charles I is also believed to haunt the manor, as he visited the site once during his life. Other ghosts here include several children that can be heard playing with themselves by the front door. Visitors and staff members have reported being touched by unseen entities as well. The Llancaiach Fawr Manor House has an online ghostcam to keep watch of any activity going on. The ghostcam can be viewed here.
(Source: Belanger, Jeff. Encyclopedia of Haunted Places. 2005.)
Hi Folks,
I was just noodling through the net when I came across this site. Having worked at Llancaiach Fawr for a VERY long time, I thought it might be a good idea to put you right on a couple of facts. We portray the Edward Prichard who owned the Manor in 1645. The one you mention was his grandfather, another Edward Prichard. It was his servant who was accused of murder, but he wasn’t hanged for it. The Prichards and the Lewises were related. By 1645 the family quarrel was a thing of the past. The Lewises had moved from Y Fan, in Caerphilly, to their new home in St. Fagans, east of Cardiff.
Charles 1st is reputed to have visited Llancaiach Fawr in August 1645, just for a short time, on his way between Cardiff and Brecon whilst trying to gain support for his cause during the Civil War (an event we celebrate every year). However, I can’t say I’ve ever heard of his ghost haunting the Manor! There are plenty of others, but not that one. (And I have to say – the idea of children playing with themselves by the front door is something I’d rather not think about!)
In the main, what people say they have experienced seems to stem from later than the 17th century. Yes, children have been heard playing on the stairs near the front door, and a little black boy has been seen, but the most common apparition appears to be from the Victorian period (possibly a housekeeper). A figure has been seen in the Great Hall that has been described as wearing dark coloured clothes and a story has grown that it might be Edward Prichard – but as the person who saw it said it was vague, it would be hard to say for sure what period it stems from.
A group has been formed to try to discover the facts behind the stories, such as; who was the tramp found with his throat cut and when did it happen? Where is the evidence concerning the little boy who had a tragic death? And above all – who was “Mattie”?
Why not come along to the Manor and see what you think? – But please, if you come during the day, don’t bother asking the servants in the Manor anything about the ghosts – they won’t know what you’re talking about! Come on a Ghost Tour instead, to hear more about these happenings. History by day – ghosts by night!
Best of luck,
E.P.
Me again! Did I say that St. Fagans was east of Cardiff? Sorry folks, anyone looking at a map can plainly see with one eye that it’s WEST!!
Women drivers, eh!
E.P.
hiyaa had fun visitin