Grotesque Ghosts

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881) Book 2 Chapter 4

by Wirt Sikes

We hear about the grotesque ghosts of Welsh folklore, the story of the minister and the phantom horseman, Anne Jenkins and the giant ghost with the long black tongue. Sikes also tells us about dark or black men in the Mabinogion, spinning or whirling ghosts as well as those that play tricks on people. He leaves us with the story of the Tridoll Valley ghost and its many antics with stones, pilchards and the maid's bed-clothes!

Running Order:

• Grotesque Ghosts 0:53
• The Phantom Horseman 1:44
• Gigantic Spirits 6:08
• The Black Ghost of Ffynon yr Yspryd 8:11
• Black Men in the Mabinogion 9:54
• Whirling Ghosts 11:42
• Antic Spirits 13:31
• The Tridoll Valley Ghost 16:10
• Resemblance to Modern Spiritualistic Performances 23:17
• Household Fairies 25:45

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Rev. John Jones, Holywell, Flintshire Heinrich Zschokke Bala, Merionethshire Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire Llanuwchllyn Edward Frank Thomas Miles Harry, Aberystruth Abergavenny Thomas Lewis, of Llan-haran, Glamorganshire Anne Herbert Jenkins, Trefethin Rhiw-newith Ffynon yr Yspryd Mabinogion Peredur Carn Sindbad the Sailor Cynan Polyphemus Odysseus Prophet Jones Lewis Thomas Bedwellty John Jenkins, Abertillery Jeremiah James Abertillery Household Thomas Andrew Llanhiddel Llanllechid, Carnarvonshire Bangor Edward Roberts, Llangunllo, Radnorshire Knighton William Thomas The Tridoll Valley Ghost Williams Evans Rev. R. Tibbet Montgomeryshire Cawnen Allen Akron, Ohio Michael Metzler Mrs. Knoss Rochester Bwbach Hoibgoblin Nis Brownie Kobolds Kobold Hinselmann Grimm Feldman Woo, 'Che-wan-luk'

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.