The Ghost Stone
We’re counting down to Halloween with five of North Wales’ most terrifying stories. Check back every Monday for more of Haunted Wales!
This story has at least some basis in historical fact.
Up north in Liverpool, an increasing population and poor sanitation was causing a high death toll. The Corporation of Liverpool began working on the world’s first stone-built dam within Llanwdyyn, the village of which would be moved down the valley some way.
The chosen site for construction in along the Lake Vyrnwy contained a large stone, named “careg yr yspryd” or “the ghost stone”, which had to be demolished to make way for the dam. This was no normal rock however –a local hero Dic Spot had trapped a mischievous goblin spirit named Yspryd Cynon within the quill of a pen, and secured it beneath the rock. Legend had stated that he would remain there until “water should work its way between the stone and the dry land” – as obviously it would, once flooded.
Despite warnings from the locals, the stone was demolished as part of the construction process. As it came down, observers spotted a pool of water, and as they watched a large toad emerged from the rubble, blinking and rubbing its eyes – perhaps the spirit of the goblin. For the next few nights any villager walking nearby heard the sound of heavy chains scraping against rock.
Goblin spirit or no, the dam in Llanwdyyn is an eerie but beautiful site – an impassive reservoir lying on top of the abandoned village, parts of the old town can still be seen beneath the lake.
