Haunting tales from the Dee Estuary
You might not associate the Dee Estuary with Halloween but you may be surprised to know that there are quite a few spooky stories linked to the Dee Estuary coast. Shipwrecks, lighthouses, and sea monsters just to name a few. Read on to find out more about these stories and what we have planned for the spooky season on the estuary.
The Our Dee Estuary Team.
Stories from the Dee Estuary
We have delved into the archives of our history and heritage volunteers and picked out a few of our favourite tales that seemed appropriate for the time of year. We hope you enjoy reading them.
But first here is a tale discovered by our very own Project Manager, Hannah Phillips, about Talacre’s famous lighthouse (pictured above).
The lighthouse on Talacre beach is one of the most recognisable of landmarks across the Dee Estuary. Built in the 19th century to guide mariners across Liverpool Bay and down the estuary it has stood now unused since the 1840’s. Now a popular focal point for visitors to the beach, a striking backdrop for photographs and a historical artefact to explore.
As time has weathered the walls of this impressive building so have tales of the unusual nature of goings on inside been spread. Many have reported feeling unusual or unwell when walking close to the base of the lighthouse, and dog walkers have reported their pets refusing to come near or barking at something unseen. The most frequent of reports has been of a man in old fashioned clothing walking the balcony at the top of the building. There is no access into this building for public so this seems particularly peculiar.
Many believe that this man was the last lighthouse keeper, Raymond. It is said that he died of a fever whilst operating the lights and providing safe passage for mariners here. In 2010 a statue designed to honour Raymond was placed on the lighthouse balcony keeping watch over the bay, though this statue has since been removed.
Screaming skull of Ffagnalt
There are a number of Screaming Skull legends told within the British Isles but there is only one in Wales and it happens to be close to the Dee Estuary.
There is a Grade II listed farmhouse, formerly a 15th Century Manor House in Rhes-y-cae near Halkyn.
Ffagnalt Hall contains a box within which there is a skull believed to be that of Dafydd ap Owain Gwynedd who was betrayed while seeking refuge at the house and who left behind a curse that stated that if his skull were removed from the house terrible things would happen.
There are of course tales that if true would corroborate the story, but can they be believed. On the other hand, to be on the safe side, the skull remains in the house.
For more information about this story follow these links:
Halkyn Old Churchyard
To most people the heritage of Halkyn Mountain and the surrounding area lies in its mining tradition. The signs of mining activity are easy to see with conically capped mineshafts and lime kilns scattered over the mountainside.
However a possibly more interesting feature of Halkyn is the Old Churchyard. The current church of St Marys was built about 1880. About 100 yards away is found the site of the old church and the graveyard surrounding it. The old church which dated from 1745, although there is evidence that there had been earlier churches since the Domesday Book, was demolished either because it had become too small for village following expansion due to increased mining, or because the Duke of Westminster thought it spoiled the view from Halkyn Castle, depending on who you believe. In any event, the churchyard contains a platform where the old church stood and well preserved gravestones that date no later than 1870.
There is also a Holy Well. And at one time there was a Churchyard Cross which must have been destroyed during the demolition. The headstone of the Cross was found being used as a footrest by the bell ringers of the new church and has since been incorporated into one of its buttresses.
It is not surprising that the Old Churchyard is said to be haunted but whatever you feel about ghosts, a wander around the graves is reported to be a refreshing experience amid a peaceful atmosphere.
More can be found about mining around Halkyn, the history of the Churchyard and of the Cross can be found by following these links:
Curious Clwyd – The Old Churchyard at Halkyn
Deux Amis
Not surprisingly for a waterway with a rich history of traffic up and down its length, the Dee Estuary has seen its fair share of wrecks which range from a collapsing bridge in Chester in 1847, to crashed airplanes, both British and German, during the war, to boats and ships of various sizes and uses.
One of the most interesting of these is the Deux Amis which ran aground at Llinegar between Mostyn and Talacre in January 1779. She was an East Indiaman carrying a rich cargo of among other things tea, silk, cotton and wine which had been captured off Cape Finisterre by the British Privateer Knight and was being escorted to Liverpool. A storm drove both ships ashore, the Knight at Abergele near Colwyn Bay on the North Wales coast, and the Deux Amis at Llinegar. Thirty-two members of the forty-two strong crew were lost and despite the efforts of the local landowners, led by Sir Roger Mostyn on whose land the wreck ran aground, there was much looting of the cargo. It is said that there were diamonds and gold aboard which may or may not have been recovered from the waters.
More notes on the various wrecks that have occurred in the Dee Estuary can be found here:
Dorothy Griffith
In 1655 the village of Picton, about 6 km south of Point of Ayr was the centre of an allegation of witchcraft which might have resulted in an execution of an innocent woman but for the intervention of the local community who spoke out in her support.
The allegation was made by one William Griffith against Dorothy Griffith, no relation. He stumbled into an alehouse in Picton claiming that while he was travelling to Point of Ayr to re-join his ship, he had witnessed Dorothy on the marshes surrounded by Corpse Lights, believed to be signs of impending death, and that she had vanished suddenly.
The case went to trial but 31 prominent local figures signed a petition attesting to her good character and Dorothy was found not guilty. Closer scrutiny of the evidence against her suggests that this may have been a malicious accusation fuelled by a feud between the two Griffith families.
Allegations of witchcraft were taken very seriously along the Dee Estuary in those days and Dorothy would not have been the first or the last victim of fears and beliefs in the existence of witches.
For more detail about this story and about the phenomenon of Corpse Candles follow these links:
Shoresearch is coming back for October half term!
Shoresearch is back and we have a special Halloween addition at Talacre
Come and stretch your legs, get some fresh air, and discover the magic of the coastline at an autumn Shoresearch this half term. We will be scouring the strandline (the line of marine debris, creatures and seaweeds left after high tide) in search of shells, seaweeds, crabs and much more. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about your local coastline and the plants and animals that live here.
Our events are open to everyone and are family friendly. We are holding one event on the English side of the Dee Estuary at Thurstaston on the 30th October and one on the Welsh side of the Dee Estuary at Talacre on the 31st of October. At Thurstaston we will partner with Wirral Country Park and Record, a local environmental recording organisation. In Wales we are partnering with North Wales Wildlife Trust.
Book your tickets for Thurstaston and Talacre and join us down at the beach.
Photo Credits: Paul Steele, Terry Daltrey. Frantisek Krejci, David J Smith, Pezibear – Pixabay, Pete Richman, Damian Waters / Drumimages.co.uk.
