Words and images by Greg Mansfield

This page is dedicated to the memory of my parents-in-law, Don and Marion Morris, who were Monmouth residents for many years.
Gorffwysa mewn hedd, Fil a Mil.
From mist-shrouded river valleys to rolling hills, Monmouthshire’s gorgeous landscape provides the perfect backdrop for tales of supernatural encounters and ghostly legends. I’ve spent much time in this lovely county, and here are my recommendations of the haunted places in Monmouthshire you should visit.
Haunted Places in Monmouthshire
Caldicot Castle

Location: Church Rd, Caldicot
Open: Tuesday – Sunday, 11:00am – 4:00pm
Admission: Free, except on certain event days
Website: visitwales.com/attraction/castle/caldicot-castle-and-country-park-1866908
In the southeast corner of Wales stands Caldicot Castle, one of Wales’ most magnificent medieval strongholds. The Norman conquerors built this fortress in 1086, near the site of a former Saxon castle.
The castle’s stones hold dark intrigue. In 1391, the halls witnessed a tragedy when King Richard II’s agents murdered Thomas of Woodstock, the castle’s owner and son of King Edward III of England, within its walls. This brutal act led to the Crown seizing the castle, forever changing its destiny.
Time took its toll on the magnificent structure until the Cobb family breathed new life into its stones in 1885. Their Victorian restoration transformed the crumbling fortress into an elegant residence, preserving its medieval charm for future generations.
Today, Caldicot Castle attracts visitors seeking both history and mystery. The medieval towers don’t just showcase reconstructions of ancient life – they harbour otherworldly inhabitants who refuse to leave their beloved home.
Brown-robed monks glide silently through centuries-old corridors, their spectral forms disappearing around corners. Mysterious grey ladies materialize before stunned onlookers, their presence acknowledged by many witness accounts.
Listen carefully and you might hear the gentle footsteps of a ghostly beggar boy echoing through the castle’s halls. Above the battlements, the vigilant spirit of Lady Alianore de Bohun continues her eternal watch over the castle she once called home.
Current visitors and staff members regularly encounter inexplicable phenomena. Objects move on their own, defying explanation, while sudden cold spots catch unsuspecting guests off guard. Perhaps most intriguing, dogs visiting the castle often react strangely in specific locations, their heightened senses detecting presences that escape human perception.
Today, the local authority maintains this remarkable piece of Welsh heritage, allowing visitors to step back in time while perhaps encountering something supernatural. Each tower, hall, and courtyard tells a story – both historical and paranormal.
Will you dare to explore the haunted halls of Caldicot Castle? Go and discover why this medieval marvel continues to captivate historians and ghost hunters alike.
Chepstow Castle

Location: Bridge St, Chepstow
Open: Daily
Admission: Some charge, with pay parking
Website: cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/chepstow-castle
Chepstow Castle rises majestically above the River Wye, beckoning visitors with its ancient secrets and supernatural mysteries. This Norman stronghold doesn’t just boast Britain’s oldest surviving great hall – it also guards Europe’s oldest castle doors, their weathered wood telling tales of centuries past.
The castle’s construction began in 1067, but its most fascinating stories go far beyond its impressive architecture. Today, Chepstow Castle attracts paranormal enthusiasts and history buffs alike, who come to experience its unexplained phenomena firsthand.
Henry Marten, perhaps the castle’s most famous spectral inhabitant, still roams the grounds where Charles II imprisoned him in 1668. Visitors regularly spot his figure walking the castle paths, continuing his imprisonment long after death. The castle’s dark history as a prison during the 1640s civil wars seems to fuel its supernatural energy.
The castle’s ancient halls echo with much mysterious phenomena, including:
- Phantom knocks resound from the historic wooden doors when no living soul stands nearby
- The castle shop, formerly the kitchen, fills with the ghostly scent of cooking onions, as if medieval chefs still prepare their feasts
- A seemingly possessed chess set captivates visitors with its self-moving pieces, hinting at invisible players locked in eternal games.
Deep beneath the fortress, local legends tell of an extraordinary encounter. An explorer reportedly stumbled upon none other than King Arthur and his knights in the castle’s underground caves. According to the tale, their ghostly presence so terrified the man that he fled in panic.
Throughout the castle, visitors regularly encounter unexplained cold spots – a classic sign of paranormal activity. These mysterious temperature changes, combined with the castle’s history of sieges, imprisonments, and executions, create an unmistakably eerie atmosphere.
If you’re eager to explore the paranormal side of British history, visit Chepstow Castle and walk in the footsteps of its ghostly residents.
Shire Hall, Monmouth

Location: Agincourt Square, Monmouth
Open: Monday – Friday 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM; closed Wednesday & Sunday
Admission: Free
Website: monlife.co.uk/heritage/the-shire-hall/
In the bustling heart of Monmouth stands the magnificent Shire Hall, a Grade I listed building that commands attention with its striking Georgian architecture. From 1724 to 1997, this remarkable structure served justice beneath its classical columns, continuing a legacy of law that traces back to an earlier courthouse built in 1571.
Today, Monmouthshire County Council keeps the building alive and functioning as both a tourist-information centre and the Monmouth Town Council offices. Yet behind its elegant façade, the Shire Hall harbours strange tales that draw paranormal enthusiasts.
The Shire Hall resonates with supernatural energy, particularly from those who faced harsh historical justice within its walls. Among its ghostly residents, none tell a more haunting tale than the spirits of a desperate family executed for stealing food – a chilling reminder of British justice’s cruel past. The spectral forms of three young girls, once accused of witchcraft in these very courtrooms, continue to roam the halls.
Perhaps the most striking supernatural resident is the ghostly judge who refuses to leave his post. Still wearing his traditional wig and robes, his apparition maintains an eternal vigil in the courtroom where he once presided. Modern visitors report seeing his dignified form moving through the corridors with purpose.
Staff members frequently encounter a particularly intriguing spirit – a mysterious lady who appears so solid that witnesses often mistake her for a living person. They follow her graceful form through the halls and into certain rooms, only to find them empty. The lingering scent of her perfume remains.
In 2006, former caretaker Tony Mambert experienced some of the building’s most compelling paranormal activity. Working alone, he witnessed a startling sight near Courtroom 2: a black cloak and disembodied legs vanishing behind a pillar. His other experiences included:
- The distinct feeling of being watched in empty courtrooms
- Doors closing mysteriously in the vacant building
- An overwhelming sense of unseen presences.
A visiting psychic later validated Mambert’s experiences, confirming the presence of at least one spectral judge among the building’s supernatural inhabitants. This verification adds another layer of intrigue to the Shire Hall’s already fascinating history.
Ready to walk the haunted halls of justice? Visit Monmouth Shire Hall and experience its supernatural heritage firsthand. Who knows which of its spectral residents you might encounter?
The Queen’s Head

Location: 1 St James St, Monmouth
Open: Daily
Admission: Free
Website: queensheadmonmouth.co.uk/
Step into The Queen’s Head on Monmouth’s eastern edge, where centuries of history merge with supernatural mystery. This Grade II listed building doesn’t just serve drinks – it serves up some of Wales’ most compelling ghost stories.
Dating to the 16th century, The Queen’s Head ranks as Wales’ third most haunted inn, surpassed only by the Prince of Wales Inn and The Skirrid Inn. The pub preserves its authentic charm with original 17th-century plasterwork adorning the bar area. Beneath its ancient floorboards and behind its walls, secret passages and removable sections whisper tales of turbulent times in British history.
Oliver Cromwell himself frequented these halls during the English Civil War. During one fateful visit, drama erupted when a Royalist Cavalier attempted to assassinate the military leader. The assassination failed, and the Cavalier met his end in the bar – but many say he never truly left.
Staff members regularly spot his ghostly figure, dressed in period military attire, sitting pensively by the fireplace. Curiously, witnesses only see him from the knees up – a detail that aligns perfectly with historic changes in the floor level.
Current owner Neil Bell maintains healthy skepticism about the supernatural tales, yet can’t ignore that some employees flat-out refuse to work in the pub after midnight. The unexplained phenomena prove too unsettling for many.
His daughter, Kirsten Weller, brings more compelling evidence to the ghost stories with her own experiences that include:
- Multiple encounters with a four-year-old girl in a dress roaming the premises
- Sightings of an elderly man wandering the upstairs corridors
- A mysterious patron who vanished into thin air near the fireplace.
Weller’s accounts gained credibility when an overnight guest reported waking to find a small blonde girl in a floral dress standing at the foot of their bed – matching previous descriptions perfectly.
The Queen’s Head’s spirits don’t rest when the last patrons leave. After closing time, the paranormal activity intensifies:
- Electrical equipment behaves erratically
- Objects move mysteriously behind the bar
- Female staff members report being pinched by unseen hands.
The Queen’s Head welcomes brave souls who want to experience its supernatural heritage firsthand – just keep an eye on the chairs near the fireplace.
Raglan Castle

Location: Off the A40 between Abergavenny and Monmouth, Monmouthshire
Open: Daily 10:00 am to 4:00 pm (winter) or 5:00 pm (summer)
Admission: Small fee; free for Cadw members
Website: cadw.gov.wales/visit/places/raglan-castle
Raglan Castle commands attention from its perch in the Welsh countryside, its weathered sandstone walls telling tales of medieval grandeur. Among Monmouthshire’s haunted treasures, this magnificent fortress stands out as the most impressive, combining military might with Tudor luxury.
Between 1435 and 1525, Raglan transformed from a mighty stronghold into an elegant Tudor mansion. At its heart stands the Great Tower of Gwent, a unique hexagonal keep that showcases both military innovation and aristocratic ambition.
The Blue Knight of Gwent, Sir William ap Thomas, began this architectural masterpiece, leaving the Great Tower as his enduring legacy.
Thomas’ son, William Herbert, elevated Raglan to new heights of sophistication, creating one of Wales’ finest medieval residences. Elaborate fountains danced in the courtyard, while formal gardens and state apartments rivaled the grandest European palaces.
Deep within Raglan’s history lies a tale of sacrifice and mystery. In 1646, as Parliamentary forces approached during the English Civil War, a dedicated librarian made a decision that would echo through the centuries. Protecting the castle’s precious literary collection, he secreted away countless valuable books and manuscripts in underground tunnels. Though the main library fell to destruction, these hidden treasures remain undiscovered to this day.
Now, this vigilant librarian’s spirit haunts the atmospheric ruins. Visitors frequently encounter his ghostly figure, dressed in 17th-century attire, near the former library’s location. He appears to beckon to guests, perhaps hoping to share his centuries-old secret.

In 2001, the ghostly librarian made his presence known when a young schoolgirl fled the castle in terror. She reported seeing a strange man in period clothing gesturing for her to follow him.
Beneath Raglan’s visible grandeur lies a network of tunnels and cellars that might still guard the lost library’s treasures. Visitors exploring these underground passages report:
- Sudden, inexplicable temperature drops
- An overwhelming sense of being watched
- Strange atmospheric changes
- Unexplained sounds echoing through the corridors.
During a visit with my father in December 2019, the long winter shadows stretched across the ancient courtyard and the walls seemed to whisper centuries-old secrets. Though the ghostly librarian eluded us, the powerful atmosphere and sense of history proved unforgettable.
Will you be the one to solve Raglan Castle’s centuries-old mystery? Walk these haunted ruins and discover why this medieval marvel continues to captivate visitors from around the world.
Tintern Abbey

Location: Tintern
Open: Daily, 10:00am to 4:00pm
Admission: Some charge
Website: visitwales.com/attraction/historic-site/tintern-abbey-cadw-527989
The Wye Valley harbours a medieval treasure that draws visitors worldwide – the majestic ruins of Tintern Abbey. Nestled among charming Welsh cottages and scenic riverside paths, these ancient walls tell tales of devotion, tragedy, and supernatural encounters.
Cistercian monks first blessed these grounds in 1131, building a spiritual community that would house 400 residents at its peak. The Gothic architecture soared heavenward, while monks pursued their divine calling in the peaceful valley setting.
Fate struck harshly in the mid-1300s when the Black Death ravaged the abbey’s population. The few surviving monks struggled to maintain their vast estate. Then came the final blow – Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536 forced the remaining brothers to abandon their beloved home.
Time may have claimed the abbey’s mortal residents, but many say their spirits never left. Visitors sometimes encounter:
- Spectral monks continuing their ancient prayers
- A solitary brother kneeling beneath weathered arches
- Mysterious figures moving through morning mist
- Unexplained chants echoing among empty chambers.
One chilling tale stands out among the abbey’s ghost stories. Antiquity hunters, disturbing ancient graves near the ruins, faced an otherworldly warning: an armoured knight materialized before them, his piercing gaze accompanied by a procession of ghostly monks and abbots emerging from the mist.
Tintern Abbey stands as one of Monmouthshire’s crown jewel of haunted locations, where history and paranormal mystery intertwine beneath Gothic arches. Each weathered stone holds centuries of stories, waiting to share them with those brave enough to listen.
Visit Tintern Abbey and walk in the footsteps of monks who never left their sacred home.