Nestled in the Welsh valleys, sitting within 850 acres of its own land, sits a Tudor, gothic style building, formally known as Margam Castle.

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Grade 1 listed, the building sits on a site that has been occupied for around 4,000 years. The grounds are home to an iron age hill fort and several burial grounds. Evidence of Roman occupation has also been discovered and the ruins of an 11th-century Cistercian monastery, dissolved in 1537 by Henry VIII, stands on the grounds.

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Built over a 10-year period between 1830 and 1840, it was designed by Thomas Hopper on behalf of Britain’s wealthiest ‘Commoner’ Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot, who later became Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan. Whilst embarking on a grand tour of Europe, he fell in love with the gothic architecture and on his return, decided to demolish the Tudor family home in favour of the building we see today.

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Talbots only son Theodore, heir to the estate, died in a hunting accident in 1876, so on Talbots passing, 17th of January 1890, the estate was passed to his daughter Emily Charlotte Talbot. Emily became one of the wealthiest women in Britain and became known for her incredible donations to war charities, an officer’s hospital, which she fully equipped personally, donations to the church, and a £1,500 yearly donation to the study of preventive medicine. 

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Being in the Welsh Valleys, it was probably inevitable that Emily would become the owner of a coal mine at some point. It was failing, but she kept it open rather than putting miners out of work, paying wages from her own pocket. She was also partly responsible for the port and railway system, allowing work to be readily available to the people of the
area. 

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Emily passed away peacefully in London, and the castle was passed to another family member, where it stayed until 1941. It was eventually sold but sadly was never lived in
again, and the castle fell into disrepair.

Many people have witnessed paranormal activity at the castle over the years. A lady has been seen standing at the window of one of the upstairs rooms, looking off into the distance, could this be Emily?

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The large figure of a blacksmith has been witnessed many times by the gamekeepers and the groundsmen. Security staff have reported the sound of running and people talking on many occasions when the building is empty. Instant temperature changes are also abundant inside the castle. The sound of children giggling is heard frequently and have been seen in a Victorian dress running around.

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Many people that have visited with their own children have reported
finding them playing with a ‘new friend’ after running off. Frequent occurrences include stones being thrown at people whilst they conduct vigils or seances, small stones the size of pebbles, nothing that would injure, just enough to get your attention, something maybe a …child…would do?

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The more feared spirit of Margam is that of Robert Scott.
Robert was a gamekeeper that worked at the castle for many years. He was killed by a poacher, and his angry spirit rages around the castle and grounds to this day. He has been seen many times walking with purpose up the grand staircase. Consumed with rage over his unjust killing, Robert gives off a foreboding presence and regularly comes forward to
communicate with investigators. People have reported being touched, hearing soulless breathing behind them and the feeling of not being welcome is rife.

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With the many spirits that walk the halls of Margam, the poltergeist activity and of course, the more mischievous spirits that play hide and seek in the dark, are you ready to investigate Margam Castle?