Photo supplied by Jeff Griffiths

Local author and historian Robert King led one of his ever popular Ghost Walks around Neath on Thursday 31 July. This one concentrated on the old Neath Workhouse next to where the Neath YMCA now stands. The building, which became known as Lletty Nedd ("Neath Lodgings"), was opened in 1838 and closed in 1924. It is difficult for us now to imagine the conditions endured by those who were lodged there: for more information see http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Neath/. The group then walked along Pen-y-Dre, with its now empty plot where The Star pub once stood, and visited the Friends Meeting House by Neath Castle where rest numerous Quakers who played such a major role in Neath's industrial development. Despite the poor weather, a large number of people turned out to enjoy Robert's tales of ghostly hauntings around the town and are pictured in the Square by the old Burton's building. Robert recommended a video on YouTube of an evocative film of Neath by the late Syd Johnson and Malcolm Thomas of the Neath Antiquarian Society which can be found at https://m.youtube.com/watch?autoplay=1&v=ERutMiPvQSM. This includes footage of the town centre redevelopment in the 1980s which swept away the medieval pattern of streets which once stood in the shadow of Neath castle.

Jeff Griffiths