History & Haunting of : The Robber’s Grave at St Nicholas churchyard,Montgomery, Powys, Wales The grave in Montgomery is that of John Davies, a “melancholy, grief-haunted man” whose past was shrouded in mystery but who in 1819 became the steward on the rundown farm owned by a widow named Morris and her daughter, Jane. Thanks to his dedication, the fortunes of the business were soon reversed. But, according to legend, the sudden success angered a local man, Thomas Pearce, who had hoped to benefit from the widow’s misfortune by acquiring the property at a bargain price. Davies also made an enemy of Robert Parker when his fiance Jane Morris abandoned him for Davies. The two men carried out a violent robbery, leaving behind evidence implicating Davies who found himself charged with highway robbery and sentenced to death. As the noose was tied around his neck he shouted: “If I am innocent, the grass, for one generation at least, will not cover my grave.” And today, the story says bare patches can still be seen on the grave and that harm will befall anyone who attempts to tend it. His grave can be found just outside of the St. Nicholas Churchyard in Montgomery. Many will tell you..don’t attempt to tend to the marker or area in any way…it is believed from the legends that Davies wants no one touching that spot. If you believe the legends of the place…his spirit may just pay an angry visit to anyone who attempts tending the grave! walesonline.co.uk/ Photo 1 by A Roberts in Wild about Wales~St nicholas church and graveyard, where the robbers grave is,and the View across Montgomery towards Long Mynd Shropshire Photo 2 by montgomerypowys.blogspot.co.uk/ Photo 3 by Whipper_snapper https://flickr/photos/ Great LOCATION to Investigate :) Montgomery Castle is a stone masonry castle looking over the town of Montgomery in Powys, mid Wales. It is one of many Norman castles on the border between Wales and England. The original motte and bailey is now known as Hen Domen and was built at the order of Roger de Montgomery, earl of Shrewsbury sometime between 1071 and 1074. On the rebellion of his son Robert of Belleme in 1102, the castle was given to Baldwin de Boulers. It is from Baldwin that Montgomery gets its Welsh name, Trefaldwyn (Baldwins town). The de Boulers (later known as Bowdler) family held the castle until 1215 when the fortress was destroyed by Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. The motte and bailey was subsequently refortified as an outpost for the new stone castle and probably survived until around 1300. The rebuilding of Montgomery Castle in stone was commenced in the late summer of 1223 on the 16th birthday of Henry III of England, a mile to the south-east of the original site. The architect of the new castle was Hubert de Burgh who also rebuilt Skenfrith Castle, Grosmont Castle and White Castle in the Welsh Marches. From 1223 until 1228 masons worked solidly building the entire inner ward, or donjon as it was then known on a great rock above the later town of Montgomery. This work consisted of the gatehouse, two D-shaped towers and the apartments which crowded around the curtain wall of the inner ward. After an unsuccessful attack by Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth in 1228 the middle and outer wards were added to the castle. The castle was again attacked in 1233 which resulted in damage to the Well Tower which had to be subsequently repaired and re-roofed. In 1267 Montgomery was the meeting place for treaty negotiations, where King Henry III granted Llywelyn ap Gruffudd the title of Prince of Wales. Fifteen years later in December 1282 the army of Montgomery marched from here to Builth Wells to surprise and kill Llywelyn. After 1295 and the final Welsh War of the thirteenth century the castle became more of a military backwater and prison than a front line fortress. Montgomery was granted a Royal Charter by the King in 1227, making it the oldest borough in Wales. The walled town of Montgomery was attacked by the Welsh forces of Owain Glyndŵr in 1402 and sacked and burned. However the stone castle fortress held out against the attack. Though the garrison was not large the design and the men inside did their job. The town walls were not rebuilt and the town remained a ruin for two whole centuries The town walls have now all but disappeared over the intervening centuries but the town ditch remains. Montgomery Castle in Wales VIDEO HERE > https://youtube/watch?v=DXV6V0zKXH4 In 1643 Edward Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Chirbury, surrendered the castle to Parliamentary troops in the Civil War. It was later demolished by order of the Parliament. Richard Herbert, 2nd Baron Herbert of Chirbury, the last Herbert to have lived at Montgomery Castle, was buried at Montgomery in 1655 Photo 4 by Sarah Graham Montgomery Castle in freezing fog panoramio/photo/17487307
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 21:28:04 +0000
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