hellohistoria:1116 sees the earliest recorded occupancy of Ogmore Castle. The castle is occupied b
hellohistoria: 1116 sees the earliest recorded occupancy of Ogmore Castle. The castle is occupied by the builder William de Londres, one of Robert FitzHamons Twelve Knights of Glamorgan. The record confirms that the castle had been built by this date, in a motte and bailey type including earthworks and ditches. The castle was later rebuilt in stone by his son Maurice de Londres the founder of Ewenny Priory. William de Londres was forced to abandon the lands of Ogmore when the Welsh appeared in force. Arnold de Boteler is noted to have protected the castle against the attack of the Welsh and for that he was rewarded the castle and lands of Dunraven. Folklore speaks of the Ceffyl Dwr being present at the crossing at the River Ewenny. The Ceffyl Dwr is known throughout Wales as a mysterious shape shifting creature, although what form it takes depends on the area of Wales that you are in! For example: In North Wales the creature takes the form of a fiery eyed, dark presence. · In South Wales he is represented as a “winged steed”, taking his place by Rivers, Water Pools, and Waterfalls . Although that he is thought to be a positive creature he has been known as a “pest” to lone travellers. “It was a ghost horse that always frequented fords and crossing places of rivers and, as might be expected the River Ogmore had one. At first the creature seemed innocuous enough, quietly cropping the grass at the water’s edge. This tempted a traveller to mount the horse in order to get to the other side without wetting his feet. Immediately he has mounted the traveller found himself airborne, far above the earth. At an altitude of a couple of hundred feet the animal vanished leaving its rider to pluge to his death. The remains were gathered up and the horse repeated the trick with another unsuspecting person. In Ireland the horse was called Poocah, a word similar in meaning to the Welsh Bwca or Bwci Bo.” – Alun Morgan -- source link