‘ON THE TRAIL OF THE BALLAD OF PENYGRAIG’ is a radio programme written and presented by Stuart Loosemore for Tircoed Radio in Swansea. Join Stuart walking the trail of the story with Lazarus Carpenter.
‘I wonder who exorcised who?’ (quote by Lazarus Carpenter to Stuart Loosemore)
Ghostly happenings and visitations led to a developing relationship between Lazarus and Spirits in 1850. Some songs, a novel, ‘The Ballad of Penygraig,’ and a screenplay followed. The album’s title song, ‘Ballad of Penygraig,’ won acclaim by achieving the number one spot on ReverbNation Folk Charts for several weeks and winning joint-first at the Doncaster Folk Festival Song Writing Competition in 2015. The novel Ballad of Penygraig was released in 2016 and a second edition in 2023.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Stuart Loosemore for the radio programme. Deborah Pain for proofreading and editing the novel. Dan Harris is responsible for lead guitar work on all tracks and production. Pez Anderson and Abertawe Studio for recording. Michael Kennedy for promotion.
The Ballad of Penygraig is a Victorian crime mystery set in Ystalyfera, a small industrial village in the Swansea Valley of 1850. This dark tale is based on actual events, a David and Goliath story. A scandal shocking an entire community racked and divided by lies, deceit, bullying, and ultimately, murder.
This novel is in the second edition and includes additions and a rewrite of parts of the story. First published in 2015, the story has grown in popularity, and many readers told me they would like to hear more about Rachael and Dai, and the second edition was born.
FATAL AFFRAY AT YSTALYFERA
(Cambrian Newspaper – 1st March 1850)
The neighbourhood of Ystalyfera, Yniscedwyn and Graigarw, up the Swansea Vale, was this week thrown into a state of great excitement, in consequence of its having been the scene of an occurrence which took place under the circumstances as lamentable and deplorable as they were fatal in their results.
The unfortunate victim was one MORGAN LEWIS, an undergamekeeper in the service of R.D. Gough Esq. He was 38 years old and a powerfully made man, but he was not considered, on many accounts, a favourite in the place. His untimely death not only deprives a young wife of a protector but also children of a father. The spot where the affray took place was on the main road, almost overlooking Ystalyfera Iron Works.
The person who caused Lewis’s death is a young man and a neighbour named DAVID DAVIES. He is 23 years of age and was employed by the Ystalyfera Company as a fitter-up. Although looked upon as a notorious poacher, it is right to state he was never convicted on such a charge. He was apprehended on the charge of murder by Superintendent VIGORS on Monday at his house just whilst preparing to leave the locality. The particulars of the unhappy affray will be found fully detailed in the evidence adduced at the inquest held on Tuesday at the New Swan Inn, Gurnos, before Charles Collins Esq., and a respectable jury, of whom Mr. Ben Hill of Fountain Hall, was foreman.
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Lazarus Carpenter - Author 