ALEX Jones tests his mettle at an overnight ghost hunt in one of Meirionnydd’s most notorious pubs

IT’S gone 3am and myself and a dozen people are crowded into the room at the The Pengwern Arms in Llan Ffestiniog.

The others are made up of Gwynedd Paranormal Investigation staff and a brave team of amateur ghost hunters.

According to those more sensitive to paranormal exploits, the room feels ‘pregnant’ with spirits.

Using divining rods — two swinging metal sticks which can supposedly pick up hidden energy sources — one of the paranormal investigators has already contacted one presence called Martha, an elderly lady who used to own the Pengwern Arms many years ago.

After passing the rods around the group, the next volunteer takes it upon themselves to throw questions out into the ether.

His first question: “Is this a new spirit speaking?”

The rods crossover indicating a ‘yes’.

“Did you work here?”

Again, the rods cross.

“Did you die here?”

‘Yes’.

“Did you die in this room we’re in right now?”

Slowly but surely the metal rods scraped over each once more, confirming that yes, whoever or whatever it is, died in here.

With that, the room appeared to grow noticeably warmer and one of the lead investigators encourages us all to move on with some haste.

We move on to the next room, keeping a little closer to each other than we might have just a few hours earlier in the evening.

The Pengwern Arms, which dates back to 1728, had been threatened with closure, but locals banded together to open a ‘community pub’ which is run as a collective with voluntary staff.

See the full story in this week’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News