BBC Radio 4 has launched a new paranormal cold case series, 'The Witch Farm', exploring the true story of a remote farmhouse in the Brecon Beacons, Wales, where a family experienced extreme haunting phenomena in the late 1980s and 1990s. The series, created by Danny Robins of 'The Battersea Poltergeist' fame, stars Joseph Fiennes and Alexandra Roach.
In 1989, artist Bill Rich and his Welsh wife Liz moved into Heol Fanog, a converted barn at the foot of a mountain, with Bill's son Laurence. Initially a dream home, the family soon encountered poltergeist activity, apparitions, alleged possessions, and physical injuries. The house became the site of more exorcisms than any other in British history, lasting seven years.
Strange events included loud footsteps, slamming doors, extreme temperature changes, and smells of sulphur and incense. The electricity meter spun wildly, leading to a £750 bill for three months (equivalent to nearly £2,000 today). An electricity board official could not explain the power surges.
The case drew comparisons to the Amityville haunting in the US, earning the nickname 'The Welsh Amityville'. The area is steeped in folklore about faeries, witches, and the devil, with local rumours of sorcery and ancient rituals. Robins aims to separate myth from fact in the investigation.
