This volume is a comprehensive collection of North Wales folk-lore, originally submitted to the National Eisteddfod of eighteen eighty-seven by Elias Owen. The author gathered these traditions primarily from aged inhabitants during his travels across the diocese of St. Asaph. The text is organized around various classes of supernatural beings, beginning with the fairies known as the Tylwyth Teg. It explores legends of fairy ladies marrying mortal men, highlighting the recurring taboo regarding contact with iron which inevitably breaks the union. Separate chapters are devoted to fairy changelings, the methods used to reclaim stolen children, and the interactions between fairy mothers and human midwives.
The narrative further examines the folklore of mythical animals, such as the Cwn Annwn or hell-hounds, the mystical white and freckled cows associated with mountain lakes, and the water-horse. A significant portion of the work investigates tales of Satan, witchcraft, and ghosts haunting ancient churches. These stories illustrate how pagan beliefs and local superstitions intertwined with Christian traditions over the centuries. The author also records legends of the coblynau or knockers, the small subterranean spirits believed by miners to indicate the presence of valuable ore lodes.
Throughout the collection, Owen emphasizes the authenticity of his sources, noting that he recorded narratives directly from the lips of country folk without embellishment. The tales reflect a pre-industrial rural society where the supernatural was intimately woven into daily existence. By preserving these fading legends, the author rescues a rich deposit of traditional culture from oblivion. The work concludes by documenting ancient customs, charms, and divinations practised across the Welsh countryside.
