Folklore says that many years ago, spirits bade people find and often dispose of treasures into rivers, and there are many accounts of this from around Wales. Two such individuals found themselves tasked with such a deed in Pontypridd. However, they did not throw the money into the river as requested. The angry spirits beat them and pushed then into the river as punishment. It was only after they fulfilled the task properly a second time that they were given any peace!

One night, four men were riding from Llantrisant to Pontypridd when a mysterious fifth man joined them. He was described as having a “dark disagreeable aspect” and rode silently alongside them until he reached a place called the Rhiw. They then noticed that as he passed through a gate, the hooves on his horse did not make a sound on the ground…

 

The mysterious rider than rode away, and left them to ponder the nature of this event.