The witch who turns into a hare and is wounded while in that shape is one of the most common witch stories in Britain. Cadoxton, now part of Barry, had its own.
The story began with a butcher who lived near the sea at Cadoxton-juxta-Barry. He was said to be the son of a witch, and the farmers round about believed they could not refuse him. Whenever he wanted to buy stock, they sold, because if they did not the animals would surely die.
An old woman, probably his mother, was believed to be able to turn herself into a hare whenever she pleased, and in that shape no hounds could catch her. At last three gentlemen took out three greyhounds, found the hare they were sure was the witch, and ran it hard through the fields and straight into the house. Somehow its foot was caught in the doorway, and the hare suddenly vanished.
The next day the old woman was very lame. People said she had "a hare's foot for life." Trevelyan gives no names or date.
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