Curses! Lice! Urine! Witch balls! A special episode recorded at our second live event, held at the Museum of Cambridge on 28th October 2022. We explore beliefs about witchcraft and the kinds of protective magic that the people of East Anglia used to guard against curses and the evil eye.
Read MoreIt’s the first Mini Stranger of 2023 - the story of a strange spirit who haunted Dagworth Hall in Suffolk many years ago. ‘Play again! Play again!’ cries the tiny voice of little Malekin. Is he a run of the mill ghost? A changeling infant from the fairy realm? Or Britain’s first recorded poltergeist?
Read MorePart 2 of our enquiry into the Peasenhall mystery brings us to the trial of alleged smooth caramel man (and alleged murderer!), William Gardiner. But was it William who killed Rose Harsent on that stormy, fateful night?
Read MoreMay 31st, 1902 in the small village of Peasenhall, Suffolk. By the end of this dark and stormy night servant girl Rose Harsent would be dead in a pool of blood on her kitchen floor. Suspicion turned to local foreman, religious enthusiast, and proud beard-wearer William Gardiner - but were the accusations based in firm evidence, or unfounded local gossip?
Read MoreThe golden hare has been discovered and the story of Masquerade seems to be over - but is it? First up, we hear about the legacy of Masquerade and the rise in popularity of armchair treasure hunts. Then, scandal unfolds after the precious hare comes to light at a Sotheby’s auction in 1988…
Read MoreIn 1979 a storybook was published that took the UK by storm. The pages of Masquerade by Kit Williams gave clues to the secret location of a hidden treasure: a beautiful bejewelled hare crafted from gold. It’s a world of mystery and wonder in Part 1. Who will unravel the puzzle and claim the prize?
Read MoreGeldeston, Norfolk! One of the more haunted villages in the region. Tune in and listen for supernatural scares with the Bigod Barons (aka ghosts on wheels), the skeleton of the horse pond, and the horribly named the Hateful Thing. Don’t go down that lover’s lane!
Read MoreOn May 23rd 2022 we were honoured to present a special live event at the Museum of Cambridge. Listen now for an introduction to the Society for Psychical Research, founded in 1888 to use scientific methods to investigate such strange goings on as telepathy, ghostly occurrences, spiritualism, and ectoplasmic manifestations.
Read MoreIt’s time for Part 2 of our investigation into the rotters Hopkins and Sterne. Heady from their victory at Manningtree, the witchfinding duo turn their sights on the rest of East Anglia. Oh, poor East Anglia! In this concluding part, we hear about an unusual burning, the persecution of clergyman John Lowes, and the ultimate demise of horrible Hopkins.
Read MorePuritanical, god-fearing zealot or manipulative, money-grabbing hypocritic? Who cares, we hate him either way! The time has come to hear about the rotter Matthew Hopkins, self-styled ‘Witchfinder General’ and all round total bastard.
Read MoreOn a grassy hillside near the village of Bures on the Suffolk/Essex border you will find a mighty beast - the white dragon of Bures! While this one is made from chalk, behind it lies the story of a fearsome creature that terrorised the land many centuries ago.
Read MoreToday we are concerned again with bodies. Most particularly, the body of an Egyptian mummy in an old casket, secreted away in a Yarmouth school. But with the onset of an unusual stench, what horrors are about to unfold?
Read MoreThe year is 1838 and all around Britain people are preparing to celebrate the coronation of Queen Victoria. In Cambridge, this meant an enormous dinner on Parker’s Piece in the centre of the town, followed by what else but Rustic Sports!
Read MoreThe second part of our exploration of the Panacea Society! It’s time to hear all about the lives of the Panaceans in their community in Albany Road, Bedford, which they believed to be the location of the original Garden of Eden. And the cry goes up - open the box!
Read MoreHave you heard about the Panacea Society? No? Well, now’s your chance. Part 1 introduces two rather unusual women: Mabel Barltrop, middle class and middle aged, with a life marred by tragedy, and Joanna Southcott, stout visionary and proud owner of a fine bonnet. How did the unorthodox beliefs of these two formidable women give birth to the Panaceans and their Bedford community?
Read MoreThis time we’re tackling one of the big boys of East Anglian lore - perhaps the biggest boy there is! It’s the story of legendary giant, Tom Hickathrift. Known for his amazing feats of strength and bravery (and possibly his drinking ability), Tom has stomped his way through the oral history and folklore of the region for many a year.
Read MoreThis episode introduces us to mysterious Victorian writer M.H. James, author of Bogie Tales of East Anglia. A bit of background about this early tome of folklore is followed by one of it’s most unusual stories - that of Mary Chegriff, witch’s daughter.
Read MoreThe town of Dunwich on the Suffolk coast is predominantly known for going in the sea. The sad and inexorable fate of this lost city of England has inspired cultural icons from H.P. Lovecraft to Brian Eno; W.G. Sebald to Lovejoy. Ruth and Chris explore how Dunwich went from a thriving and prosperous harbour town to a mournful collection of masonry beneath the cold waves of the North Sea.
Read MoreWhat a story we have for you! Our new episode recounts the life of Margaret Catchpole - farmgirl, heroine, criminal, and pioneer. Margaret’s life was a rollercoaster of dramatic events, encompassing daring rescues, even more daring escapes, and an ill fated love affair. Her story offers a rare insight into the life of an unorthodox woman living in the late 18th/early 19th century.
Read MoreWrestingworth, Bedfordshire. 1841. Something is amiss in the Dazley household! Join us for the tale of Sarah and William Dazley, and some mysterious goings on involving past husbands and a dead pig.
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