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Welcome to Episode 35 of the podcast, and the first episode of Year 3...
In the year 1632, two men were convicted of the murder of Ann Walker at the Durham Assizes. One of the men was her uncle, a wealthy Yeoman named John Walker who also stood accused of making her pregnant, and the other was a friend of his, Mark Sharp, a miner originally from Lancashire. So why, in a time of murder, superstition and witchcraft, does the execution of Walker and Sharp stand out? Basically, its because both men were convicted on the testimony given by a local miller, who had been given all of the incriminating evidence, from the location of Anne’s body, to the location of the murder weapon and blood soaked clothing belonging to the murderer allegedly by the ghost of the murder victim. So two men were executed on the testimony of an apparition...
This episode is a deep dive into the case of Anne Walker, including looking at the work of John Webster, a 17th century debunker of witchcraft who studied and wrote about the case, sparking a response from Dr Henry More...
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Launching into the podcast, I first of all deal with some project housekeeping, then delve into the County Durham tale of the Sockburn Worm/Sockburn Falchion - perhaps the oldest of the 'dragon' tales from North East England. After that, I tell Brockie's 1886 tale of the ghosts of Nicky Nack Field, then turn to a 'real ghost story' told in the Saturday 27th September 1902 edition of the Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette - I apologise in advance to the residents of Shotton Colliery for this one - before finishing with an introduction to the new Within the Boggart Wood Bare Bones Project.
For more information on the Within the Boggart Wood Project, please see the following links:
Website: https://withintheboggartwood.org.uk
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@withintheboggartwood
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/withintheboggartwood
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theboggartwood.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withintheboggartwood/
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Welcome to Episode 33 of the podcast - the first episode of 2025!
In this episode we explore the ghostlore and folklore of Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland, and the ghost sightings at the Lying-in Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne. The episode also details two ghostly tales from the 20th May 1893 edition of the Newcastle Courant.
Chapter markers
00:00:00 Outro
00:02:40 The folklore and ghostlore of Bamburgh Castle
00:22:35 From the archives: "Saved by a Ghost", 1893
00:24:18 Ghosts of the Lying-in Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne
00:28:01 From the archives: "A tale of the Bamburgh Coast", 1893
00:43:25 Outro
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'Twas the Night Before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring - not even a mouse...
Welcome to Episode 32, the 2024 'Festive' edition of the Within the Boggart Wood podcast, with the Boggart's own rendition of "Twas a Night Before Christmas", before having a look at the 19th century author Jerome K Jerome and his issue with Christmas Eve ghosts. The podcast then delves into some 19th and early 20th century ghost stories that appeared in the press around Christmas time, before finishing with a swift look at the tradition of Christmas Cake...
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all, and thanks for the support during 2024!
------------
Info
Jerome, J.K. (1891) Told After Supper. The Leadenhall Press.
https://archive.org/details/toldaftersupper00jerorich/page/n9/mode/2up
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Welcome to the Halloween 2024 podcast episode, which also happens to be episode 31... and due to release on the 31st October... see what I did there? Ahem, I digress - so this episode is a little different to the usual format, as it was recorded live (on the 21st October) in front of some of the podcast's Patreon 'Court of Boggarts' tier supporters, as well as with special guests Martin and Eleanor from the fantastic Three Ravens Podcast!
The episode is also a tad longer than normal, so this description should also contain chapter markers, so that you can skip to any section your heart desires...
Guest links
The Three Ravens Podcast: https://www.threeravenspodcast.com/
Walking with the Ghosts of Durham: https://www.facebook.com/andyrossghostwhisperer/?locale=en_GB
Chapter Markers
0.00.22 Introduction to the episode
0.01:21 Everyone says hello
0.06:19 Dilston Castle, Northumberland: a deep dive into the castle's history
0.31:18 Dilston Castle ghostlore
0.36:31 Paranormal investigations at Dilston
0.53:11 Guest story time
1.29:51 Outro
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Episode 30 first takes us to the village of Brancepeth in County Durham with its tales of ghosts and porkine problems... the episode's from the archives tells of some shenanigans in Redcar at the turn of the 20th century, then we have a wander up the coast from Redcar to Middlesbrough for a look at the Grey Lady of Acklam Hall.
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Episode 29 first takes us into the Scottish Borders and Northumberland for a look at the bloodthirsty goblins known as Redcap. From there, there's a book review/recommendation of "Dirt Upon my Skin" by Steve Toase. The second tale then looks at the 17th century tale of Margaret Hooper and demonic possession in Edmundbyers before we head to Canada with this episode's from the archives tale of devillish goings-on in 1879...
"Dirt Upon My Skin" by Steve Toase, 2024, Black Shuck Books
Black Shuck Books: https://blackshuckbooks.co.uk/shadows-37/
Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/9I0mK2j
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In this episode, the podcast takes a deep-dive into the history, archaeology and ghostlore of Queen Street Masonic Hall, Sunderland, the oldest custom-built Masonic Hall still in use by Freemasons in Britain.
Info
Lightfoot, R. (2021) Phoenix Hall, Sunderland, Archaeological Watching Brief. Archaeological Research Services report #2021/68.
Walker, I. (1999) Queen Street East Freemasons’ Hall, Sunderland Archaeological Evaluation. Tyne and Wear Museums.
Wilson, T. & Jessop, L. (2018) Lightfoot, R. (2021) Phoenix Hall, Queen Street East, Sunderland: Historic building investigation and assessment of significance. Historic England, research report series #54/2018.
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1279903
Historic Ordnance Survey maps
Historic Ordnance Survey town plans
Goad Fire Insurance plans
Rains Map of Sunderland, 1790s
Queen Street Masonic Hall website
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The episode begins at Nafferton Castle in Northumberland, and the many fates of the murderer Long Lonkin, then moves a mile to the west to the site of Nafferton New Hall, and its pesky poltergeist.
The episode’s archives story is “A Ghost at Whitby” from the 8th December 1891’s Northern Echo.
The closing tale is Brockie’s 1886 tale of the Dun Cow.
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Episode 26 starts with a visit to the community archaeology project at Carlisle Cricket Club, the Uncovering Roman Carlisle project, with an interview with archaeologists Frank and Anna Giecco. Staying in Carlisle, the podcast then looks to the 1864 sighting of a 'ghost' in Milbourne Street, and reports from the same time at the Glasgow Necropolis. Moving from the northwest to the northeast, I think have a look at some of the ghosts and folklore in Staindrop and Raby Castle, County Durham, before finishing with an account from the Yorkshire Evening Post in 1928, discussing some of the ghostly beliefs in Teesdale and surrounding areas.
Uncovering Roman Carlisle links
Website: https://www.uncoveringromancarlisle.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thediggerscarlisle/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncovering_roman_carlisle/
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Episode 25's main tale is a look at the gypsy curse of Levens Hall, Cumbria, along with its Grey Lady, Pink Lady and ghost dog. We then move onto a 1903 tale of a haunted house told in the Wemyss Gazette, before moving on to William Henderson's version of the Hazlerigg Dunnie story. The podcast closes with a bizarre little tale involving waistcoats, a bad tempered couple and a wise woman's charm...
Info
Henderson, W. (1879) Notes on the Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders
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Hello all, and welcome to Episode 24, which is also the first episode of Season/Year 2.
The podcast starts with the tales of revenants described by the 12th century Augustinian Canon William Parvus, with stories that eventually became the tales we now know as the Vampires of Berwick, Melrose, Alnwick/Annan Castle and Buckingham. This episode's 'from the archives' then looks at an article of a ghostly encounter... or not... related in 1790 in the Caledonian Mercury, before then moving onto the episode's second story, that of some ghostly/witchery encounters in Mallerstang before finishing with some Easter traditions as recorded by William Henderson in 1879.
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The episode opens with the 1828 poem "The Benighted Traveller", then moves to the history and tales of fairies and the Lambton Worm at Penshaw Monument near Sunderland. This episode's archives story relates a case of mistaken identity in 1848, followed by the second story of the day which looks at the history and ghostlore of Knaresdale Hall in Northumberland and the poor girl drowned in a pond for catching her brother and aunt doing naughty things... the episode then concludes with a 19th century superstition on how to cancel a betwitchment... if you don't mind getting sore knuckles...
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Episode 22 starts with the origins of Burns Night and a look at the folklore surrounding Scotland's national dish, haggis. From there the episode turns to Durham City and the tale of Sir John Duck and the Raven, before heading across to Northumberland for a swift peek at the ghosts of The Lord Crewe Arms in Blanchland. From there, the Boggart gives a reading from the 1850 book "The Phantom World, or the philosophy of spirits, apparitions" before concluding with another 1962 from the archives tale of Blyth's 'Peter the Poltergeist'.
“The Phantom World, or the philosophy of spirits, apparitions” by Augustin Calmet, 1850. Free download on Archive.org at the following links:
https://archive.org/search?query=the+phantom+world
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As the podcast sneaks into 2024, The Boggart starts the New Year with a report of a ghost in Sunderland in 1786, then moves on to give a rapid tour of some UK-wide and North East ghosts and hauntings associated with World War II, including brief glimpses at The North East Aircraft Museum, Harperley POW Camp and the Grainger Market in Newcastle. The episode is rounded off with a look at some Northern English and Scottish New Year traditions, including first footing and not letting your fire go out...
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Episode 20 marks the Boggart’s 2023 Christmas episode, and the last episode of 2023.
It it, for the Scrooges among you, the episode delves into the non-festive tale of The Hexham Heads, before then plunging into the folklore surrounding this festive season. There’s also a shoutout to two of my favourite podcasts – The Three Ravens and The Whispering Woods.
I hope you have a fantastic festive season, and see you all in 2024!
Music by Julius H. from Pixabay
Music by Grand_Project from Pixabay
Music by 24575281 from Pixabay
Music by White_Records from Pixabay
Music by Maksym Dudchyk from Pixabay
Sound Effect by Scottish Guy from Pixabay
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Welcome to Episode 19 of the podcast - and the second international episode.
In this Episode, The Boggart looks at the Alpine tradition of Krampus, the half-goat demon said to punish naughty children on the eve of the 5th December, and how the story has developed in time, becoming a political tool in the first half of the 20th century, and also how Krampus may have influenced the United States cryptid known as the Goatman...
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Episode 18 finds the Boggart telling the tale of the haunting of the Harperley Hotel near Stanley (North East UK) while hosting the Do Business Network (DBN) After Dark Halloween Networking Event.
Timeline
00:00 Introductions
06:55 The Curious Case of the Harperley Hotel
17:07 Q&A session
32:37 DBN member stories
Attendees from DBN
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Episode 17 opens with some ghostly tales from Washington Old Hall, Tyne and Wear, ancestral home to the first President of the United States. Then we move northwest to a ghost tale from 1841 in Galashiels, before heading to Yorkshire for the folk tale of the Giant of Penhill. The episode finishes with a strange listener submitted tale about a pair of haunted boots...
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Episode 16 sees in the Autumn Equinox in the UK with two dark tales from Northumberland... the grisly fates of William Winter and his murderous accomplices (warning... it ain't pleasant...) and then the ghostly bridal party of Featherstone Castle, said to be seen in nearby Pynkin’s Cleugh on the 17th January every year. As well as this we hear the folk custom of 'breaking rainbows' and also the 'from the archives' account of a poltergeist in Embleton in 1957.
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