Within the Boggart Wood: history, folklore and ghostlore podcast

In the year 1632, two men were convicted of the murder of Anne 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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

Slightly later than expected due to audio issues (apologies, the gremlins have been playing funnies with the microphone this week)… Episode 13, aptly numbered in this case, looks at the 18th/19th folklore tale of the Picktree Brag, three ghostly tales from 19th century South Shields, the whimsical tale of the

Welcome to Episode 12. In this episode, the Boggart tells the tale of the White Lady of Blenkinsopp Castle in Northumberland, said to be the ghost of the wife of Sir Bryan de Blenkinsopp doomed to haunt the castle until her buried and hidden treasure is found… then we follow

Episode 11 delves into the story of the Radiant Boy of Corby Castle in Cumbria, an entity described as a boy with golden hair glowing with golden light: whose appearance spells both good fortune and an untimely death for the viewer. Then we cross over into County Durham for the

This is the first of the podcast’s ‘international episodes’ where UK and worldwide folklore will feature, not just stories from the north of England and the Scottish Borders.

In Episode 10, the podcast reveals listener stories from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, then delves very briefly into the

Welcome to Episode 9 of the podcast! Thanks for everyone’s support so far!

This episode looks at the legend of the Derwent Giants: Cor, Ben and Con, then we look at the case of the Grey Lady of the Newcastle upon Tyne Old Assembly Rooms. Following that we have a

The haunting of the mill house at Willington Dene, near Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne was one of the country’s most famous hauntings in the early 19th century. It was also one of the most well documented, with a diary being kept of many of the occurrences, as well as witness

Episode 7 contains the following stories – a look at the Cauld (pronounced ‘cowled’ and meaning ‘cold’) Lad of Hylton’s origins, from the brownie of folklore to the ghost of a 17th century stablehand – and a look at the recorded history behind it. Then we move on to a

Episode 6 contains the following stories – the ghosts and Barguest of Glassensikes, Darlington, followed by the case of the Bronte Street poltergeist in Gateshead, 1963-4.

This is followed by an account of a haunting in Ilfracombe Gardens, Whitley Bay in 1977. There are then three stories recorded via interview

Episode 5 contains an update on the Within the Boggart Wood project, then stories on three ghosts in Lanchester, County Durham, the 19th century tale of the Hedley Kow (a mischievous goblin, bogle or demon depending on your viewpoint) and then finally a listener story detailing a potential UFO encounter

Lock-down encounters | The Ghosts of the Cooperage | Encounters with Silky.

Episode 3 looks at the story of the Northumbrian Duergar, or Simonside Dwarfs with the tale’s potential origins and ultimate Disneyification…

The Witches of Allensford | the phantom cyclist of the B6295 | toddler footprints | Peter the Poltergeist, 1962 | Pancake traditions in the 19th century.

In the first ‘pilot’ episode of the podcast, the vaguelly terrified Boggart introduces himself and explains the basic premise of the project, then reads out real life ghost stories submitted by a supporter, then delves into the archives and a 1936 newspaper article describing poltergeist activity and hurling stones, before