A compilation of the full story

Dr. Wilmore's Diary offers an enthralling glimpse into the perilous and mystifying world of 18th-century Redditch. Through the journal entries of Dr. Wilmore, an eccentric and resourceful physician, listeners are immersed in a tale of highway robbery, forbidden romance, and occult practices.

In this six-part podcast series, we follow Dr. Wilmore's harrowing ordeal with masked highwaymen, his uncanny knowledge of local secrets, and his role in a tumultuous love triangle. Young Tom Spencer, a steadfast farmer, and George Cookes, a charming yet unscrupulous gentleman, vie for the hand of the wealthy heiress, Phillis Spencer. Their rivalry unfolds against a backdrop of betrayal, deadly encounters, and haunting consequences.

As the story progresses, Phillis's grief leads her to seek solace in Dr. Wilmore's dark arts, culminating in an All Hallows Eve séance to summon her lost lover. But the boundaries between life and death blur, and the past refuses to stay buried. With danger mounting and secrets unraveling, the tale escalates into a dramatic clash between vengeance, love, and fate.

Join us for this gripping historical thriller, rich with gothic intrigue, romance, and supernatural suspense. Dr. Wilmore's Diary brings to life the secrets of 1700 Redditch in a narrative you won’t soon forget.

In the thrilling conclusion to this dark and winding tale, Chapter VII reveals secrets, ghosts, and justice beneath the moonlit ruins of Bordesley Abbey. Phillis Spencer faces betrayal and a desperate struggle as George Cookes’ sinister plan to abduct and force her into marriage is foiled by an unexpected apparition—the ghostly figure of her supposedly dead lover, Tom Spencer. But all is not as it seems, and the truth of Tom’s fate, along with that of the duplicitous George Cookes, comes to light.

Amid sword fights and confessions, long-buried crimes are revealed, and Cookes’ villainy collapses under the weight of his misdeeds. The cunning Dr. Wilmore’s role as both accomplice and savior is laid bare, and with justice served, the festive spirit of redemption and new beginnings takes center stage.

The story ends on a joyful note, with a double wedding in Tardebigge Church as Tom and Phillis, and Tony Bates and Mattie, tie the knot, proving that love and loyalty can triumph over even the darkest plots.

This final chapter is a rollercoaster of suspense, romance, and poetic justice, wrapping up the tale with warmth and celebration. Tune in to witness the dramatic conclusion and the Christmas joy that follows.

In Chapter VI, the sinister plans of George Cookes and the conflicted morality of Dr. Wilmore come to a head in a tale of deception, coercion, and dark bargains. Cookes, desperate to claim the fortune of Phillis Spencer, coerces the reluctant doctor into aiding his plot to abduct the grieving heiress. Blackmail and guilt over past crimes bind the doctor’s hand, forcing him to betray the very woman he had vowed to protect.

Believing she is partaking in another ritual to see the spirit of her lost love, Tom Spencer, Phillis is lured once again to the ruins of the Abbey Gate House under the cold winter moon. But what she finds is not the ghostly comfort she seeks—it is a shocking betrayal. As Cookes steps into the circle meant to summon Tom’s spirit, Phillis’s hope turns to horror when the man she trusted reveals his true face.

Will Phillis find a way to escape the machinations of Cookes and the shadow of the doctor's guilt? Or will her fate be sealed in the cold moonlit ruins? This episode unravels the depths of greed and manipulation, testing the boundaries of loyalty and morality in the face of desperation. Tune in to uncover the dark turn of this eerie tale.

In Chapter V, the story ventures into the chilling realm of the supernatural as Phillis Spencer turns to the infamous Redditch Wizard, Dr. Wilmore, to contact the spirit of her lost love, Tom Spencer. On All Hallows’ Eve, under the shadow of ancient superstition, Phillis and her maid secretly visit the eerie Abbey Gate House, where the doctor prepares to summon Tom’s spirit through a mystical mirror.

Within the doctor’s shadowy sanctum, filled with strange artifacts, bones, and ancient tomes, Phillis is faced with a choice: to glimpse Tom in a crystal or to question him through the enchanted mirror. Choosing the latter, she steels herself for what lies ahead, receiving a stern warning not to look away or behind her during the ritual.

As the smoke clears, Tom’s face materializes in the mirror, lifelike yet otherworldly. Phillis seizes the fleeting chance to ask three questions, her emotions teetering between hope and despair. She learns of Tom’s enduring love and his disapproval of her moving on, but his answer to her final question—a haunting revelation about his peace in the afterlife—leaves her shaken to her core.

This episode dives into the eerie and emotional, exploring the lengths to which love and grief can drive a person. Will Phillis find closure in this otherworldly encounter, or will the answers she sought lead to more torment? Tune in for a spine-tingling tale of forbidden magic, spectral apparitions, and the enduring power of love and regret.

In Chapter IV, the story takes a darker and more chilling turn. Following the brutal fight, both Tom Spencer and Henry Hardwick hover near death, but the fates of these two men are intertwined with schemes and secrets. Dr. Wilmore struggles to save Hardwick, while George Cookes sees opportunity in his demise. With Hardwick gone, Cookes believes he can eliminate Tom as a rival and secure Phillis Spencer’s hand—and her fortune.

Phillis, devastated by Tom’s reported death, descends into grief and remorse. Haunted by her harsh words to him on the night of the party, she spurns Cookes’s advances and retreats into sorrow. But Cookes, relentless and calculating, devises new ways to manipulate her emotions and win her over.

When Phillis turns to Dr. Wilmore for solace, her heartbreak takes a supernatural twist. Desperate to see Tom one last time, she pleads with the doctor to summon his spirit. Despite his warnings about the dangers of invoking the dead, the doctor agrees, setting the stage for a chilling act of mystic science.

This episode delves into love lost, schemes born of greed, and the eerie line between life and death. Will Phillis’s desire to see Tom again bring her closure—or lead to more tragedy? And what secrets will be unearthed as the doctor works his dark craft? Join us for a gripping tale of heartbreak, deceit, and the supernatural in this haunting chapter.

In Chapter III, a night of revelry at Hewell Grange turns into a tale of danger, betrayal, and courage. As the Spencer family attends the grand coming-of-age celebration for the 2nd Earl of Plymouth, Phillis Spencer finds herself swept up in the charms of the dangerous George Cookes, much to the dismay of her steadfast suitor, Tom Spencer.

When Phillis grows restless waiting for Tom to escort her home, she ventures out alone—a decision that leads her straight into peril. Pursued by George Cookes’s drunken companion, Henry Hardwick, Phillis becomes the target of an ill-conceived plot. But just as the situation grows dire, her devoted lover, Tom, arrives in the nick of time. A brutal altercation ensues, leaving Hardwick gravely injured and Tom fearing the worst.

Witnessed by the ever-watchful Dr. Wilmore, the scene becomes even more sinister when George Cookes, far from defending Phillis, uses the incident to frame Tom for attempted murder. With tensions high and secrets swirling, Tom must confront his own actions and the schemes of his rival, all while under the shadow of Cookes’s malice.

This gripping episode explores love tested by danger, the thin line between justice and vengeance, and the lengths to which an honorable man will go to protect the woman he loves. Will Tom escape the web of deceit spun by George Cookes, or will the villain finally have the upper hand? Tune in to uncover the next twist in this enthralling tale of love, treachery, and survival.

In Chapter II, the stage is set for a battle of love, rivalry, and ambition. Young Tom Spencer, fresh from rescuing Dr. Wilmore from his harrowing ordeal, stops by Lownes Hill Farm to visit his cousin, Phillis Spencer—a beautiful and wealthy heiress under the guardianship of her uncle, John Spencer. Bound by family ties and affection, Tom is the favored suitor for Phillis’s hand, a match anticipated by the Spencers and their community.

But Tom faces a dangerous rival: George Cookes, the dashing yet unscrupulous son of a country gentleman. Known for his rakish charm, fine attire, and rumored exploits, Cookes is as calculating as he is charming. Drawn by Phillis’s fortune of £10,000, he weaves his way into her social circles, despite the disapproval of her guardian. Yet whispers of his darker activities—highway robbery among them—cast a shadow over his polished exterior.

As the tension between the rivals builds, Phillis finds herself caught between her steadfast cousin and the allure of the dashing rogue. This chapter explores love, ambition, and the stark contrasts of virtue and vice in 18th-century England.

Will Tom’s honesty and devotion prevail, or will Phillis fall prey to the dangerous charm of George Cookes? Stay tuned as we unravel the secrets, schemes, and simmering rivalries that threaten the Spencers’ future.

In this captivating first chapter, we uncover the dramatic tale of Dr. Wilmore, a physician of the old school, trained in the remedies of the renowned Dr. Nicholas Culpeper. On Midsummer Day in 1700, while traveling back from Bromsgrove Fair to Redditch, Dr. Wilmore is ambushed by two masked highwaymen. Stripped of his earnings, humiliated, and forced to endure their twisted sense of justice by swallowing his own concoctions, he is left bound and tormented in a bed of nettles.

But Dr. Wilmore is not a man to suffer in silence. Rescued by a kind-hearted farmer, he begins to piece together the identity of one of his assailants—a gentleman of standing shielded by wealth and influence. Unable to rely on the law, Dr. Wilmore swears to take matters into his own hands. Join us as we explore his diary, detailing his chilling resolve for revenge, and delve into the perilous roads and dark intrigues of 18th-century England.

Will justice prevail, or will vengeance consume him? Tune in to this thrilling tale of betrayal, resilience, and retribution.

I found this story a few months ago. It was written by James Mills Woodward who was a local artist and amateur archaeologist in the town of Redditch in Worcestershire, England. The story was published by the Redditch Indicator in weekly articles at Christmas in 1887. It was then republished in 1924.

So 100 years later, I'll be releasing the story in its modern form a podcast.

Ghosts of the Severn Valley Railway: A Haunting Journey Through Time

Step aboard the historic Severn Valley Railway and prepare for a journey like no other. In this episode of Ghost Tales by the Fireside, we uncover the spectral secrets of one of England’s most beloved heritage railways.

From the eerie apparitions of a man and a little girl waving from Bridgnorth platform to the chilling presence of a glowing figure in a forgotten tunnel, these tales will leave you questioning the boundary between the living and the dead. Experience the unsettling story of a time-slip at Arley Castle, where the past and present collide in hauntingly vivid ways. And don’t miss the chilling whispers of the "Sleeping Car Sisters," who watch over unsuspecting visitors in the quiet hours of the night.

Through meticulously researched stories, atmospheric soundscapes, and vivid storytelling, Ghost Tales by the Fireside brings the ghostly history of the Severn Valley Railway to life.

Visit ghosttales.co.uk for more information, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @ghosttalespodcast. Subscribe and give us a thumbs up to stay connected with all our spine-tingling episodes.

Board the train, if you dare… and remember, you’re not just traveling through space, but through time.