Spooky UK

Mystery Triangles – Bennington, Bridgewater & Cannock Chase

What is it about certain places that seem to attract the strange, the unexplained, and the downright terrifying?

In this episode we head into three of the world's most infamous paranormal hotspots. We begin in the forests of Vermont to explore the chilling disappearances of the Bennington Triangle, where hikers, hunters and even an experienced guide seemingly vanished without a trace.

From there, we travel to Massachusetts and the legendary Bridgewater Triangle, a region where UFO sightings, Bigfoot encounters, ghostly apparitions, mysterious lights and Native American folklore have combined to create one of America's most active paranormal locations.

Finally, we bring things back home to compare these American mysteries with one of Britain's own paranormal hotspots – Cannock Chase. From reports of Black-Eyed Children and the Pigman to UFO sightings and ghostly soldiers, we ask whether these locations really share common characteristics, or whether our brains simply connect unrelated mysteries into compelling legends.

Are these places genuine paranormal hotspots? Are there geological or psychological explanations? Or is there something else lurking in these mysterious landscapes?

Join us as we compare the evidence, examine the folklore, and decide whether these infamous triangles deserve their eerie reputations.

Bonus episode! Can you really read one of the greatest horror novels ever written in a single day? Helen decided to find out.

In this episode we talk about what the challenge was really like, was it worth it, and how reading the novel in one sitting changed the experience.

We also dive into our thoughts on the book itself, exploring its themes, characters, and the elements that have made it one of the defining horror novels of modern literature. Along the way, we compare the novel with both the 1990 TV miniseries and the recent film adaptations, discussing what each version gets right, what they leave behind, and which captures the spirit of King's novel most effectively.

Whether you're a lifelong Stephen King fan, curious about tackling a reading marathon yourself, or just love talking horror, this bonus episode is for you.

Hidden among the woodlands of Leicestershire lie the atmospheric ruins of Grace Dieu Priory, a place steeped in nearly 800 years of history, tragedy, and local legend.

In this episode, we explore the rise and fall of this medieval Augustinian priory, from its founding in the 13th century through its dissolution under Henry VIII, and the generations of stories that have surrounded its crumbling walls ever since.

Was Grace Dieu simply another religious house lost to history, or has something lingered among the ruins? We delve into the reports of ghostly figures, unexplained experiences, and the folklore that has made the priory one of Leicestershire's most intriguing historic sites and add our own investigation into the mix.

Whether you're fascinated by medieval history, haunted locations, or the hidden stories of Britain's past, this is a journey into one of Leicestershire's most evocative landmarks.

In this episode, we dive into one of Britain's strangest and most enduring mysteries, the terrifying tale of Spring-Heeled Jack. Was he a wealthy aristocrat playing a cruel prank? A mass hysteria that gripped Victorian London? A demon? Or something that defied explanation entirely?

We follow the story from the terrifying first reported attacks on young women through to the infamous encounters with soldiers and ordinary Londoners who claimed to witness a tall, cloaked figure with burning eyes, impossible leaps, and an unnerving laugh.

Join us as we investigate one of Victorian England's greatest unsolved mysteries and decide for yourself whether Spring-Heeled Jack was merely a man... or something far stranger.

This week we're heading to one of Britain's most atmospheric seaside towns, Whitby. Famous for its dramatic abbey ruins, chilling ghost stories and its connection to Bram Stoker's Dracula, Whitby has become a pilgrimage for paranormal enthusiasts, goths, and history lovers alike.

In this episode we explore:

The real connection between Whitby and Bram Stoker's Dracula, the haunting ruins of Whitby Abbey, local ghost stories and supernatural legends and discuss our personal experience there.

Places Mentioned:

Whitby Abbey - The iconic Gothic ruins overlooking the town. Stoker visited Whitby in 1890 and used the abbey, St Mary's churchyard and surrounding cliffs as inspiration for scenes in Dracula.

St Mary's Church - Reached via the famous 199 Steps. The graveyard overlooking the harbour features prominently in Dracula and is one of Whitby's most atmospheric locations.

Whale Bone Arch - One of Whitby's most recognisable landmarks and the meeting point for several of the town's ghost walks.

Dracua Connection - Whitby plays a major role in Bram Stoker's 1897 novel. In the story, Dracula arrives aboard the doomed ship Demeter, which crashes into Whitby harbour during a storm. A large black dog is seen leaping ashore and running towards the abbey ruins, one of the novel's most famous scenes.

Sources and further information:

https://www.visitwhitby.com/

Crypid fight night! This week, Martin and Helen dive into the strange and fascinating world of cryptids as they champion their favourite monsters: Sasquatch and Mothman.

From Native American legends and early eyewitness reports to the famous Patterson–Gimlin footage and the terrifying events surrounding Point Pleasant, we explore the history, evidence, and enduring mystery behind two of the world's most famous cryptids.

Expect theories, laughs, questionable science, and a completely unnecessary debate about what happens when Sasquatch and Mothman fall in love.

Join us for another weird and wonderful journey into the unexplained.

Sasquatch / Bigfoot

• Patterson–Gimlin Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWZeWFBU0Zk
• Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO): https://www.bfro.net/
• Washington State Sasquatch Reports: https://www.wta.org/go-outside/seasonal-hikes/fall-destinations/bigfoot-and-batsquatch-find-washingtons-mysterious-creatures-on-these-trails

Mothman

• Point Pleasant Museum: https://www.mothmanmuseum.com/
• The Mothman Prophecies: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mothman-Prophecies-John-Keel/dp/0340824468

Listener Question: If Sasquatch and Mothman met in the woods tonight, who walks away the winner?

Or would we all end up meeting their child... the legendary Mothsquatch? Let us know at [email protected]

This week we’re discussing one of England’s most famous paranormal cases, the Enfield haunting.

This case attracted journalists, police officers and even Ed and Lorraine Warren! Nearly 50 years later it remains one of the most debated haunting cases ever reported.

Sources and further viewing:

‘This House Is Haunted’ by Guy Lyon Playfair

Interviews with Janet Hodgson recorded during and after the case

Films and Dramatations: 

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

Get in touch at [email protected]

This week we are heading to Pendle Hill in Lancashire to explore one of the most famous and tragic witch trials in British history.

We also examine the wider context of witchcraft fears in England at the time and discuss modern day paranormal reports.

Get in touch at [email protected]

Sources:

https://www.visitlancashire.com/things-to-do/the-lancashire-witches/on-the-trail-of-the-pendle-witches 

https://www.lancastercastle.com/history-heritage/further-articles/the-pendle-witches/

009 Shoot The S*#T - Ghosts, Cryptids & Questionable Opinions

Grab a drink, pull up a chair and join us for our first supernatural shoot the s*#t episode! Not our usual format, just us chatting all things paranormal.

Other creators mentioned in the episode:

• Morbid Podcast
• Ghost Bunny
• Theories of the Third Kind
• Two Girls One Ghost
• Mr Ballen

Bonus episode! It’s bloody boiling in Britain so here’s a bonus episode because it’s too hot to leave the house! This one was a listener request so we’re stepping into the towering walls of Shrewsbury Prison, also known as The Dana, one of Britain’s most infamous and allegedly haunted prisons.

From Victorian punishment and executions to shadow figures, whispered voices and yet another Grey Lady, we explore the prison’s paranormal reputation, but are the hauntings supernatural or psychological?  

Follow and support - get in touch at [email protected] with your own spooky tales, we’d love to hear them!

Sources & further reading:

https://www.shrewsburyprison.com

https://www.shrewsburyprison.com/blogs/ 

https://www.youtube.com/c/KalaniGhostHunter 

The Ghost Bunny Podcast