Horned witches, friendly werewolves and vengeful fairies! We're off to Ireland and the first of three episodes we'll be spending there exploring Lady ‘Speranza’ Wilde's 1887 work, Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland.

'And so the knocks went on, and the call was heard, and the witches entered, until at last twelve women sat round the fire; the first with one horn and the last with twelve horns. And they carded the thread, and turned their spinning wheels, and wound and wove, all singing together an ancient rhyme, but no word did they speak to the mistress of the house. Strange to hear, and frightful to look upon with their horns and their wheels, the mistress felt near to death and she tried to rise that she might call for help, but she could not move, nor could she utter a word or a cry, for the spell of the witches was upon her.'

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit talesfromantiquaria.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush. 

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Fields of fire, witchcraft and a fortune found in the fairy realm! It's part two of Sidney Oldall Addy's 1895 folk tale collection, Household Tales and Traditional Remains.

'Now when the weaver came back from Newark the children told him about the cat. So he watched all night in an old lumber-room, for the cat came in and went out through a broken pane in the window. One night the cat came in as the weaver was sitting by the fire, so he picked up a fork and struck her on the cheek. He then threw her out of doors, believing that she was dead. But in the morning, when he went to look for the cat's body, he could not find it. But ever after that the witch had her face tied up, and she had no more power to do harm to the weaver or to his family.'

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit talesfromantiquaria.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush. 

Find Eli Lewis-Lycett Folklore and History on Facebook and Bluesky

Enchanted mountains, the bewitching of puddings and high jinks in the Bonehouse - we've not covered anything quite like this yet! It's Sidney Oldall Addy's 1895 folk tale collection, Household Tales and Traditional Remains.

'Now Kate knew that if you put the ball inside the ring and wished something your wish would be granted. When the giant had got well into the water, Kate slipped the ball into the ring, and wished that the giant were leagues away and herself safe in her own village. Immediately she found herself walking up the village street, and meeting her father and mother and Willie coming out to seek her. And so Kate became the owner of the ring and the ball, and whenever after that she wished anything her wish was granted.'

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit talesfromantiquaria.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush. 

Find Eli Lewis-Lycett Folklore and History on Facebook and Bluesky

Sword dancers, shapeshifting goblins and an ancient mythological worm! What a way to bring in the year! This time it's Sir Cuthbert Sharp's 1834 collection The Bishoprick Garland of Durham.

'This poor goblin, whose pranks were otherwise perfectly harmless, was at length banished by the usual expedient of presenting him with a suit of clothes. A green cloak and a hood were laid before the kitchen fire, and the domestics sat up watching the event, at a prudent distance. At twelve the sprite glided gently in, stood by the glowing embers, and surveyed the garments provided for him very attentively, tried them on, and seemed delighted with his appearance.'

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit talesfromantiquaria.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush. 

Find Eli Lewis-Lycett Folklore and History on Facebook and Bluesky

King Arthur, Christian saints and very un-christian Druids! Let's explore our earliest collection to date, George W Manby's 1801 work, The History and Antiquities of the Parish of St Davids.

'Although the life of Saint David will come within the class of its bishops, yet it may not be improper, in this place, to give some few features of this venerable, august , and renowned character. He was a man of great parentage, and near of kin to Arthur, King of England.'

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit talesfromantiquaria.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush. 

Find Eli Lewis-Lycett Folklore and History on Facebook and Bluesky

A little festive themed episode to see out 2025 with some Lancashire traditions of Christmas and New Year taken from Lancashire Folklore by John Harland & T.T. Wilkinson, published in 1867 by Frederick Warne & Co of Covent Garden.

There will be two full episodes on this title later in the new year.

Wishing all listeners a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

See you in 2026!

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit talesfromantiquaria.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush. 

Find Eli Lewis-Lycett Folklore and History on Facebook and Bluesky

Goblins, fairies and haunted Tudor manors! This is part two of Charlotte Sophia Burne's 1883 collection, A Sheaf of Gleanings.

'Dun you mean little things as come in the night-time, and sing, and whistle, and make music, and dance on the commons and such places? Fairies, they call 'em. I’ve heard o’them, but I never knew any one see ’em.'

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit talesfromantiquaria.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush. 

Find Eli Lewis-Lycett Folklore and History on Facebook and Bluesky

Giants, Divination and Witchcraft! Welcome to part one of Charlotte Sophia Burne's 1883 collection, A Sheaf of Gleanings.

'Lasses still use it to discover true lovers, thus, place a key in a Bible at the text Ruth 15–16, tie it firmly with the inquirer's left garter, let two persons rest the projecting ends of the key on their forefingers, and both book and key will turn over when the name of the right man is spoken.'

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit talesfromantiquaria.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush. 

Find Eli Lewis-Lycett Folklore and History on Facebook and Bluesky

Divine intervention, low moral tones and the King of England! Welcome to Bygone Derbyshire, the 1892 work by William Andrews.

'The old judicial superstitions that the wounds of a murdered man shed forth fresh gore at the touch of the murderer, doubtless terrified many a guilty wretch into the confession of his crime'.

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit talesfromantiquaria.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush. 

Find Eli Lewis-Lycett Folklore and History on Facebook and Bluesky

Lost cities, mermaids, haunted houses and a whole swathe of superstition! This episode is Cornish Feasts and Folklore from Margaret Ann Courtney, published in 1890.

'The pellars wore formerly magical rings, with a blue stone in them, said to have been formed by snakes breathing on hazel-twigs. Our country-people often searched for these stones.'

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit talesfromantiquaria.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush. 

Find Eli Lewis-Lycett Folklore and History on Facebook and Bluesky