Weird in the Wade

19th Century spiritualism is at the heart of this episode which we'll explore through the exploits of a Biggleswade medium who believed he was in direct contact with the spirit of William Shakespeare. John Francis Hunt, who we met in the previous episode, was an extraordinary man, he pursued justice, sought out buried treasure and was a constant correspondent with the newspapers, the social media of his day. 

We'll explore spiritualism's roots in A

merica with the Fox sisters. How spiritualism became a kind of culture war in the mid 19th century as well visiting an 1875 séance held in Bedford and described by the press as bogus.

There's also a brief update at the end of the episode about Weird in the Wade's win of Gold for best history podcast at the British Podcast Awards! 

Find show notes and further reading on the blog at weirdinthewade.blog 

Support Weird in the Wade and get exclusive bonus episodes every month by joining Team Weird on Patreon. patreon.com/WeirdintheWade

Find us on social media at: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Joint cracking in this episode provided by Jason Doig, Tess Savigear and David Stephenson

Theme music by Tess Savigear

All additional sound effects and music from Epidemic Sound. 

I'd almost given up on discovering how murder bridge between Biggleswade and Sutton, got it's name. Until completely by accident I stumbled across a ghost story, reported as part of the minutes of a meeting of the Biggleswade Hospital Board in 1922. That led me on a twisty path to the truth, involving a libel case, a notorious Biggleswade spiritualist who believed he was the ghost of Shakespeare's secretary, and two tragic and mysterious deaths. At the heart of this tragic story was the reason why Murder Bridge was given it's name, and who the locals thought the ghost that haunted it might be. 

Expect seances, Victorian true crime, and some very colourful characters. 

At the end of this episode there is a trailer for the new and delightfully spooky RUE Papers by Emma Butler. In later episode's I play the part of Rose! Listen to this new podcast at: https://podfollow.com/1749765774 

If you'd like an extra episode every month, and to support the podcast why not join Team Weird on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WeirdintheWade

Or you can support through Ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Find Weird in the Wade on social media including Facebook and Threads here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear

Additional voices by M Savigear

All additional music and sound effects Epidemic Sound

The Night Hag, is an old name for sleep paralysis. A sleep condition or disorder that has led to some of the most terrifying stories and folktales from around the world. From encounters with demons, witches and ghosts, to alien abductions sleep paralysis has spawned many scary stories. Likewise many paranormal experiences have been explained by sceptics as being caused by sleep paralysis.

In this episode I explore my own terrifying experience of sleep paralysis, consider what might cause it, discover links to our past including some local ghost sightings in workhouses over a century ago.

I also chat with Dr Ciaran O'Keeffe, parapsychologist and expert sceptic on Uncanny and Most Haunted about his studies into sleep paralysis, it's causes, how to deal with it if it happens to you, and it's impact on our culture and understanding of the paranormal. It's a discussion you won't want to miss!

Have a question or a comment pleas email the show at [email protected]

or find us on social media links are here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

Exciting news!

I am delighted to say that Weird in the Wade has been nominated for best history podcast at the British Podcast Awards! It's an award judged by a panel but if you'd like to vote for Weird in the Wade in the listeners choice award you can do so here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting

Support the podcast

If you'd like to get exclusive extra content and support the podcast you can do so at patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WeirdintheWade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Theme music is by Tess Savigear

All additional sound effects and music by Epidemic Sound  

Find out how terrifying sighting of a Cavalier ghost in the 1930s links to Biggleswade's mysterious tunnels. I explore the cellar below where the phantom was seen, discover hidden passageways, bricked up tunnel entrances, and much more. I take you on a trip down the river, and to the Camden House school room, we explore the history of Biggleswade's brewing industry, and I visit the Bedfordshire archives all in an effort to solve the riddle of what these tunnels were built for, and why they were bricked up. 

Join me on this journey if you dare!

You can see images and further links on the blog at Weirdinthewade.blog 

Join Team Weird and support the show at Patreon: patreon.com/WeirdintheWade

Or at Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Find Weird in the Wade on social media at: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

You can also vote for Weird in the Wade at the British  Podcast Awards listeners choice here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear

Camelot Monastery Gregorian Chant by Darren Curtis

All additional sound effects and music by Epidemic Sound

Today's episode follows a ghost story over three centuries. We start in the 1880s with school children terrified by a ghost in a garden. Then we explore a newsagents bothered by paranormal activity in the 1960s. In the present day we discover a secret tunnel entrance and hear rumours of a helpful spirit where the garden once bloomed. Linking all these hauntings is the building of Camden House. Once a Victorian school, then a newsagents for over 50 years, more recently it has been a succession of takeaways and restaurants. 

I also had a last minute breakthrough which filled in a missing piece of the puzzle. I've added this towards the end of the episode so don't believe me early on when I say I can find no evidence of a tragic Edwardian school teacher who could be haunting the old school! Listen on and find out what I discovered.

And yes this is the first part of an exploration of the Biggleswade tunnels. Check out the show blog for a map identifying tunnel entrances and town centre hauntings at: weirdinthewade.blog 

If you want more from Weird in the Wade join Team Weird on our Patreon and get bonus episodes every month. Find out more here: patreon.com/WeirdintheWade 

You can find links to our shop for Weird in the Wade merch, as well as how to donate to the show through Ko-fi and links to all our socials here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

A show transcript is also available on our blog: https://weirdinthewade.blog/

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear

All additional music and sound effects by Epidemic Sound

As part of my haunted house challenge I spent the night at the Golden Fleece Hotel in York. The pub is renowned for being the most haunted pub in the city and maybe even Britain. No fewer than 15 ghosts have been reported to haunt the 17th century pub. 

Listen to my live recordings during the night, as well as interviews with fellow guests over breakfast, all of whom had strange stories to tell. 

I investigate one of the pubs most enduring ghost stories and find out one of the strangest tales I've ever come across. 

I also chat with the wonderful Rob Kirkup of How Haunted podcast about his love of ghosts, and York hauntings in particular. He tells a chilling ghost story of his own and we compare notes about our stays at the Golden Fleece which although were 13 years apart had some creepy similarities. 

Also this week over on the YouTube channel I will be hosting a live one year anniversary celebration, telling stories and answering questions. Please join me if you can details can be found here!

Be Part of Team Weird!

Join us on the socials find out where here.

Read the blog for photographs, show notes and news https://weirdinthewade.blog/

Buy a Weird in the Wade T-shirt, bag, mug or more at the merch shop.

Buy the show a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Tess Savigear wrote the theme

All additional music and sound effects from Epidemic Sound.

We take a short wander away from Biggleswade, over the county border into Hertfordshire in this episode. Nat Doig tells the tale of Blind George of Anstey. It's a folktale with a bit of everything, a secret tunnel, a blind fiddle player, a faithful dog, the devil, and a ghost. 

Nat also explores myths and legends around blindness including busting some modern myths with her guest Paul Day.

Nat and Paul discuss a neurological condition which affects many blind people, and could hold a clue to solving at least some ghost sightings. Paul also shares his experiences of going on a ghost hunt in a spooky tower with a spiral staircase.

It's a slightly different episode to the usual Weird in the Wade but one that will be just as thought provoking possibly more so.

For show transcript, notes and links for further information on the issues discussed in the podcast including Charles Bonnet Syndrome, please visit the show blog: https://weirdinthewade.blog/

You can find the show on social media here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

You can email Nat at [email protected]

If you'd like to support the show you can by the pod a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, produced and presented by Nat Doig

Theme music Tess Savigear

A huge thank you to Litha for granting permission for their song Blind George to play on this episode. You can hear the track here: https://www.litha-music.com/images/music/Blind_George.mp3

And Blind George's theme from: freesound 42953 Freqman gypsy violin variation

In this episode Nat Doig explores the tale of Biggleswade's body snatchers. As is often the case it turns out that the truth is stranger and more satisfying than fiction. Do the body snatchers haunt the town still? Why might the town have forgotten the most exciting part of the story, preferring instead to remember just a murky fragment of the tale? Nat ponders these questions and finds some surprising answers.

This episode also looks at a haunting linked to a victim of crime in London's Green Park. Listen as Nat tells the story of this sorrowful phantom recorded under the sombre trees of the park on a cold winters dusk. 

A transcript for the show can be found here

Find show notes on the blog here and photographs for this episode here.

Weird in the Wade social media links can be found here.

The You Tube Channel here

Information about the live stream on 1st May here

You can email the show at [email protected]

Researched, written, presented, and edited by Nat Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear

All additional music and sound effects Epidemic Sound

In this bumper episode I explore why so many ghost stories and hauntings have a connection with crime or criminals.

I investigate the local legend of Biggleswade's Murder Bridge, a place every school child knows not to approach. 

I tell you the tale of Thomas Dun, reported to be Black Tom's phantom friend or even the real Black Tom. His 800 year old story is full of despicable deeds and more strange and eerie folk tales. 

And finally as a real treat, I talk with Wayne from Eerie Edinburgh about why he thinks so many ghostly stories centre around criminals and victims of crime. Many such stories feature on his wonderful podcast and YouTube videos. 

You can find a full transcript of today's episodes, notes, photographs and further reading on the show blog weirdinthewade.blog 

If you have a suggestion or question please email me at [email protected]

You can find the podcast on social media here. 

And if you want to support the podcast you can by the show a coffee here: https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Researched, written and presented by Nat Doig

Show Theme by Tess Savigear

All additional music and sound effects Epidemic Sound 

In this episode we explore one of Bedford's most famous hauntings. A folktale so well known it gave it's name to an area of the town. What is now a rather unassuming roundabout just north of Bedford town centre, known locally as Black Tom's Grave, was once a place of fear. Was a highwayman executed on that site? Does his restless spirit still wander beneath the trees there? Why are there so many paranormal reports in that small area of Bedford? And who is the shadowy figure often reported along side the spectre of Black Tom?

We also look at other myths and legends attached to highwaymen with connections to Bedfordshire including Biggleswade and beyond. Why do so many of us love a highwayman story and footpad phantom?

Visit the Weird in the Wade blog to see photos, sources and show transcript.

Enjoying the show? Buy the podcase a coffee or two at https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Find Weird in the Wade on social media, links here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

If you have any comments, suggestions or just want to get in touch please email the show at [email protected]

Weird in the Wade is researched, written and presented by Nat Doig

Theme Music by Tess Savigear

All additional music and sound effects Epidemic Sound