Norfolk Folklore Society

By Norfolk Folklore Society

Society & Culture History Places & Travel

What's Norfolk Folklore Society about?

The Norfolk Folklore Society podcast hosted by Siofra Connor & Stacia Briggs.

We hope to entice folklore lovers, stone spotters, paranormal investigators, cryptozoologists, folk horror enthusiasts, ufologists, magic users and any other curious souls to join us on our strange journeys around Norfolk.

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Norfolk Folklore Society episodes:

03.14.2024
S2 Ep20: Norfolk Folklore Presents Helen JR Bruce: Black Shuck, Gytrash and Grim, the Folkloric Black Dog as Death Omen and Guide
Join the Norfolk Folklore Society as we introduce author, illustrator and folklorist Helen JR Bruce who will be diving into the rich folklore and mythology surrounding Black Dogs. Cover illustration - Shuck Zine / Matt Willis
03.01.2024
S2 Ep19: A VERY haunted house at Thorpe Marriott
This month we have a chat about a very haunted house in Thorpe Marriott. Inspired by the new BBC documentary about the Amityville Horror house, we searched our archives and dug out one of our creepiest stories to discuss.
02.15.2024
S2 Ep18: Norfolk Folklore Presents Lucy Spirit and Rachel Duffield - The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall
We were absolutely delighted to welcome Lucy Spirit and Rachel Duffield as our January speakers the Norfolk Heritage Centre at the Norwich Millennium Library. Rachel, who is an artist and costume marker, a historical reenactor and an incredible painter who spent...
02.01.2024
S2 Ep17: The Good Sword of Winfarthing
Today’s podcast is about the Magical Sword of Winfarthing, the Excalibur of Norfolk which helped women rid themselves of terrible husbands (and find their lost horses) from the safety of their village church. We have plenty of sword play with a...
01.14.2024
S2 Ep16: Norfolk Folklore Society presents Edible Plants and their Magical Uses with Val Thomas
Our December 2023 talk was given by the wonderful Val Thomas. Val, a good friend of the Norfolk Folklore Society (she was the first ever speaker the NFS had at our monthly talks!), shared some recommendations for a magical Yule...
12.12.2023
S2 Ep15: Norfolk Folklore Society presents Marshlore with Laura Cannell
We were delighted to welcome the wonderful Laura Cannell to our November at The Louis Marchesi in the pub’s 15th century undercroft. Laura spoke about her new project, MARSHLORE, which has so far seen the publication of two zines, each of...
12.01.2023
S2 Ep14: The Origin of the "Bedsheet" Ghost
This month’s podcast is all about ghosts – or rather, the ghosts we’d all draw if anyone asked us to mock up a quick doodle. You know the one: looks like a floating bedsheet with eyes. Round on top, wiggly on the...
11.15.2023
S2 Ep13: Norfolk Folklore Society presents Norfolk Ghost Hunters
On October 24 Christian Hudson from Norfolk Ghost Hunters came to speak to us at the Norfolk Folklore Society’s monthly meeting. Christian works within a team of five, each of whom specialise in different fields, and is a paranormal investigator and...
11.01.2023
S2 Ep12: Apple Folklore at Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse
Today’s podcast was recorded on Gressenhall Farm and workhouse’s Apple Day, which we were delighted to be part of, representing Norfolk Folklore Society in the farmhouse kitchen. From the kitchen table we offered people a host of apple folklore and...
09.30.2023
S2 Ep11: Ghosts of Exchange Street, Norwich
Simply because they are not expected, ghosts that appear in modern surroundings and with no warning often feel like the most terrifying of all. Today’s ghost is absolutely terrifying. Our witness tells us: “It was like a damp sheet of very...
09.01.2023
S2 Ep10: Tales from the Black Shuck Festival
This episode takes us back to the Black Shuck Festival on August 5. Thank you to everyone who attended and to the festival for having us: we had such a magical time and hope to be involved with next year’s Shuck...
08.14.2023
S2 Ep9: Norfolk Folklore Society presents Alice Crick: Faunus: Landscape, Memory, and Folk Practice.
We were delighted to welcome the wonderful Alice Crick as our next speaker on July 26 at Arboretum on St Benedict’s Street. Alice’s talk was called Faunus: Landscape, Memory, and Folk Practice. Here, she explains what she spoke about: “The great god Faunus...
08.01.2023
S2 Ep8: Encounters with Black Shuck
We’ve got a very special podcast for you today: we travelled across the border to Bungay to speak to two eye witnesses who have seen – or heard – everyone’s favourite cryptid canine, Black Shuck. Another eye witness account from...
07.01.2023
S2 Ep7: Norfolk Folklore Society presents an evening with Black Shuck
We were honoured to interview the legendary Black Shuck at our June 2023 at Arboretum and what an evening it was! Black Shuck was absoultly charming, James Mayhew performed and illustrated a wonderful poem and Stephanie Timberlake shared detail of...
06.01.2023
S2 Ep6: The time slip in a toilet
Today’s podcast is all about the slightly unusual story of time travelling…in an abandoned Norwich underground toilet which has now been demolished. So this isn’t one you can try at home… This curious tale is courtesy of Reverend Lionel Fanthorpe.
05.15.2023
S2 Ep5: Norfolk Folklore Society presents Our Favourite Stones
Last week Stacia and I shared some of our favourite stones in Norfolk with the Norfolk Folklore Society. We told tales of stones said to increase fertility, stones with curses attached to them, stones where offerings are left, stones that...
05.01.2023
S2 Ep4: The Callow Pit Coffer
Today’s podcast is a classic bit of Norfolk folklore that takes us along the country roads near Cantley, past dykes and low-lying marshland, fields and hedgerows, ancient villages and hidden treasure. We are talking about Callow Pit, a tree-shrouded pond...
04.15.2023
S2 Ep3: Norfolk Folklore Society Presents Stone Wizard: The South Dorset Ridgeway
In April we looked outside of our magical county to virtually visit the ancient ritualistic landscape of the South Dorset Ridgeway with Alex aka Stone Wizard.
04.01.2023
S2 Ep2: A haunting near Fakenham
Today’s podcast is a brand-new story (for us!) about a well-documented haunting close to Fakenham in the 1970s in two flats built on the site of a village lost to time many centuries earlier. Ghosts seen included a figure wearing...
03.22.2023
S2 Ep1: Norfolk Folklore Society Presents Chris Spalton: Apparitions of East Anglia
We had the privilege of welcoming Chris Spalton to our March 2023 Norfolk Folklore Society talk at Arboretum in Norwich. Chris shared tales from his childhood in the Fens as well as some of his favourite folklore stories from his...
01.13.2023
S1 Ep88: A cursed mummy at Great Yarmouth
This week we tell the tale of a mummy's curse on a school and graveyard in Great Yarmouth.
10.28.2022
S1 Ep87: A terrifying haunting in Great Yarmouth’s Glasshouse Row
In this episode Stacia and Siofra have a second go at recording this episode about a terrifying haunted house in on one of Yarmouth's rows.
09.16.2022
S1 Ep86: The rising dead at Corpusty
We are back! After a long break, which is explained in the episode, we discuss the tale of the rising dead in the village of Corpusty. Just a warning, this episode does get a little gory so you may not...
05.06.2022
S1 Ep85: The Happisburgh Torso
On this episode we discuss the gruesome tale of the Happisburgh Torso. We actually thought that we'd lost this recording so please excuse the references to Christmas!
03.25.2022
S1 Ep84: No Man's Friend
In this episode Stacia and Siofra discuss No Man's Friend. A field which was said to be cursed and is now lost to the sea.
02.25.2022
S1 Ep83: Northrepps Shrieking Pits
On this episode Stacia and Siofra go adventuring in north Norfolk to visit the shrieking pit in Northrepps. It gets a bit windy out there!
01.21.2022
S1 Ep82: Cutthroat Lane, Yaxham
On this episode we discuss the stories behind the name of Cutthroat lane in the little village of Yaxham.
12.24.2021
S1 Ep81: The Mistletoe Bride
On this episode we share the festive tale of mistletoe bride and we look at its possible connection to Norfolk. Merry Christmas everyone!
11.19.2021
S1 Ep80: Horning Timeslip
On this episode Stacia and Siofra discuss an an unsettling time slip in Horning and ask some big questions about time.
10.29.2021
S1 Ep79: The Curse of the crying boy
On this episode we discuss the curse of the crying boy. The phenomena rose to fame in Britain in 1985 and an incident in Great Yarmouth prompted a national newspaper to organise a mass burning of the prints.
10.08.2021
S1 Ep78: The entrance to Saint Martin's Land
On this episode Stacia and Siofra go into more detail on a topic mention on a previous podcast. They travel to Bawdeswell to look for the entrance to St Martin's Land, meet a sweet little dog and share some experiences...
09.10.2021
S1 Ep77: The Heigham Poltergeist
In part two of our Heigham series Stacia and Siofra share a listeners experience of a poltergeist in house near Heigham Street.
08.27.2021
S1 Ep76: The Horror of Heigham
On this episode Stacia and Siofra discuss the Horror of Heigham. Sightings of a strange form triggered the "Heigham Roughs" into a frenzied ghost hunt.
08.13.2021
S1 Ep75: The Spinnage
On this episode Stacia and Siofra try to figure out what illness "The Spinnage" might have been. It was said that the only person who could cure it lived on St Benedict's Street in Norwich.
07.02.2021
S1 Ep74: Tunnels
We are back!!! Today we are having a chat about tunnels. It's pretty widely known that Norwich is riddled with tunnels (people of a certain age will remember that bus that fell into one?), but where else in Norfolk are...
04.30.2021
S1 Ep73: White Woman Lane
In this episode Stacia and Siofra discuss the ghost of White Woman Lane in Old Catton.
03.19.2021
S1 Ep72: Woodwose
This week Stacia and Siofra have a chat about the mysterious woodwose. These wild men of the woods are seen carved over doorways and on fonts in many churches across Norfolk and Suffolk.
02.26.2021
S1 Ep71: Ghost Lights
Something a little different this week. Stacia and Siofra take a little look into the world of ghosts lights. They discuss the corpse candles of Wales, the Saratoga Lights in Texas and the fascinating phenomena of ball lighting. Special thanks...
02.12.2021
S1 Ep70: Hikey Sprites
Make sure you grab a cuppa and a biscuit before settling in for this one, it's a long one! This week Stacia and Siofra have a chat about Hikey Sprites, the fairy like bogeymen who only live in Norfolk. Special...
01.29.2021
S1 Ep69: The Green Lady of Costessey Hall
Stacia and Siofra are back after an extended break. Unfortunately they can't meet in real life for weird chats so it's back to Zoom, as is very clear in the sound quality (Siofra sounds a bit like a robot). This...
11.27.2020
S1 Ep68: Castle Rising and Queen Isabella
Did you miss us? We had a little break but we are back with the tale of Queen Isabella, the She-Wolf of France. We discuss the interesting paranormal events at Castle Rising as well as witchcraft and the best snacks...
10.26.2020
S1 Ep67: Urban legends at Zaks Waterside
A little late with the episode this week, but we think it is worth the wait! Stacia and Siofra take a trip to Zaks Waterside to debunk and confirm some of the urban legends which surround the building....
10.09.2020
S1 Ep66: The TV ghost of Morley Old Hall
On this episode Stacia and Siofra discuss a TV appearance of a ghost at Morley Old Hall near Wymondham. Renowned SPR member Tony Cornell and Anglia TV investigated the hall in the 1960s. After the show aired they received an...
09.25.2020
S1 Ep65: The ghost of Martha Alden at Norwich Castle
In this episode Stacia and Siofra explore the history of Norwich Castle and the mound it sits on. They tell the tale of Martha Alden who was publicly executed at the castle for murdering her husband. Her spirit is said...
09.18.2020
S1 Ep64: Thetford Priory Ghosts
Stacia and Siofra don't travel far for their second Heritage Open Days episode. The ladies have a picnic at Thetford Priory and discuss body snatching, miracles, murder and ghosts all of which happened at the priory.
09.11.2020
S1 Ep63: Heritage Open Days special - Annie's Room at King's House, Thetford
In this Heritage Open Days special, Stacia and Siofra record from Annie's Room in King's House, Thetford. Annie is said to be the spirit of a servant girl who died in the room. Stacia and Siofra share some of the...
08.28.2020
S1 Ep62: The Eccles Sea Monster
In 1936 a former Lord Mayor of Norwich spotted an unusual creature of the coast at Eccles-on Sea. The sighting sparked a heated debate on the Eastern Daily Press letters pages. Stacia and Siofra discuss possible explanations for what he...
07.31.2020
S1 Ep61: The great stone of Lyng
On this episode Stacia and Siofra discuss the great stone of Lyng. They explore the various folklore tales about this mysterious stone in a magical woodland.
07.17.2020
S1 Ep60: Ella Morse's moving gravestone
In this episode Stacia and Siofra discuss the strange tale of Ella Morse's moving gravestone. This unusual case from Swaffham certainly leaves them with more questions than answers. Stacia quizzes Siofra on her burial plans and the pair decide on...
07.03.2020
S1 Ep59: The haunting of 19 Magdalen Street
In this episode of Weird Norfolk Stacia and Siofra discuss a classic Norwich ghost story, the tale of Sara (or Sarah) of 19 Magdalen Street.

What's Norfolk Folklore Society about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Norfolk Folklore Society episodes:

S2 Ep20: Norfolk Folklore Presents Helen JR Bruce: Black Shuck, Gytrash and Grim, the Folkloric Black Dog as Death Omen and Guide

S2 Ep19: A VERY haunted house at Thorpe Marriott

S2 Ep18: Norfolk Folklore Presents Lucy Spirit and Rachel Duffield - The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall

S2 Ep17: The Good Sword of Winfarthing

S2 Ep16: Norfolk Folklore Society presents Edible Plants and their Magical Uses with Val Thomas

S2 Ep15: Norfolk Folklore Society presents Marshlore with Laura Cannell

S2 Ep14: The Origin of the "Bedsheet" Ghost

S2 Ep13: Norfolk Folklore Society presents Norfolk Ghost Hunters

S2 Ep12: Apple Folklore at Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse

S2 Ep11: Ghosts of Exchange Street, Norwich

S2 Ep10: Tales from the Black Shuck Festival

S2 Ep9: Norfolk Folklore Society presents Alice Crick: Faunus: Landscape, Memory, and Folk Practice.

S2 Ep8: Encounters with Black Shuck

S2 Ep7: Norfolk Folklore Society presents an evening with Black Shuck

S2 Ep6: The time slip in a toilet

S2 Ep5: Norfolk Folklore Society presents Our Favourite Stones

S2 Ep4: The Callow Pit Coffer

S2 Ep3: Norfolk Folklore Society Presents Stone Wizard: The South Dorset Ridgeway

S2 Ep2: A haunting near Fakenham

S2 Ep1: Norfolk Folklore Society Presents Chris Spalton: Apparitions of East Anglia

S1 Ep88: A cursed mummy at Great Yarmouth

S1 Ep87: A terrifying haunting in Great Yarmouth’s Glasshouse Row

S1 Ep86: The rising dead at Corpusty

S1 Ep85: The Happisburgh Torso

S1 Ep84: No Man's Friend

S1 Ep83: Northrepps Shrieking Pits

S1 Ep82: Cutthroat Lane, Yaxham

S1 Ep81: The Mistletoe Bride

S1 Ep80: Horning Timeslip

S1 Ep79: The Curse of the crying boy

S1 Ep78: The entrance to Saint Martin's Land

S1 Ep77: The Heigham Poltergeist

S1 Ep76: The Horror of Heigham

S1 Ep75: The Spinnage

S1 Ep74: Tunnels

S1 Ep73: White Woman Lane

S1 Ep72: Woodwose

S1 Ep71: Ghost Lights

S1 Ep70: Hikey Sprites

S1 Ep69: The Green Lady of Costessey Hall

S1 Ep68: Castle Rising and Queen Isabella

S1 Ep67: Urban legends at Zaks Waterside

S1 Ep66: The TV ghost of Morley Old Hall

S1 Ep65: The ghost of Martha Alden at Norwich Castle

S1 Ep64: Thetford Priory Ghosts

S1 Ep63: Heritage Open Days special - Annie's Room at King's House, Thetford

S1 Ep62: The Eccles Sea Monster

S1 Ep61: The great stone of Lyng

S1 Ep60: Ella Morse's moving gravestone

S1 Ep59: The haunting of 19 Magdalen Street