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Loremen Podcast

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From an ABC to a haunted Zoologist, James presents another entry in the consistently and succinctly named series "Bits of Folklore From Near Where Alasdair is Going On Tour". James tells of an Aldershot wildcat, a ghost in Guildford and gives a frighteningly accurate explanation of infra-sound.
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
Edited by Laurence Hisee
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The Loremen were LIVE in Leicester, with a bit of bloomin' Byron. We took a squiz around Newstead Abbey, old Georgie's ancestral home. And James told the tale of one crafty Jack versus a witch. Thanks to all the lorefolk who came to the show!
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
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It's the big three-oh-OH! Yes, the Loreboys have turned in a triple century of episodes (depending on how you do the sums).
To celebrate, James returns to his home town with a tale of a "hero of the road". The highwayman James Hind robbed from the rich and gave, mostly, to himself, but sometimes a little bit to the poor. The poor being the people he had just relieved of their money, more often than not. Look, he's a complex character / criminal.
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
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Old York, Old York... The city so York they named it York.
James has been visiting the ancient walled city, but he's here to tell Alasdair about visitations of a very different kind. The city centre is home to York Minster, as well as the ghosts of a keen Dean, a smug mason, a nuddy arsonist and a latchkey kid with awful vibes.
Fans of the city in the vale may want to check out our previous York episode, with guest shenanigans from Amy Gledhill.
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
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No, not THAT Barnard Castle. This is Barnard Castle the castle not Barnard Castle the town. And neither have got anything to do with eye tests, ok?
There's another funny little man that puts this town/castle on the map and James tells Alasdair all about him. Plus, one freaky ghost from Glowrowram.
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
Shorts edited by Laurence Hisee
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England is notorious for its bad weather but at least an Englishman can shelter from the rain in his home/castle. Except in North Aston, where an unlucky bunch of Englishmen and Englishwomen (and one Englishdog) got caught in a shower indoors. And it was a shower of rocks! (Twist!)
Taken from actual friend of the show Mike White's The Ox-Files.
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
Edited by Laurence Hisee
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A new contender for Rudest Place Name has entered the ring! (Don't get your tonsure in a twist, Upper Dicker is actually very polite). James provides a run-down of Michelham Priory's top monks*. Plus, a couple of mysterious spectres and a jug you do NOT want to drink from.
*"Mooooonks!" - Alasdair Beckett-King.
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James takes Alasdair round the manor house of Chilham Castle, in Kent. Featuring some vintage names, a panoply of ghosts and some classic Shakeshaft misunderstandings.
You want skeletons? We got skeletons mate, don't you worry! In manacles? Of course in manacles.
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Roses are red,
Daffodils are jollier,
It's Valentine's time,
So we're joined by Jenny Collier!
Jenny returns to the pod having just moved house, so James pulls out a classic Shakeshaft grab-bag. Prepare yourself for some romantic Welsh tales! Or, at least some Welsh tales with a tenuous link to romance.
And please, can no one ever mention the welly incident again?
Follow Jenny's house-moving saga on her new Substack blog
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
Edited by Laurence Hisee
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In preparation for Alasdair's UK Tour, James has been digging up the dirt on Maidstone. He's found a cute little Kentish tale, plus a murderous bull straight out of Looney Tunes. This installment is longer than a minisode but shorter than an episode. It's another classic Loreboys midisode.
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
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The Loreboys are joined by the legend that is Edd Hedges, returning to right an ancient wrong. Comedian & podcaster, Edd is probably best known for being on the fabled lost episode of Loremen. We're finally making up for that whole palaver with a bevy of Cambridgeshire oddities, from a terrifying monkey (some would call it a dog) to The Chronophage.
Check out Edd on tour in the UK, Ireland and the US!
AND if you're in the mood for seeing live comedy, come see the Loremen Live at Leicester Comedy Festival 7th February
PLUS
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
Edited by Laurence Hisee
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The Loreboys have returned!
Alasdair kicks off Series 7 with the story of amateur ghost-hunter Rosina C. Despard. Her Cheltenham home was the site of one of the most well-documented hauntings of the 19th century... Or was it?
Creaks on the stair! A rustle of cloth! A face hidden by a handkerchief! It simply has to be a ghost... Surely?
We promise not to end every sentence this series with an ellipsis followed by a question... Or do we?
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
Edited by Laurence Hisee
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It's time for the annual Loremen misunderstanding of how countdowns work! We've selected the top ten* moments from 2025, as voted for by the Lorefolk.
Part 1 of this year's Almanac is more of a Jamesmanac, as Shakeshaft delivers hit after hit. Roman robots! Man-faced pigs! Two Jesuses?
The featured episodes are:
The Legends of Lullingstone
Valentine's Special 2025 with Jenny Collier
The Roman Robot of Cirencester
The Man-Faced Pigs of Brussels
Vicky's Ticker
Somerset Sects
Witches of Essex with Joel Morris
* Actually fifteen.
Join us LIVE in Leicester on the 7th February 2026 (2026)!
Thanks to our editors over the year, Joe and Laurence.
And thanks to you, the lovely Lorefolk!
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It's PIIIIIIIIGMAAAAAS! James and Alasdair are joined by multi-award-having comedian Daisy Earl. We make merry with the legend of a boozy Mancunian pig named Polly, and the Scottish fairy tale of Whuppity Stoorie. (The latter of which bears a strong resemblance to the more famous tale of old... you know... Rumple-whatshisname.)
Follow Daisy!
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
Edited by Laurence Hisee
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Who is that, judging me from afar? Why it's the Man-Faced Pigs of Brussels (Wisconsin), the pickiest swine the Loreboys have encountered to date!
With a sprinkling of Christmas Pig magic, here is a festive little tale to warm you from your snout right down to your curly, curly tail.
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
Edited by Laurence Hisee
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Long Hanborough? Home of the Oxford Bus Museum?
Yes! THAT Long Hanborough. And once you've listened to this episode, you'll know it for more than being home to the Spice Girls' bus from Spice World (1997). You'll know it for containing a spooky cottage with a particularly busy poltergeist.
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
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You know what they say: if you remember Finstock, you've been to West Oxfordshire. Here we discover a wealth of ghosts from James's old stomping ground. There's a 1990s spectre, an 1800s preacher and a 39000s (BCE) neanderthal. Plus, a truly chilling lady ghost whose beckoning hands can only be seen by children. Pop on your body warmers... now!
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
Edited by Laurence Hisee
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James dives back into the well of Cornish lore and surfaces with story of undying love - and a chilling counterpart to last week's tale. It's a case of Till Death Us Don't Part in the legend of Sarah Polgrain and Yorkshire Jack, whose marriage vows echoed beyond the grave.
Plus, a lovely handful of teeth.
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
Edited by Laurence Hisee
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Sure, this starts with a derailment. But a derailment BY Alasdair? What crazy mixed up episode is this?
Well, most of it is a classic ghost story from Cornwall. Featuring a fast-thinking blacksmith, a humble servant, a burst horse and a bit of magick.
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
Edited by Laurence Hisee
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Prussia, 1809. An Englishman named Benjamin Bathurst vanishes without leaving a trace. Apart from his trousers. And his cloak. And possibly his skull. Who is behind this baffling disappearance? A local hoodlum, a French comte, or Napoleon Bonaparte himself?
This cold case has remained unsolved for over two centuries. Until now! Because James has a theory NO ONE has considered before.
(Maybe a horse ate him.)
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
Edited by Laurence Hisee
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Fantastic podcast! Keep up the excellent work 👌👏👏👏
i protest! I want ratings!
is ABK aware that, when at his show in Nottingham, he was ONLY ONE HOUR from Grindleford? I sure am now, for I was at that very show this week, AND I was at Grindleford this morning! Spooooky. I will note that did not see a scary animal. Even more spooooooky.
What fun. As a keen folklorist and reader / writer of weird fiction I love this podcast. Keep it up chaps.
poulterguys...poulterladys??
what a great podcast, I love each and every episode. keep up the great work lads!!
*laughs on a forklift*
I watched *Invasion of the Body Snatchers* a month ago and this really reminds me of that human faced dog seen.
As soon as the bluecap story started I was reminded of kobolds (a similar sort of creature) and I love that opurtunity to make that connection!
James... Shankshaft. I actually said it in my head b4 ABK spit it out. 😁
Oooh I've found me a new poddy to binge. Quality stuff guys 👌
hey guys after Sunil mentioned listening to the podcast at 1.2× speed... i decided to listen to it in 0.5× speed... Guys you sound like you've had a few to many pints! =D
This was brilliant 😁 and very interesting
hey guys dont know why but recent episode ended up in others category ...rather than following on from The vegtable lamb of tatar...
I'd love to see them cover Black Annis
Three days until Dec 20th. Could we be blessed with a new series? Surely Christmas miracles do exist! xxxx
With regards to the telling of Cinderella, the Germans did not add gore to a French tale. Cinderella was originally a very old and very gory fairy tale that was popular in Germany, though the earliest fragments of the story (including a prince locating his true love through shoes) can be traced back to Ancient Egypt. The Grimm brothers were fastidious about only including German tales in their collection, though a few of foreign origin did sneak past them, such as Red Riding Hood (which probably came from an old Italian tale). Interestingly, many of the tales that did slip through, like Cinderella, had Middle Eastern roots. Charles Perrault was infamous for bastardizing old stories, and Cinderella is a perfect example of him adding fluff and sparkle to a somewhat bleak older tale to cater to the rich, entitled, and often bored ladies at the French court. He also invented the concept of the pumpkin carriage.