Wyrd Folk

The infamous haunting at Borley Rectory in Essex has fascinated ghost hunters and horror aficionados alike for over a century. But Borley isn't just a ghost story. It is the tale of betrayal, family and deception which turned a seemingly ordinary rectory building deep in the countryside into the site of intense psychic study. What is the truth of Borley? This week, Sam and I take a look at two different eras in the Borley timeline and ask ourselves how the simple stories told by the Bull children to pass the long Winter nights ended in a raging fire which destroyed their father's house. After you've listened to the episode, make sure to vote for your favourite story on the episode poll by following this link: https://www.wyrdfolkpod.com/episodes-1/41-borley-rectoryMake sure to follow us on Instagram for show updates on @wyrd.folkpod or help support the show via Ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/wyrdsistersproductions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we take a trip to Bedfordshire to visit the site of the Beaumont Tree. This legendary elm supposedly grew from the staked heart of a notorious highwayman. Locals believed that the bark was a cure for the ague and malaria. But the question we want to ask is why the highwayman was staked in the first place. What drove his killer to commit such a violent act against his body? When you've listened to the episode, make sure to vote for your favourite version of the story on our website www.wyrdfolkpod.com to make sure that one of us gets crowned queen of the pod for Season 3. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we want to introduce you to our favourite village in the Midlands: Willerby. This charming little village has more going on than meets the eye. There's something in the village pond, the parish council have more to contend with than parking problems, and then there are the regular visits from THE COW! Listen as parish councillor Dan tells us all about the curse of The Dun Cow!If you want to find Willerby, then you can head to their website https://www.welcometowillerby.co.uk/ or their Substack https://willerby.substack.com/ or find them on Bluesky @welcometowillerby.bsky.social ‬or on Instagram @willerbyvillage As always, you can reach us at www.wyrdfolkpod.com or via Instagram @wyrd.folkpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Often called the first Scottish folktale, the romantic story of the handsome Tam Lin and his lover Janet has captivated audiences for centuries. The original broadside ballads might disagree about some of the details, but the essentials remain the same, including Janet's heroic role in the tale. Join us this week as we look at things from both Tam and Janet's viewpoints and discuss the perennial perils of fairyland.Make sure to follow us on @wyrd.folkpod on Instagram from more show updates or support us via Ko-fi if you love the show. https://ko-fi.com/wyrdsistersproductions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's non-fiction episode, we pay tribute to our wonderful father, who passed away last week, by looking at the ideal of Camelot. If Camelot were real, then where is it? Which places in Britain have the best claim to be the site of Camelot? We talk through the top four contenders and examine the inspiration the concept of Camelot has provided to writers since the early medieval period. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The devil waits to tempt us all on the 21st September, otherwise known as The Devil's Nutting Day. Folk legend has it that Old Nick lies in wait to tempt innocent maidens in the hazel brakes. So do remember to be alert when gathering your hazelnuts in September. This week, we have two stories about the devil and his craving for nuts. It seems only the holy mother can stop him making free with nature's bounty in September. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we take a little look at the traditional festivals of May. Both Sam and I have chosen a local festival as our inspiration to write a little short about the comforting strangeness of English village May festivals. Grab your Morris bells and your maypole. It's dancing time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we are doing our first-ever author interview. Lucy Holland will be sharing with us how she takes inspiration from Welsh and British folklore, particularly the enchanting myth of Taliesin and Ceridwen. In this episode, we talk folklore, writing and Gildas. A must for fans of Sister Song and Song of the Huntress. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether you are an Alan Garner nerd or not, come along with us as we tell two tales of The Wizards of Alderley Edge, the Cheshire folktale which inspired the children's classic The Weirdstone of Brisingamen. We'll be looking at two different perspectives on the story of the farmer who meets a mysterious old man, possibly a wizard, and how practical it might be to rely on enchanted knights for national defence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've duelled our way through romances, comedies, dark tragedies and ghost stories. Now it is time to discover which of us has the most votes for each episode, with the storyteller with the most wins overall taking the title as Queen of the Wyrd. The stakes are high, and the sibling rivalry has never been more fierce! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us and special guest Mark Norman of The Folklore podcast as we discuss the ancient story of The Devil and The Blacksmith. This universal tale can be seen in many cultures all over the world, but we've stuck with two fascinating tales from Britain. How does St. Dunstan, the patron saint of smiths, beat the devil? And what happens if you leave your horse and payment at Wayland's Smithy? Listen in for two stories and some great insights on the tales from Mark. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this minisode Nikki takes a look at the mysterious London Stone. This irregular block of oolitic limestone has stood on Cannon Street in London since before city records began and can be argued to be the first tourist attraction in the city. The theories about its origins are almost as old as the city itself. But what is the London Stone? Listen in to discover all the facts and fables about this tantalising, legendary object. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The tomb of Sir George Mackenzie in Greyfriar's Kirkyard in Edinburgh is one of the most haunted sites in Scotland. Since the tomb was disturbed in the late Nineties, there have been hundreds of reports of people experiencing scratches and other physical effects after entering the mausoleum. This week, we have both taken different ideas about Bludy MacKenzie and his tomb to create two very different stories of physical haunting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the hillside overlooking the peaceful village of Cerne Abbas is one of the most iconic images of the English countryside, that of the Cerne Abbas Giant. Famous for his enormous member and his mysterious origins, the giant certainly has many stories attached to him. This week, we look at two of the most famous explanations as to how the giant came to reside on that sleepy hillside. We'll also be looking at how the giant became associated with Oliver Cromwell and a dissolute abbot. Join us for two comedic tales of skullduggery, defiance and English protest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this minisode, we do a quick sweep through the sad tale of Jennet Device, the nine-year-old beggar girl whose testimony condemned her mother, sister, brother and neighbours to death for withcraft. A victim of the cruel times in which she lived and the ambitions of the pious Roger Newell, we look at how Jennet comes to find herself on the stand at Lancaster assizes as the star witness in the most infamous witch trials in English history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The B3212 outside Postbridge in Dartmoor has a chilling reputation. It is the scene of numerous car crashes that have been attributed to a pair of ghostly hairy hands. Come with us this week as we tell two tales of encounters with the so-called Hairy Hands of Dartmoor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blakemere in the Peak District is a place of dark fables and terrible tragedies. The site of a famous local murder is also said to harbour a vengeful mermaid in its dark waters. But how did a mermaid find herself in a small, freshwater lake miles from the open sea? Listen to hear our stories of love, witchcraft and betrayal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the first season 2 short, Sam takes a look at the details behind the famous urban legend of 'Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?'. Who is LaBella? And how did she die? This week's episode is a bit more true crime than folklore, perhaps demonstrating the link between notorious local crimes and folklore. Possibly not for the faint of heart. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we dive into a ghostly tale from Sunderland, the Cauld Lad of Hilton Castle. Is this Cauld Lad the innocent victim of a terrible murder, or is it a spiteful brownie who loves to wreak havoc in the kitchens? Join us for two tales of things that go bump in the night. This week, we're asking you whether this Cauld Lad is a brownie or a poltergeist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Princess, goddess, saviour. Who is Sabrina? And why does she lend her name to Britain's longest river? Join us this week for a look at the tragic, romantic story of Sabrina, sometimes known as Hafren. And find out how she is connected to the story of Cormoran the Giant. To kick off season two, we are having a romance vs revenge rematch. Do you favour the lonely water nymph or the vengeful queen? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.