Author: Tony Liddell

Welcome to the Halloween 2024 podcast episode, which also happens to be episode 31... and due to release on the 31st October... see what I did there? Ahem, I digress - so this episode is a little different to the usual format, as it was recorded live (on the 21st October) in front of some of the podcast's Patreon 'Court of Boggarts' tier supporters, as well as with special guests Martin and Eleanor from the fantastic Three Ravens Podcast!

Episode 30 first takes us to the village of Brancepeth in County Durham with its tales of ghosts and porkine problems... the episode's from the archives tells of some shenanigans in Redcar at the turn of the 20th century, then we have a wander up the coast from Redcar to Middlesbrough for a look at the Grey Lady of Acklam Hall.

Episode 29 first takes us into the Scottish Borders and Northumberland for a look at the bloodthirsty goblins known as Redcap. From there, there's a book review/recommendation of "Dirt Upon my Skin" by Steve Toase. The second tale then looks at the 17th century tale of Margaret Hooper and demonic possession in Edmundbyers before we head to Canada with this episode's from the archives tale of devillish goings-on in 1879...

In this episode, the podcast takes a deep-dive into the history, archaeology and ghostlore of Queen Street Masonic Hall, Sunderland, the oldest custom-built Masonic Hall still in use by Freemasons in Britain.

The episode begins at Nafferton Castle in Northumberland, and the many fates of the murderer Long Lonkin, then moves a mile to the west to the site of Nafferton New Hall, and its pesky poltergeist. The episode's archives story is "A Ghost at Whitby" from the 8th December 1891's Northern Echo. The closing tale is Brockie's 1886 tale of the Dun Cow.

Episode 26 starts with a visit to the community archaeology project at Carlisle Cricket Club, the Uncovering Roman Carlisle project, with an interview with archaeologists Frank and Anna Giecco. Staying in Carlisle, the podcast then looks to the 1864 sighting of a 'ghost' in Milbourne Street, and reports from the same time at the Glasgow Necropolis. Moving from the northwest to the northeast, I think have a look at some of the ghosts and folklore in Staindrop and Raby Castle, County Durham, before finishing with an account from the Yorkshire Evening Post in 1928, discussing some of the ghostly beliefs in Teesdale and surrounding areas.

Episode 25's main tale is a look at the gypsy curse of Levens Hall, Cumbria, along with its Grey Lady, Pink Lady and ghost dog. We then move onto a 1903 tale of a haunted house told in the Wemyss Gazette, before moving on to William Henderson's version of the Hazlerigg Dunnie story. The podcast closes with a bizarre little tale involving waistcoats, a bad tempered couple and a wise woman's charm...