Author: Tony Liddell

Episode 22 starts with the origins of Burns Night and a look at the folklore surrounding Scotland's national dish, haggis. From there the episode turns to Durham City and the tale of Sir John Duck and the Raven, before heading across to Northumberland for a swift peek at the ghosts of The Lord Crewe Arms in Blanchland. From there, the Boggart gives a reading from the 1850 book "The Phantom World, or the philosophy of spirits, apparitions" before concluding with another 1962 from the archives tale of Blyth's 'Peter the Poltergeist'.

As the podcast sneaks into 2024, The Boggart starts the New Year with a report of a ghost in Sunderland in 1786, then moves on to give a rapid tour of some UK-wide and North East ghosts and hauntings associated with World War II, including brief glimpses at The North East Aircraft Museum, Harperley POW Camp and the Grainger Market in Newcastle. The episode is rounded off with a look at some Northern English and Scottish New Year traditions, including first footing and not letting your fire go out...

Episode 20 marks the Boggart's 2023 Christmas episode, and the last episode of 2023. For the Scrooges among you, the episode delves into the non-festive tale of The Hexham Heads, before then plunging into the folklore surrounding this festive season. There's also a shoutout to two of my favourite podcasts - The Three Ravens and The Whispering Woods. I hope you have a fantastic festive season, and see you all in 2024!

In this Episode, The Boggart looks at the Alpine tradition of Krampus, the half-goat demon said to punish naughty children on the eve of the 5th December, and how the story has developed in time, becoming a political tool in the first half of the 20th century, and also how Krampus may have influenced the United States cryptid known as the Goatman...

Episode 18 finds the Boggart telling the tale of the haunting of the Harperley Hotel near Stanley (North East UK) while hosting the Do Business Network (DBN) After Dark Halloween Networking Event. 

Episode 17 opens with some ghostly tales from Washington Old Hall, Tyne and Wear, ancestral home to the first President of the United States. Then we move northwest to a ghost tale from 1841 in Galashiels, before heading to Yorkshire for the folk tale of the Giant of Penhill. The episode finishes with a strange listener submitted tale about a pair of haunted boots...

Episode 16 sees in the Autumn Equinox in the UK with two dark tales from Northumberland... the grisly fates of William Winter and his murderous accomplices (warning... it ain't pleasant...) and then the ghostly bridal party of Featherstone Castle, said to be seen in nearby Pynkin’s Cleugh on the 17th January every year. As well as this we hear the folk custom of 'breaking rainbows' and also the 'from the archives' account of a poltergeist in Embleton in 1957.

Episode 15 starts with the recounting of paranormal investigations at Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum (including some replays of audio anomalies such as a door shutting - when no doors moved - and a female voice saying --- (for you to decide). Then the episode switches to the Within the Boggart Wood 'tell me a story' event at the Land of Oak and Iron Heritage Centre on Sunday 27th August, with folklore and ghost stories surrounding the Derwent Walk, Hollinside Manor and the 9 Arches Viaduct, then the tale of the Burning Man of Ebchester (grisly descriptions, be warned!) before a chat with Andrew Ross, the Ghost Whisperer who tells some cracking tales from County Durham and gives some details on his Walking with the Ghosts of Durham ghost walks. To finish off, we hear the folk tale of hedgehogs stealing the milk from cows...

Episode 14 opens with a tale of three ghosts said to haunt the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle on the Northumberland Coast, then we move across to Toft Hill and Etherley for a 'from the archives' tale dating to 1880. The episode then concludes with Part 1 of The Haunting of Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum. In part 1 the podcast examines the history of the jail, including debunking some false history claimed by certain TV shows and paranormal groups - then looks at the phenomena people have experienced within the jail walls. Part 2, detailing an overnight paranormal investigation at the jail will feature in Episode 15!

Slightly later than expected due to audio issues (apologies, the gremlins have been playing funnies with the microphone this week)... Episode 13, aptly numbered in this case, looks at the 18th/19th folklore tale of the Picktree Brag, three ghostly tales from 19th century South Shields, the whimsical tale of the Pickled Parson of Sedgefield Rectory, and finishes with a look at why the number 13 may be classed as unlucky for some...