Hallowed Histories

Finally Winter appears to be coming to an end, and so too our strand of Winter Tales. Behind me you can probably hear the fire crackling on the hearth, but soon we will warm ourselves with the return of the sun, taking the chill off our bones and quickening the long Winter nights. However, we couldn't leave you without one last, sharp icicle of fear to remind you that we are not out of the woods and into the meadow just yet. Tonight's story, Sub-Zero is a cold walk in a dark place, courtesy of writer and friend of the podcast, SA Harris. We had the honors of hosting a few events last year to promote their second novel, Seahurst, a chilling tale of ghosts and the unquiet past on the Suffolk coast. Subzero should give you a taste of that novel, and we heartily recommend you pick up a copy.  Tonight's reader is Ruby Bardwell Dix, one of East Anglia's most promising new acting talents. She is fresh off a barnstorming production of Richard II on the stage, and will soon join the pantheon of iconic horror character as the Shadow Woman in the forthcoming film The Spirit Lock, shot on the Suffolk Borders. So please enjoy one more shot ice-cold darkness before it melts away for good, SA Harris's Sub-Zero.... 

Hello and welcome back to another in the Hallowed Histories strand of Winter Tales, and we hope you all had a very pleasant Christmas.  Christmas is an odd time, as i am sure you realized. What strikes us as being so odd is the way in which it collapses the old into the new. Christmas traditions that have been with us since the Victorian era, and sometimes even further back, are not settled in with presents of cutting-edge technology, video calls to distant relatives, ecards and the AI algorithm tempting you with targeted Boxing Day sales. This weird mix of the future and the past can lead to a very tense present.  Shane Brown's story tonight, DBL645 (mono) touches on this. We are big fans of Shane Brown's work over here at Hallowed Histories. His novel, Welcome to Marlington, was one of my favorite books of the past few years, and his annual tradition of releasing a new ghost story every Christmas has become a very welcome custom. You can find these stories on amazon, and they are all well worth checking out. Tonight's story combines a lot of Shane's recurring themes – music, the esoteric world of collecting, ghost stories and East Anglia.  DBL645 (mono) is read by David McCabe, who was so magnificent in our Sherlock Holmes reading last year. David is an actor, script editor and voice artist, who has had a full year playing Phileas Fogg in the Maddermarket's revival of Around the World in 80 Days. David has that too-rare gift for a voice actor of being able to breathe life into every individual character, and he uses that to excellent effect in this reading.  

Hello, and welcome back to the Hallowed Histories series of Winter Tales A huge you to those who attended last Wednesday's event at Stranger's Hall featuring local historian, author, and paranormal expert Neil Storey. It was a pleasure to watch him captivate a packed house with his extensive knowledge of Norfolk's macabre tales. Our gratitude goes out to Neil, as well as the staff at Stranger's for hosting us. We look forward to organizing more events there soon, so stay subscribed for further announcements. Today's story is another from Alexandra Evans, who began this series with The Black's Tale. Alex is a retired nurse from Norwich, and her experiences in that profession inspired this story. In addition, she has been involved with amateur drama for 40 years; writing, directing, and acting. She has portrayed roles ranging from the back of a pantomime to Margaret Thatcher. Recently, she has focused more on her writing and has had several sketches performed on the amateur stage, including a monologue showcased at the 2023 INK festival Halesworth. We are deeply grateful for her contributions to this podcast, and we hope you enjoy tonight's tale of a supernatural vigil.

Hello and welcome back to the Hallowed Histories strand of Winter's Tales, stories to amuse, to chill and to wrap presents by. One of the joys of Christmas is meeting with friends, and i am happy to announce that this story combines two old friends of the show, a writer and an actor who are much welcome visitors back to this podcast.   Helena Bacon is an academic, a writer and an educator with interests in the gothic, folk horror, mythology and the landscape of Norfolk. In other words, all the right things. Her story tonight, Ten Knocks, combines a lot of those interests and yet remains wholly original. It's power of mounting dread will stay with you long past the end of this episode, but hopefully won't come creeping around your door. The story itself is performed by John Davis, who was kind enough to work with us last year on one of the Slow Burn anthology tales. John is an actor and voice artist, who was recently seen in a revival of The Philidelphia Story and can be seen soon in The Clearing at the Sewell Barn Theatre in Norwich. If Helena's story puts you on the edge of your seat, it's John's voice which will tip you over. Thanks to both of them, and to you for sticking with us for the Winter Tales. See you again next week.   Tickets are still avaible for our next live event, historian Neil Storey talking about the dark side of East Anglia in the beautiful Stranger's Hall: - Hallowed Histories present Neil Storey at Strangers' Hall - Norfolk Museums Service

Greetings, and a warm welcome back to the Hallowed Histories series of Winter's Tales. A heartfelt thank you to those who ventured through Storm Darragh to join us at Stranger's Hall in Norwich, where we delved into the allure of ghost stories with renowned local author SA Harris. Your presence was greatly valued, and we extend our gratitude to the event staff for the opportunity to gather in such a historic venue. This evening's tale, titled 'Fungal' by Shannon Lewis, is a selection from the Slow Burn Horror anthology, a project we were delighted to support last Christmas. We reserved this story for an occasion that called for a special narrative and a fitting narrator. It's a subtly unnerving work of horror that insidiously takes root. Bringing life to Shannon's story is the multi-talented Jack McLeod—actor, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and our esteemed colleague. Jack recently captivated audiences in Richard Hand's dynamic grand guignol production at the Sewell Barn Theatre and contributed his expertise to the anticipated feature film, The Spirit Lock. We trust you will find 'Fungal' a hauntingly memorable experience and eagerly anticipate your company next week for another installment of Winter's Tales.

Welcome back to Hallowed Histories, presenting the first of our annual Winter Tales series. This year's lineup is exciting, featuring returning favorites like Sally Harris and Shane Brown, as well as new voices, all linked by the haunting landscape of East Anglia—a muse for the likes of Susan Hill, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Montague Rhodes James. For those craving more, the British Library's latest addition to their Tales of the Weird series, 'Eerie East Anglia,' comes highly recommended. Edited by Edward Parnell, a friend of the show, this anthology gathers classic terror tales from the region. If you're seeking the ideal place to purchase it, Holloway, a newly opened store off St Benedicts Street in Norwich, offers a quaint and esoteric selection of local folklore. We're also thrilled to announce the return of our live events this winter. On Sunday, 8th December, Stranger's Hall will host a talk with Sally Harris and Shane Brown, delving into their works, lives, and fascination with the extraordinary. Tickets can be secured via the Norfolk Museums website. Kicking off our tales is local writer and actress Alexandra Evans, whose story aptly heralds the advent season. Enjoy this appetizer, and join us each week throughout Christmas for more.

During the Halloween season, we had the pleasure of merging our passion for horror and East Anglian tales. This opportunity arose when Dr. Mark Fryers, a film history expert and a friend of our podcast, reached out to us. He shared his ongoing research involving Norwich, Count Dracula, and Universal Studios, which immediately piqued our interest for a podcast feature. In the upcoming interview, Mark will shed light on Charles D. Hall, a Norwich native born in 1888, coinciding with the year of Jack the Ripper. Hall honed his architectural skills in Norwich, which later propelled him to Hollywood fame after a period working with Fred Karno's music hall company. There, he encountered icons like Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy. Transitioning from designing sets for Karno, Hall eventually collaborated with Hollywood horror legends such as Tod Browning and James Whale. His artistic vision crafted the ambiance of legendary locales like Castle Frankenstein and Castle Dracula, and films like The Invisible Man and The Black Cat, featuring Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Dr. Mark Fryers, who now lectures at the Open University, is an extensively published scholar with a focus on maritime and gothic horror representations. His book, "Celluloid Tales: Norfolk Film History," is currently available and comes highly recommended, and can be found ⁠here⁠

Albert Einstein, one of the 20th century's most transformative figures, found refuge in the secluded expanse of North Norfolk's coast during a critical juncture in his life. His odyssey to Roughton Heath was fraught with danger, yet it proved to be a defining moment in his evolution as both a scientist and a public intellectual, whose revolutionary ideas had the potential to reshape our understanding of the world. If you're captivated by such narratives, please consider leaving a review, subscribing, and recommending our podcast to others who share your passion for history, folklore, and the macabre in East Anglia. This episode was brought to you by me, Richard Sheppard, with the insightful research of Dr. Linda Sheppard. Should you feel inspired to reach out, contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com.

We return from a short break with more tales of the strange and extraordinary from England's East Coast. In this episode, we explore a recent excavation along the River Nene near Peterborough. A farm has been discovered, offering a unique glimpse into the lives, labor, and constructions of Bronze Age inhabitants. We delve into how a fire immortalized Must Farm and discuss the ways in which these ancient people, though from a distant past, share many similarities with us. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard.

We are reaching the end of our strand of the Winter Tales here at Hallowed Histories, but we couldn't resist a couple more stories best enjoyed after dark. For the penultimale episode we are drawing again from the anthology Slow Burn Horror. We supported this project from it's Kickstarter inception all the way through to the beautiful book we now have on the shelf. We kicked off the season with One Candle by Kathryn Leigh, and now we revisit this treasure trove again with Within Walls by Georgina Pearsall. It's a remarkable story, full of squirming eeriness and atmosphere, plus it's set in Norwich. Reading it is the multitalented Emma Zadow. Emma is a playwright, actor, writer and all round artist. I met her at Adam Z Robinson's ghost story writing seminar at the National Centre for Writing. Check out Adam's episode on my other podcast, as well as Steph McKenna's episode from the NCW.   This has been Hallowed Histories with me, Richard Sheppard, with research and tech support by Dr Linda Sheppard and Stephen L. Parkes. Write to us at ⁠hallowedhistories@gmail.com⁠ if you fancy, and we'll see you again soon. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hallowedhistories/message

When we left Sherlock Holmes he was just about to explain who and how the vicious attack on Mr and Mrs Cubbit was perpetrated. We return you once more to the beautiful Norfolk countryside, the scene of a most gruesome murder. Once again, thanks to David Mccabe for his reading. Enjoy, and we'll see you next week for another of Hallowed Histories Winter's Tales.   This has been Hallowed Histories with me, Richard Sheppard, with research and tech support by Dr Linda Sheppard and Stephen L. Parkes. Write to us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if you fancy, and we'll see you again soon. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hallowedhistories/message

Hello and welcome back to the Hallowed Histories strand of Winters tales, and tonight we have a real classic for you. The Adventure of the Dancing Men is a classic slice of Sherlock Holmes, and one set in North Walsham. We're breaking it into two parts for you, so stay tuned for the conclusion in a couple of days. Arthur Conan Doyle was a frequent visitor to East Anglia, and as we covered in our episode on Black Shuck, he drew inspiration from Norfolk's demon dog to create one of his most iconic creations – the Hound of the Baskervilles. During another visit to Happisburgh in 1903, Conan Doyle noticed the sketches of the landlord's son in the hotel he was staying. These dancing stick figure men became the inspiration for the macabre code that is at the heart of this story. Conan Doyle was a man with many interests – golf, folklore, walking, ghost stories, you know, all those things that we do best around here. Breathing life into the story is our reader, the actor David Mccabe. As with a lot of our readers this season, I met David while working on the Maddermarket theatre's revival of Dracula last November. David played what is traditionally the thankless role of Jonathan Harker, but brought enough wit and energy to his acting to make sure his performance really stood out. It was a pleasure to share a dressing room with him as well, because he is one of the most well-read men I have had the pleasure to meet,  and that's always a quality to treasure. But for right now, imagine yourself in the study of the world's most famous detective, with the fire roaring, foggy London just through the window, and a case about to present itself. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com for more details and stay tuned every week until well past the twelfth night for more chills. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hallowedhistories/message

We present the 1992 adaptation of Robert Westall's classic, Norfolk-set novella, Yaxley's Cat. Set in Cley-Next-The Sea, it combines folk horror, pagan magic and the usual warnings about city folk going to the country. Robert Westall's work can be found here Director: Nigel Bryant Rose: Kathryn Hurlbutt Jane: Susan Mann Tim: Richard Pearce Vicar: Jonathan Wyatt Miss Yaxley: Patience Tomlinson Nathan Gotobed: Peter Tuddenham Jack Sydenham: Graham Howes Shopkeeper & Doctor: Jo Kendall Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com for more details and stay tuned every week until the twelfth night for more chills. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hallowedhistories/message

We're back with our strand of ghost stories for Christmas, this time expanded all the way through January and encompassing ghost stories, horror stories, detective stories and anything else with a local connection that tickles us. This time Kathryn Leigh returns to haunt us with One Candle, an itchy and scratchy tale of moths, mothers and monsters. Kathryn recently collaborated on the Slow Burn horror anthology we have been banging the drum for, more details here. It's read by John Davis, most recently seen as Van Helsing in the Maddermarket Theatre's revival of Dracula, who brings all his formidable talent to this eerie tale that will have you turning the bedside lights off for a change. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com for more details and stay tuned every week until the twelfth night for more chills. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hallowedhistories/message

When we left our last episode, the storm had hit East Anglia with full force. Lives were lost, communities shattered and thousands were left without electric, light, heat and hope. Today we are going to focus on the community of Sea Palling, and how one of the worst hit villages survived the night, and how the lessons of the storm led to investment in infrastructure that would ensure it never happened again. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hallowedhistories/message

With the Summer behind us and Autumn breathing softly on our shoulder, we notice the weather more. A subtle change in leaves, and a slight drop in temperature - all subtle, temperate beautiful things. Today we are going to look at weather that couldn't be ignored - the flood of 1953 which affected the landscape, the way we saw our relationship with the sea, and the lives of thousands. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hallowedhistories/message

Thank you for bearing with us the past few months whilst we have been relocating. Going through all of our books unearthed a few stories about a quiet, tranquil holiday spot with beautiful scenery, placid lakes, great fishing, aliens, monsters and the neolithic dead. Why not book your cabin now? Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hallowedhistories/message

Nowhere on the Suffolk Coast holds as much allure for the lover of the strange than the ruins that were Old Dunwich. Once a thriving seaport, and vital to the nation's wellbeing, it tumbled into the sea through bad weather and bad planning. Rumours sprang up that Dunwich did not lie easily though, and some said the bells of the churches under the water still pealed out. It was until recently that science showed the extent of what remained, and came to a shocking conclusion. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hallowedhistories/message

Roundabouts are strange things - often baffling to tourists, often decorated with flowers in the midst of pollutions, often eerily quiet and empty surrounded by noise and bustle. One man made a difference to a local roundabout in a most eccentric way. Listen to the tale of the Chicken Man of Bungay, and get involved in his memorial here: - https://mbasic.facebook.com/BungayUKSupportChickenRoundabout/photos/a.435360316528610/435360329861942/?type=3&p=30 Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hallowedhistories/message

Norwich Anglican Cathedral is a fine place to spend some time. It was used as a location in the BBC's adaptation of MR James's The Stalls at Barchester, and boasts one of the largest cloisters in Europe. The Cathedral close is picturesque as one could wish for. However, in a dark corner of the Cathedral is a truly frightening image, with a truly bizarre story that we cover in this episode. Thomas Gooding's resting place is an Easter Egg to be discovered in this beautiful building, and we urge you to seek it out. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

Christmas is over, and we move from ghost stories for Christmas to a more serious, bloody chapter of Norwich's history. The murder of an apprentice tanner in 1144 sparked off a chain reaction that would affect the Jewish community in Norwich, and the rest of the nation throughout the medieval period. Mix in conspiracy theories, secret societies and centuries old prejudice and we have a recipe for disaster. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

For the next in our strand of ghost stories for Christmas, we present a classic audio drama, the Book of the Shadows, written by Scott Cherry and originally broadcast a week before Halloween in 1995. Not only is it spooky stuff, with demonic curses, sinister witch covens and a village with secrets, it is also set in Norfolk, with namechecks to such familiar places as Wells, Fakenham and Walsingham. The script makes some amusing sallies comparing it's slick, modern protagonists against a Norfolk village that seems more like Lovecraft's Dunwich than the places we know and love, and the local accents range from authentic to misguided, but that doesn't detract from the fun. You will probably pick up on how much debt this drama owes to the 1957 film Night of the Demon, and Casting the Runes, the MR James short story on which the film is based. The Book of Shadows is seemingly aware of this, and cast Maurice Denham as the villain of the piece, the same actor who had played the first victim of the monster in Night of the Demon. This is a long one, almost an hour and a half, but it's worth sticking to until the very end. So, turn off the lights, pour a glass of something warming, and get ready to find out what secrets lie in the dark and silent villages of the Norfolk expanse. Thanks to Linda Sheppard and Stephen Parkes for their always invaluable help. Feel free to write to us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

we are all big fans of Norfolk native Shane Brown here at Hallowed Histories. We featured his work a few years ago in a strand of ghost stories, and his novel, Welcome To Marlington, was one of the best horror novels of the year. Here, he reads his own story from last Christmas's collection of ghost stories which can be found here. plus find his blog with musing on music and early cinema here Thanks to Linda Sheppard and Stephen Parkes for their always invaluable help. Feel free to write to us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

Ghost stories with melody this week, as we present two songs for Christmas. 'Krampus' is a carol-like ode to the demon of Christmas, and 'Half-Hanged Maggie Dickson' is a grim, funny ballad about a botched execution. As you can imagine, Joey Herzfeld's music is very much in Hallowed Histories' wheelhouse. We are honoured and more than happy to showcase the work of this Norwich based musician and actor, whose work can be found here Thanks to Linda Sheppard and Stephen Parkes for their always invaluable help. Feel free to write to us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

Jane Appleton joined us last year for a recital of her story, The Yellow Tricycle l, and we are delighted to welcome her back again with another story. This one is another winner - the story of the Reverend Mr Ambrose, priest by day, and by night.....something altogether different. You'll see. Thanks to Linda Sheppard and Stephen Parkes for their always invaluable help. Feel free to write to us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

Our annual season of ghost stories begins with a classic, The Bell by Frederick Cowles, read by Hallowed Histories host Richard Sheppard. A classic chiller set on the Norfolk coast this is a fine way to begin our festival which this year contains original readings, narrative songs, ghoulish surprises and culminates in an exclusive preview of author Sally Harris's new novel. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com for more details, and stay tuned every week until the twelfth night for more chills. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

Happy Halloween, and welcome back to another stop on the Devil's tour of East Anglia. We've heard about his throne, but in King's Lynn he seems to have made himself more at home. Not only his cloven hoof print in the cobbles, and his face on the town coat of arms, he also worked in the hearts of the people responsible for a couple of tales of crime, punishment and exploding hearts we have today. I talk at the end of the book launch for LMK Sheppard's Faith Horror, free online and in person tickets are available here Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

The peddler of Swaffham is one of the oldest folk legends of East Anglia, and one that is still present today in Swaffham's streets and buildings. It has the hallmarks of a great legend - an unaware and unlikely hero, a great journey, prophetic dreams and an incredible reward. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

The horror of the Baedeker raids in 1942 came about due to a concerted effort by German military command to not only wreck a country, but also break its spirits. Centres of culture and spirituality were targeted, all according to a Victorian travel guide, the Baedeker. How did one innocuous book about tourism lead Norwich to some of its most terrifying nights? Find out here.... Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

The case of Robert Goodale reads like a Thomas Hardy novel meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre on a particularly blighted part of East Anglian farmland. However, when Goodale murdered his wife and threw her down the well near Wisbech, he assumed that his troubles were over. Unfortunately, due to the Norwich Assizes, an executioner literally battling his own demons, and a misjudged rope calculation, Goodale would be famous for a very different reason than murder..... Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

The Devil may be in the details - but he's also in the landscape. From Dykes to mountains to valleys to standing stones, any piece of geography can be renamed as belonging to the Devil. However, in the sixteenth century an unusual natural phenomena washed up near Caister that became associated wioth dark powers, before being associated with another piece of folklore, before a piece of the twentieth century reality came crashing down on it. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

Celebrity culture is not a new concept, and often throughout history has made stars of the most unlikely people. Charles Stratton was born with a medical condition that restricted his growth, resulting in a grown man with the stature of a small child. However, he had the ambition that was not miniature, an ambition that would lead to a partnership with PT Barnum, and eventually lead to him leaving a part of his heart in Norwich. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

The quiet seaside town of Aldeburgh on the Suffolk coast has had a long and storied history. However, one story that the locals might want to forget is the day that aliens may have come calling on a housewife. Her story inspired others to come forward and talk about what they had seen in the skies, setting a trend in the region for sightings of unusual objects in the sky. Is it connected to the secretive government base on Orford Ness? Or the infamous Rendlesham incident? We take a stroll along the shore to find out..... Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

Back to our monthly programme of weirdness from East Anglia, and this time we are looking out to see. Everyone knows Loch Ness, but back in the 1930s Eccles Beach gave it a run for its money with sightings of a beast that terrified fishermen, clergyman and local politicians. What was it? A throwback to the era of dinosaurs? Mass hallucination? A hoax? We throw our net out for answers and sift through the catch. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

We are honoured to end our series of tales of the macabre and strange with a crossover with a new podcast drama, The Adventures of Zachariah Jaeger, produced by former podcast guest Richard J Hand. This story, part of a trilogy of stories featuring occult investigator Zachariah Jaeger, piqued our interest due to its unusual nature and East Anglian setting. For another Victorian ghost story in the classical style, please get a free ticket for our exclusively commissioned performance of E.F. Benson's Outside the Door by renowned actor and voice artist, Richard Crowest. Get your ticket here. Stay tuned for more stories each week in the run up to Christmas. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

A reading of a classic tale of destiny, death and fate, taken from the pages of Swan River Press's new book, Ghosts of the Chit-Chat, edited by Robert Lloyd Parry. Available here http://www.swanriverpress.ie/ For another Victorian ghost story in the classical style, please get a free ticket for our exclusively commissioned performance of E.F. Benson's Outside the Door by renowned actor and voice artist, Richard Crowest. Get your ticket here. Stay tuned for more stories each week in the run up to Christmas. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

Hallowed Histories favorite Johnny Raspin returns with a chilling story of technology dependence and horrific ends that will make you think twice before talking to Alexa..... For a Victorian ghost story in the classical style, please get a free ticket for our exclusively commissioned performance of E.F. Benson's Outside the Door by renowned actor and voice artist, Richard Crowest. Get your ticket here. Stay tuned for more stories each week in the run up to Christmas. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

A real treat for this edition of our series of winter's tales; RH Malden's Between Sunset and Moonrise, read by Robin McLoughlin. Info on actor, director and writer Robin McLoughlin can be found at https://www.robinmcloughlin.com/ For a Victorian ghost story in the classical style, please get a free ticket for our exclusively commissioned performance of E.F. Benson's Outside the Door by renowned actor and voice artist, Richard Crowest. Get your ticket here. Stay tuned for more stories each week in the run up to Christmas. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

A modern ghost story of cursed possessions, haunted lives and the inescapability of fate by Norwich based author Jane Appleton. For a Victorian ghost story in the classical style, please get a free ticket for our exclusively commissioned performance of E.F. Benson's Outside the Door by renowned actor and voice artist, Richard Crowest. Get your ticket here. Stay tuned for more stories each week in the run up to Christmas. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

We're kicking off our traditional collection of stories of the macabre in two ways: For a Victorian ghost story in the classical style, please get a free ticket for our exclusively commissioned performance of E.F. Benson's Outside the Door by renowned actor and voice artist, Richard Crowest. Get your ticket here. Secondly, each week from November 7 until Christmas, we will be uploading original readings by local authors and actors. This week our selection comes courtesy of S.A. Solomon who will be reading an excerpt from her novel Live For Today. This piece originally appeared in an anthology entitled New Jersey Noir edited by Joyce Carol Oates and published by Akashic Books. Stay tuned for more stories each week in the run up to Christmas. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

The Wild Hunt has been a ghoulish mainstay of folklore since time immemorial, but who are the Huntsmen, and what do they want? Often terrifying, sometimes generous and always enigmatic, we take a look at this enduring slice of East Anglian mythology. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

The disappearance of 40s big-band icon Glenn Miller is one of the best known, and most investigated, mysteries of the second world war. Friendly fire, freezing cold, fog and propaganda cover-up have all been suggested as probable cause for the vanished flight that carried Miller and two airmen to the cold East Anglian skies in 1944. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

In honour of Norwich Pride 2021, we take a look at the bloody beginnings of Dereham, before focusing on one it's most famous landmarks, the George Hotel. Stories had been circulating about the ghosts there for decades, before a medium and ghost investigation team uncovered a tale of The Green Lady, and the unusual story of her afterlife. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard and tech wizardry by Stephen L Parkes --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

Poppyland, the wide stretch of meadows and fields that runs along part of the North Norfolk coast, was the inspiration for many Victorian poets and artists. However, alongside this celebration if beauty, not a stone's throw away from the poppy fields, like the Shrieking Pits. Once deep, dark mines, now filled in with ink black water, these ponds have claimed the life of many tragic victims, whose stories have become East Anglian folklore. We're back at UEA's media suite now (although this episode was recorded mainly at home), with support from the Interdisciplinary Institute of Humanities. Thanks for bearing with us over the past few months, we hope to have exciting news about our upcoming episodes as well as our annual film festival for you all very soon. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

The sea shanty was the recent focus of a social media craze, but in many ways it revival completely predictable. As we shall see today, the shanty has always been a way to connect disparate groups, causing all of them to pull in one direction. It was exactly the tonic that people lockdowned with uncertain direction needed. The history of the shanty, from Victorian work song to curated anthropological archive is a fascinating journey, and one central to East Anglia's coastal communities. We're back at UEA's media suite now (although this episode was recorded mainly at home), with support from the Interdisciplinary Institute of Humanities. Thanks for bearing with us over the past few months, we hope to have exciting news about our upcoming episodes as well as our annual film festival for you all very soon. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

The history and aims of the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) provides a fascinating look at a point in our history where religion, science and the paranormal took centre stage in a discussion that would define the modern world. We're back at UEA's media suite now (although this episode was recorded mainly at home), with support from the Interdisciplinary Institute of Humanities. Thanks for bearing with us over the past few months, we hope to have exciting news about our upcoming episodes as well as our annual film festival for you all very soon. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

As a follow-up episode to last month's look at the white women ghosts of East Anglia, we present an eye-witness, first hand account of a student teacher who witnessed something sinister in Sprowston. For reasons of privacy we have removed any references to where in Norwich this took place, and changed the name of the witness. Hear his terrifying account of his visit from the white lady, and even more chillingly, the aftermath and long reach of one of East Anglia's most persistent spectre. Do you have a tale of the unexplained to tell? Let us know at hallowedhistories@gmail.com We're back at UEA's media suite now (although this episode was recorded mainly at home), with support from the Interdisciplinary Institute of Humanities. Thanks for bearing with us over the past few months, we hope to have exciting news about our upcoming episodes as well as our annual film festival for you all very soon. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

Imagine a ghost and the classical image of a figure in white may pop into your mind. The lady in white is one of the archetypal spectres, and East Anglia certainly has its share. But is the lady in white here to harm or heal? And is she still about her business to this very day? We investigate a mystery that goes back centuries, and yet effects the lives of some to this very day. We're back at UEA's media suite now (although this episode was recorded mainly at home), with support from the Interdisciplinary Institute of Humanities. Thanks for bearing with us over the past few months, we hope to have exciting news about our upcoming episodes as well as our annual film festival for you all very soon. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

While locked down in our houses, it is very easy to forget that we are surrounded by wild, open, empty spaces. The Broads exemplify the strange patchwork of countryside that make up a lot of East Anglia, both picturesque and strangely menacing. When the Broads do throw up folklore, it runs that gamut between the sublime and the damned, and no more so than in the shadow of St Helen's Church in Ranworth. Thank you so much to those of you who joined us for our recent run of ghost stories, as well as the online screening of Clive Dunn's documentary about M.R. James in December. We're going to be bringing you more screenings in 2021, so keep an eye out on our website and on the podcasts for further developments. A lot of the M.R. James footage will soon be available through our Youtube channel for those who missed it, we'll get that up and running very soon. We're back at UEA's media suite now (although this episode was recorded mainly at home), with support from the Interdisciplinary Institute of Humanities. Thanks for bearing with us over the past few months, we hope to have exciting news about our upcoming episodes as well as our annual film festival for you all very soon. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

Thank you so much to those of you who joined us for our recent run of ghost stories, as well as the online screening of Clive Dunn's documentary about M.R. James last month. We're going to be bringing you more screenings in 2021, so keep an eye out on our website and on the podcasts for further developments. A lot of the M.R. James footage will soon be available through our Youtube channel for those who missed it, we'll get that up and running very soon. In the meantime, we will still be bringing you our monthly tales of East Anglian lore and legend, and we're kicking off 2021 with a story of murder in the venerable grounds of Norfolk's Honingham Hall. The confrontation between the sociopathic Private George Smith and the distinguished diplomat Sir Eric Teichman was short and deadly, and yet what bought these two men, so utterly different to each other, to a bloody end? The 'friendly invasion', that is to say the arrival of American troops in Britain was overwhelmingly that - friendly. The story we tell today was an absolute outlier, and a shock to both countries. We're back at UEA's media suite now (although this episode was recorded mainly at home), with support from the Interdisciplinary Institute of Humanities. Thanks for bearing with us over the past few months, we hope to have exciting news about our upcoming episodes as well as our annual film festival for you all very soon. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org. This episode was hosted by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard. The technical wizardry was performed by Stephen L. Parkes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message

Hallowed Histories is delighted to bring back one of our favourite traditions - ghost stories for Christmas. Each week leading up to our Christmas special (details to come), we will be hosting a story written and narrated by a local author. This episode is a reading of Daffodils by Sally Harris, a chilling rendition of just what may lurk in an English country garden. Sally is the author of one of our favourite books, Haverscroft, links to which can be found below: - https://www.saharrisauthor.com/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/S-A-Harris/ Hallowed Histories is hosting an online screening of A Pleasant Terror: The Life and Ghost of M.R. James, a documentary profiling the life and career of England's master of the ghost story. The screening is free, and will be followed by a roundtable discussion with the director of the documentary, Clive Dunn, and the author of Ghostland, Edward Parnell. Get a free ticket HERE. The screening will be available for 48 hours, starting from midnight on the 22nd December. We're back at UEA's media suite now, with support from the Interdisciplinary Institute of Humanities. Thanks for bearing with us over the past few months, we hope to have exciting news about our upcoming episodes as well as our annual film festival for you all very soon. Please leave a review, subscribe and recommend this podcast to anyone you know with an interest in East Anglia, history, folklore and the macabre. Contact us at hallowedhistories@gmail.com if the spirit moves you, or check out our website at hallowed-histories.org This episode was recorded at the UEA media suite with research support from the Norwich Heritage Centre, with thanks to them both for their support. This episode was written by me, Richard Sheppard, with research by Dr Linda Sheppard, and technical production by Alec Plowman. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hallowedhistories/message