Loremen Podcast

S7E4 – Wild Wild Maidstone A cute little Kentish tale, plus a murderous bull straight out of Looney Tunes

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.

Comedian & podcaster, Edd Hedges introduces a bevy of Cambridgeshire oddities, from a terrifying monkey (some would call it a dog) to The Chronophage.

Yeah, Jackie

S7E2 – The Mysterious Portal of Langley James leads Alasdair into the depths of Wychwood Forest, where one family made a terrible mistake while digging up a tree stump.

Into the depths of Wychwood Forest, where one family made a terrible mistake while digging up a tree stump. Plus, we might just have come up with a new form of forensic science. (It's fingerprints, but instead of fingers it's bums. It's bumprints.)

S7E1 – The Pittville Circus Haunting Amateur ghost-hunter Rosina C. Despard's Cheltenham home was the site of one of the most well-documented hauntings of the 19th century... Or was it?

Amateur ghost-hunter Rosina C. Despard's Cheltenham home was the site of one of the most well-documented hauntings of the 19th century... Or was it?

S6E49 – 2025 Almanac Part 2 We reflect on our favourite moments from 2025: man-eating horses, saucy giants and islands that definitely aren't potatoes.

We conclude our round-up of the Lorefolk's favourite moments from 2025. Now is a time to reflect on man-eating horses, saucy giants and islands that definitely aren't potatoes.

Eleanor & Alasdair Read That X @loremen.bsky.social

S6E48 – 2025 Almanac Part 1 The edited highlights of 2025 (Part 1) Roman robots! Man-faced pigs! Two Jesuses? Featuring guests Joel Morris and Jenny Collier.

It's Part 1 of the annual Loremen misunderstanding of how countdowns work! We've selected the top ten(ish) moments from 2025, as voted for by the Lorefolk. Roman robots! Man-faced pigs! Two Jesuses?

S6E47 – Xmas Pig 2025 with Daisy Earl Comedian Daisy Earl joins us for the legend of a boozy Mancunian pig and the Scottish fairy tale of Whuppity Stoorie.

Comedian Daisy Earl joins us for the legend of a boozy Mancunian pig and the Scottish fairy tale of Whuppity Stoorie.

S6E46 – The Man-Faced Pigs of Brussels There's a sprinkling of Christmas Pig magic in this tale of judgemental swine from Wisconsin.

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.

S6E45 – The Hanborough Haunting Long Hanborough is home not only to the bus from the Spice Girls movie, but also to a spooky cottage with a particularly busy poltergeist.

Long Hanborough? Home of the Oxford Bus Museum? Yes! And once you've listened to this episode, you'll know it for more than being home to the bus from the Spice Girls movie. You'll know it for containing a spooky cottage with a particularly busy poltergeist...

S6E44 – Finstock Phantoms A preacher, a neanderthal and truly a chilling ghostly carriage from James's old stomping ground.

You know what they say: if you remember Finstock, you've been to West Oxfordshire. Here we discover a wealth of ghosts, including a truly chilling lady whose beckoning hands can only be seen by children. Pop on your body warmers... now!

S6E43 – The Penzance Poisoner It's a tale of undying love, with a murderess whose marriage vows echoed beyond the grave.

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.

A hardback edition of Liza Frank's Household Lore. "Folklore, Traditions and Remedies for Every Room in Your Home." The cover illustration is a stylised gothic revival house in purple

A checklist of characteristics to help the reader identify a vampire, including: "Is wearing a cape"

Thank you very much to @lilithepunk.bsky.social for this beautiful copy of Household Lore, which includes a surprisingly practical guide to keeping out Draculas. Hopefully @loremen.bsky.social will be vampire-free by 2026.

Two of my favourite pods coincide - @dannyrobins.bsky.social Uncanny x @misterabk.bsky.social from @loremen.bsky.social. A special listen.

S6E42 – The Spectral Bridegroom A ghoulish groom attempts to drag his lover to Hell, like some kind of reverse-Meatloaf.

A ghoulish groom attempts to drag his lover to Hell, like some kind of reverse-Meatloaf. This is the classic Cornish tale of Nancy Trenoweth, featuring a quick-thinking blacksmith, a humble servant and an exploding horse. But will the boys get through the story without any derailments?

It's true, other 10% is in Readers Digest

S6E41 – The Disappearing Diplomat In 1809, Benjamin Bathurst vanished without leaving a trace. Apart from his trousers. And his cloak. And possibly his skull.

In 1809, Benjamin Bathurst vanished without leaving a trace. Apart from his trousers. And his cloak. And possibly his skull. Luckily, James has a theory NO ONE has considered before...

Thank LoreFolk!

LoreFolk! Assemble!

S6E40 – Somerset Sects The boys discover a peculiar cult boasting not one, but two Jesuses. Must be pretty awkward at Christmas.

The boys discover a peculiar cult boasting not one, but two Jesuses. Yowzah! Must be pretty awkward at Christmas. James whisks Alasdair off to the commune of the Agapemonites: a scandalous Victorian sect nestled in the sauciest region of Somerset. (Well, a few miles north of Taunton.)

S6E39 – Keeping Austin Weird James and Alasdair do their darndest to keep Austin a little bit odd with this selection of spooky tales from that Texan bastion of peculiarity.

James and Alasdair do their darndest to keep Austin a little bit odd with this selection of spooky tales from that Texan bastion of peculiarity.

Click on Loremen?

Click through to the quoted message then scroll up, should be there

LoreFolk! Assemble!

S6E38 – Vicky’s Ticker Queen Victoria, the second longest Queen of England, escaped death on numerous occasions. But did she ever explore... the spirit world?

Queen Victoria, the second longest Queen of England, escaped death on numerous occasions. But did she ever explore the spirit world? The Loreboys ask: who watches the watch, man?

Hmmm..
Daily Mirror 9 July 1937

S6E37 – The Gold Hoard of the Great Ants Alasdair bedazzles James with the Old English legend of gold-digging ants. (The ants are also massive. And deadly.)

Alasdair bedazzles James with the Old English legend of gold-digging ants. (The ants are also massive. And deadly.)