A History of hauntings

Cryptozoology is the search for and study of mythical and legendary creatures. The UK has a number of very famous cases. I cram a brief overview of some of the most notorious and a few lesser known cases in to the half hour of this podcast. Undoubtedly, the most case is that of the Loch Ness Monster. Did you know that sighting have been reported for over 1500 years? The UK is also famous for it's legendary and elusive bug cats. I take a look at the Beasts of Bodmin and Exmoor and ask the question - are these two big cats linked by a single incident? As well as Big Cats there is a famous case of a big dog - possibly the inspiration for the Hound of the Baskervilles - Black Shuck. I also take a look at the case of the Ainsdale anomoly, a 15ft creature that has washed up on our shores in the year 2020. https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/loch-ness-monster https://www.bodminjail.org/blog/historical-tales/beast-of-bodmin/ https://www.exmoorzoo.co.uk/animals/exmoor-beast https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/beast-exmoor-caught-video-one-5399825 https://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2013/03/move-over-nessie-five-mythical-british-beasts/ https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/bizarre-15-foot-long-sea-22453303 https://allthatsinteresting.com/black-shuck As always, if you would like to contact me you can do so via the website https://tallboyradio.wordpress.com/a-history-of-hauntings/ or by emailing me [email protected] or on twitter at https://twitter.com/HHauntingPod/  The opening music for this podcast is "Weak Knight" by Devon Church and the closing music is "BDS" by Lewis Pickford.

Crewe's Lyceum theatre has sat on Heath Street in one form or another for over 130 years. In the last 50 years it has been haunted by the ghost of a ballerina. Some see a woman in white, most see her in vintage tutu and costume and more often than not she is accompanied by the strong smell of lavender. Given that for 50 years before it was a theatre, it was a Roman Catholic church, we shouldn't be too surprised to hear that this is not the only ghost sighting recorded in this building. Do any of them hark back to a time it was a church? Are any linked to the devastating fire that occurred there in 1910? I look at all of these and try and establish, which if any of these stories are to be believed... and I make a promise to you to revisit this place for second podcast and talk to - hopefully - some of the people that have had paranormal experiences there. As always, here are the list of websites I researched for this episode: https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/cheshire-staffordshires-most-haunted-locations-19059407 https://crewelyceum.co.uk/Online/tickets-ghost-hunts-crewe-june-2019 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5824544/ https://www.cheshireredhead.co.uk/446719295 https://www.higgypop.com/hauntings/crewe-lyceum-theatre/ https://crewelyceum.co.uk/Online/history https://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/news/crewe-south-cheshire-news/devastating-crewe-theatre-fire-remembered--10688990 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyceum_Theatre,_Crewe https://www.paranormaldatabase.com/reports/theatredata.php?pageNum_paradata=1 As always, if you would like to contact me you can do so via the website https://tallboyradio.wordpress.com/a-history-of-hauntings/ or by emailing me [email protected] or on twitter at https://twitter.com/HHauntingPod/  The opening music for this podcast is "Weak Knight" by Devon Church and the closing music is "BDS" by Lewis Pickford.

The Tower of London is notorious for it's hauntings and more to the point, the number of ghosts that inhabit the place. I take a look at the most commonly reported hauntings and the stories behind them. Many of the hauntings involve historical figures that you'll know from your history lessons however some are a little more obscure. As always I give my verdict on the likelihood that they are genuine and as always, I'd love to hear your opinions too. Here are the main websites that i researched for this podcast:- https://www.exploring-castles.com/uk/england/tower_london_ghosts/ https://www.london-walking-tours.co.uk/free-tours/tower-of-london-ghosts.htm https://londonist.com/2016/10/who-exactly-are-the-ghosts-of-london https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_London https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/tower-of-london-hidden-secrets https://www.standard.co.uk/reveller/attractions/seven-fascinating-things-you-never-knew-about-the-tower-of-london-a3737951.html As always, if you would like to contact me you can do so via the website https://tallboyradio.wordpress.com/a-history-of-hauntings/ or by emailing me [email protected] or on twitter at https://twitter.com/HHauntingPod/  The opening music for this podcast is "Weak Knight" by Devon Church and the closing music is "BDS" by Lewis Pickford.

As a point of fact, I have to state that I did not visit Borley in Essex for the making of this podcast. Being a UK based podcast that centres around the Unexplained, I simply had to include an episode about Borley rectory. Anyone who has an interest in the paranormal knows the tales of Borley rectory - the subject of Harry Price's book "The most haunted house in England". As a young man intrigued by the paranormal and the occult, pawing through books in my local library I was fascinated with tales of writings appearing scrawled on the walls and I hope you too will find them fascinating. I take a look at the history of hauntings in Borley rectory and at the same time - as promised - take an honest look at the claims that these accounts were falsified. I am still fascinated by the story of Borley rectory. Here are 5 articles that I found useful whilst creating this podcast: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borley_Rectory https://www.hauntedrooms.co.uk/borley-rectory-most-haunted-house https://burialsandbeyond.com/2021/01/15/the-most-haunted-house-in-england-borley-rectory/ https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/dec/31/books.booksnews https://u-p-o.com/index.php/2020/07/20/borley-rectory-the-haunted-house-in-essex-where-the-creepy-ghost-of-a-victorian-boy-was-spotted-essex-live/ As always, if you would like to contact me you can do so via the website https://tallboyradio.wordpress.com/a-history-of-hauntings/ or by emailing me [email protected] or on twitter at https://twitter.com/HHauntingPod/  The opening music for this podcast is "Weak Knight" by Devon Church and the closing music is "BDS" by Lewis Pickford.

In this episode I play devil's advocate. I look at the possible scientific explanations as to what experiences with ghosts actually are. I examine what science has to say a ghost actually is. If we are to examine the unknown and the paranormal, then we have to examine both sides of the coin. It's all well and good to call our experiences paranormal but we have to acknowledge the possibility that they are just "normal". I take a look at a number of explanations and try to decipher how feasible they are. I took mu information from the following articles: - https://theconversation.com/the-top-three-scientific-explanations-for-ghost-sightings-58259 https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/science-ghosts https://www.livescience.com/26697-are-ghosts-real.html https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/science/6-possible-scientific-reasons-for-ghosts#:~:text=%206%20Possible%20Scientific%20Reasons%20for%20Ghosts%20,in%20a%20paranormal%20experience%20if%20someone...%20More%20 I hope the believers and not just the non-believers will listen to this episode. As always, if you would like to contact me you can do so via the website https://tallboyradio.wordpress.com/a-history-of-hauntings/ or by emailing me [email protected] or on twitter at https://twitter.com/HHauntingPod/  The opening music for this podcast is "Weak Knight" by Devon Church and the closing music is "BDS" by Lewis Pickford

This week I look at the true stories behind 5 of the most famous movies about Hauntings. The hauntings are all real, I just strip away the Hollywood take on these terrifying cases. The first film I look at is 2002's Mothman prophecies https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265349/ an excellent film which is based around many paranormal occurances that happened in the late 1960s in the small town of Point Pleasent, Virginia. The film recants the story well but doesn't tell the whole truth. This is certainly one of the most unusual stories and to top it off, has over 200 reports in a 13 month period. The story culminates in the collapse of the Silver bridge into the Ohio river, but the story doesn't end there... https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/12/06/the-real-story-of-the-mothman-prophecies The next film that I look at is probably the most famous of the 5 - The 1973 film The Exorcist https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070047/ - having watched this film, it seems incredulous that it is based on a true story but it is. Certainly, the story is different from what actually happened but certainly not vastly different. https://www.mirror.co.uk/film/exorcist-based-true-story-real-11303612 Possibly the most famously haunted address in the United States is in Amityville - The 1979 film https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078767/ is based around events that actually occurred - but did they occur as reported, may there have been something else sinister that happened in the house after the multiple murders occurred - could the events be based on occult practices? https://thistv.com/blog/the-shocking-true-story-behind-the-amityville-horror/ The 4th film takes us off to Germany for 2005's the Exorcism of Emily Rose. This is a truly tragic story in real life https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404032/ . Her name wasn't Emily Rose... and she was certainly exorcised and the photos exist to prove it, but the truth behind this is truly shocking. https://allthatsinteresting.com/anneliese-michel-exorcism The final film 1982's The Entity https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082334/ This story states very clearly on the poster that it is based on a true story and it is very close to the actual events but in truth, what went on was far more harrowing than the film depicted. https://www.ranker.com/list/true-story-behind-the-entity/jacob-shelton https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Bither_case - If you would like to contact me you can do so via the website https://tallboyradio.wordpress.com/a-history-of-hauntings/ or by emailing me [email protected] or on twitter at https://twitter.com/HHauntingPod/  The opening music for this podcast is "Weak Knight" by Devon Church and the closing music is "BDS" by Lewis Pickford

Although Alsager in South Cheshire is not famous for it's hauntings, I am aware of one incident that has occurred here and that's because it was me who experienced it. The Manor House Hotel does have many a reporting of hauntings that have been seen. All of which have been that of a lady in the Stables bar which is part of the old building. Whilst looking into this, I stumbled across a report of the Old Mill being haunted so it seemed only right to pay that place a visit too. The real purpose of this episode though is for you guys to share your home town haunting experiences so that they can feature on future episodes. If you would like to contact me you can do so via the website https://tallboyradio.wordpress.com/a-history-of-hauntings/ or by emailing me [email protected] or on twitter at https://twitter.com/HHauntingPod/  The opening music for this podcast is "Weak Knight" by Devon Church and the closing music is "BDS" by Lewis Pickford

In this episode I visit a place with a long and numerous history of Ghosts. The Old Hall in Sandbach is listed as one of the most haunted places in Britain and is right on Yvette Fielding's doorstep... not just her's, it's also on mine. Opposite St. John's Church (where my Aunty and Uncle were married) it is a popular hotel (in which my In-Laws celebrated their wedding day) that does not shy away from it's history of hauntings. There are no less than 3 tunnels between the church and the old hall - the most famous of those being the Priest hole that the Priests used to escape attacks during the Civil War period. There are no less than 14 hauntings reported in this building and I take a look at the most plausible and a couple that aren't so plausible. If you are unfamiliar with the place you can find a brief overview here : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Hall_Hotel,_Sandbach - this site details the most famous hauntings (from the TV show Most Haunted) https://www.tributemosthaunted.co.uk/most-haunted-episodes/most-haunted-season-5/old-hall-hotel-sandbach/ and here is the site that has the interview with the member of staff https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/things-go-bump-night-5297991 - if you would like to contact me you can do so via the website https://tallboyradio.wordpress.com/a-history-of-hauntings/ or by emailing me [email protected] or on twitter at https://twitter.com/HHauntingPod/  The opening music for this podcast is "Weak Knight" by Devon Church and the closing music is "BDS" by Lewis Pickford

Eyam is referred to as the Plague village of Derbyshire with very good reason. Back in 1666, William Monpesson, the Rector, invented quarantine. When the plague arrived there from London on flea-infested clothing he encouraged the townsfolk to not leave the village and instead sacrifice their lives to prevent the spread of the Bubonic Plague to local villages. 270 lives were lost in this small village in less than 12 months. As you would expect, Eyam is the centre of many spectral visitations. The ghost of Sarah Mills is said to haunt the hall and the Miner's Arms has seen many guests leave during the night scared away by what they have experienced. I visited St Lawrence's churches graveyard to stand next to the grave of Catherine Monpesson - The wife of the rector who succumbed to the Plague after caring for the ill. Her ghost has often been seen dressed in a white gown wandering amongst the graves. Here is a link to a website that details the significance of Eyam https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Why-Is-Eyam-Significant/ and a link that details the hauntings in the Peak district https://explorebuxton.co.uk/haunted-places-in-the-peak-district/ . This web page details the haunting of the graveyard : http://hauntedplaces.co.uk/stlawrenceschurch.htm and finally an article by the BBC that details Eyam https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35064071 - please get in contact [email protected] or https://www.twitter.com/HHauntedPod - The opening music is Weak Knight by Devon Church and the Closing Music is BDS by Lewis Pickford.

In this episode, I stay local and investigate another place in Staffordshire with a History of hauntings. This is the case of 4 ghosts that have been sited on numerous occasions in Queen's Park, Longton - one of the places often listed as one of the most haunted places in the British Isles. Of the 4 ghosts, the most famous is the lady of the lake. A mystical woman in a long flowing dress and wide brimmed hat seen stood on the island in the middle of the lake. Then there's the case of a well-dressed and enraged man seen stood near the historical bell tower. The nearby disused railway tracks have their own paranormal activity... the ghost of a young boy often seen in the underpass or sometimes on the tracks themselves. Finally there's the unusual case of the "jogger in the tree". I visit the sites of the hauntings and delve in to the park's rich history in search of an explanation. Here is an article outlining the haunting case of the lady of the lake https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/top-18-most-haunted-places-4651204 - and a more detailed interview with a witness https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/walker-longtons-queens-park-says-1452648 - and a video from YouTube of a night time visit to the park in search of ghosts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvaECPjU6z8 - Please get in contact via twitter @HHauntingPod or email [email protected]