***Weird in the Wade Presents: Bedfordshire's Dark History at Bed Fringe, 25th July at 2pm. Grab tickets here: https://bedfringe.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873684599 ***  In a celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride Nat explores why the queer community has an affinity with the magical, otherworldly and supernatural. She uncovers the history of one of the UK’s oldest, continuously run safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people, the Barley Mow pub in Bedford. With the help of it’s current manager Ryan, Nat explores its fascinating history and evolution as an inclusive space. The venue also has a darker past with its association with Bedford Gaol which stands opposite. Nat also chats with James Chantry an artist and academic who explores queer identity through art, the environment and folktales in the Lincolnshire fens. The episode starts with a retelling of the folktale “The Tiddy Mun,” an unusual tale which Nat and James discuss in detail. Check out weirdinthewade.blog for show notes and links, as well as a recommended reading and listening list for LGBTQ+ history and folklore. Want ad free episodes and bonus content, sign up to Weird in the Wade's patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/WeirdintheWade Got a comment or a suggestion? Get in touch with Nat on [email protected] or @weirdinthewade on social media. Thank you to Ryan at the Barley Mow and James Chantry for their time and expertise. Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig Theme music and Stay Off The Tracks by Tess Savigear Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After exploring the 1840s haunting of Tempsford Hall Nat delves into the 20th and 21st century history of the hall. On the eve of the 20th century Tempsford Hall suffered a devastating fire where extreme bravery was shown by the residents, visitor, and servants of the Hall. Tempsford is probably most famous today for its role in the second world war. A top-secret role involving espionage, and resistance fighters. Nat explores the history of the Special Operations Executive and the memorial barn at Gibraltar Farm just west of Tempsford Hall today. Nat focuses on the experiences of two SOE operatives Pearl Witherington and Noor Inayat Khan. Women who bravely fought against the nazi’s in occupied France. Finally, Nat looks at the more recent haunted history of Tempsford Hall and the village in general including an experience sent in by a listener who lived in Tempsford recently. Check out the show blog weirdinthewade.blog for photos, videos and links to further reading. Voice actors for this episode are: Tess Savigear as Millicent and the nurse Owen Staton as Bulkeley Hughes Bryan Bland as the Major Additional research by Aisling McCrudden Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig Theme music by Tess Savigear Weird in the Wade is on a short break until 6th July 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whist researching Tempsford’s World War 2 history Nat discovered a dossier of evidence about a haunting. A haunting that happened a hundred years before the second world war. The statements were gathered by Anne Lucinda Elliott, lady of the manor at Tempsford Hall from 1844 -48. They document four years of disturbing and unusual sounds, sights and experiences at the hall. The witnesses are many, including Mr and Mrs Elliott, their guests, servants and even a police constable who was recruited to investigate the unusual and uncomfortable activity at the hall. Nat also explores Tempsford’s social history, which could have affected the family’s response to this apparent haunting. There were riots both drunken and violent, poaching and sheep stealing around this time in Tempsford. Is this haunting connected to paranormal activity reported at the hall in the 20th century? Could it also be linked to the secret history of Tempsford and its wartime importance? The next episode of weird in the wade will explore this side of Tempsford’s past and the invaluable contribution women in the Special Operations Executive made to the fight against nazi Germany. Find show notes and photographs on the show blog weirdinthewade.blog Go ad free, get extra content and support the show on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/WeirdintheWade Thank you to the Bedfordshire Archives. Thank you to all the wonderful voice actors in this episode Bryan Bland Emily Elle Watts Tess Savigear Rhiannon Barrow Steph Lay Mikey Doyle And Olie Campbell Researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig Theme music and haunted house theme by Tess Savigear Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Nat for this 3 year anniversary and 50th episode celebration of Weird in the Wade at Biggleswade’s most haunted pub! (I know it says episode 45 but some bonus episodes weren't numbered.) Nat and the Scooby Gang (8 friends of the show) spent the night investigating in the bar of the Golden Pheasant. Very little sleep was had, but strange sounds, sensations and communicating with dowsing rods all took place. The Golden Pheasant was featured in the Halloween special episode of the podcast in October 2023. The pub is said to be haunted by a singing ghost and a Victorian lady. There’s a little girl phantom, teleporting Yorkshire puddings, and many other strange occurrences reported. Nat hears about a terrifying nightmare which still haunts one of the bar staff, and investigates former staff and landlords of the pub. There’s a Victorian publican who got in trouble with the law for his disgusting language, and another who was involved in a fatal steam engine accident. But can any of this history explain the strange goings on in the pub over the years. And will Olie Campbell’s guitar playing at 2am entice the singing ghost to join in? Thank you to the Scooby Gang: Rhiannon Barrow Bryan Bland Olie Campbell Paul Day Mikey Doyle Tom Harvey Steph Lay Andy Skilton Want to support the show and get ad free episodes then join the Weird in the Wade Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/WeirdintheWade Follow the show on social media here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade Researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig Additional editing by Tess Savigear Theme music by Tess Savigear Night Watch composed and performed by Olie Campbell Get in touch with Nat at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nat meets up with Theresa the landlady of one of Biggleswade’s most mysterious pubs. There’s very little historical information about the Whistle and Flute, which changed its name from the Elephant and Castle in the 1990s. Theresa and her staff have all experienced strange phenomena in the pub, and Nat hopes to shed some light on why that might be. Nat also speaks with Lloyd Lugsden of the “Dead Pubs of Bedfordshire” project to find out if he has come across any themes when it comes to haunted pubs across the county. This leads Nat to uncover a tragic story about drunken driving of a horse and trap. Finally, Nat speaks with Kevin O’Shea from Supernatural Japan podcast about his experiences in haunted pubs in Canada and Japan. Japan’s drinking culture is traditionally very different to Europe and North America’s and it seems their rich ghost lore makes for some interesting experiences in their traditional inns (Ryoken.) Want to listen to Weird in the Wade ad free and support the podcast then check out Weird in the Wade's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/WeirdintheWade Find out more about the Weird in the Wade show Bedfordshire's Dark History at Bedford Fringe Festival here: https://bedfringe.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873684599 Find show notes and photographs on the show blog at weirdinthewade.blog Thanks to Theresa Blunden, Lloyd Lugsden and Kevin O’Shea Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig Editing of the interviews was by Tess Savigear Theme music by Tess Savigear Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The UK's roads seem to be filled with ghostly encounters and urban legends from phantom hitchhikers to timeslips. In this episode Nat examines two road ghost encounters shared by listeners. These two road ghosts have a link with foggy weather. Is fog the most paranormal of all weather conditions? Nat also explores a miraculous healing which was said to have been performed by a ghost who manifested in a cloud of steam like mist. The village of Arlesey links two of these ghosts and the other was encountered near Biggleswade. Why are there so many ghostly encounters on our roads? Nat explores this along with the history of the Three Counties Asylum, a Victorian mental health facility which is linked with one of the road ghost encounters.  Thanks to listeners Ann and Julie for sharing their experiences. If you have a road ghost encounter you'd like to share with Nat email her on [email protected] or contact weird in the wade on social media Want ad free episodes and more content from Weird in the Wade, join the Patreon and support the show! https://www.patreon.com/cw/WeirdintheWade Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig Theme music by Tess Savigear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a trip to the seaside, a “Weird in the Waves” episode if you like, Nat tells the tale of Black Humphrey, an infamous smuggler, wrecker, possible pirate, spell caster and general wrongun. On Whipsiderry beach, just north of Newquay, you’ll find a small rugged island which bears the name of Black Humphrey’s rock. Today’s episode explores how this rock got it’s name. As well as telling this twisty tale of ghost ships, phantom sailors and tragedy, Nat explores the history behind the legend. Including uncovering an ancient method of communing with drowned sailors used by wives, mothers and sweethearts along the Cornish coast. Voice actors for this episode are: Ian Higton of Platform 32 YouTube and Twitch channels as Black Humphrey Owen Staton from Time Between Times Storytelling Podcast as Richard Petherick Emily Elle Watts as Jane Lissum Trevelgue head crowd played by: Liz Barclay Rhiannon Barrow Bryan Bland Olie Campbell Steph Lay Andy Skilton Check out further information and photographs on the show blog weirdinthewade.blog Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig Theme music and The Sea piano theme by Tess Savigear Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starting with an exploration of the Green Lady of Kempston, a ghost who appears along the banks of the river Great Ouse southwest of Bedford. These colourful lady ghosts can be found all over the UK and Ireland, and Nat wants to know more about this type of female ghost. Nat is joined by special expert guests: EvelynHollow (parapsychologist, author and queen of team believer on Uncanny,) Deborah Hyde (psychologist, folklorist and queen of team sceptic on Uncanny,) Bethan Briggs-Miller (Eerie Essex podcast and co-founder of the East Anglian folklore centre,) Steph Lay (creator of the City of Secrets project and Into the Fog podcast team member.) Together they explore women who haunt, women who are haunted, and women who investigate and record these hauntings. Questions tackled include: Do ghosts who are perceived to be female behave differently to male ghosts? How are women who experience hauntings treated by the media and society in general? Why do we have so many colourful lady ghosts and which are our favourites? Who are the women who have led or still lead in this field of the paranormal and parapsychology? Check out additional information and photos for this episode on weirdinthewade.blog If you have a question or suggestion for Nat email: [email protected] or follow weird in the wade on social media. Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig Theme music is by Tess Savigear Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Higgins Bedford (a museum and art gallery.) has a long history of unexplained and supernatural phenomena witnessed by customers and staff alike. It became so infamous that from the 1980s until 2010 ghost tours and investigations were held at the museum. The site includes an old brewery, beautiful town house, munitions tower, and the mound of Bedford castle. Can this history shed any light on the paranormal activity reported and recorded in a ghost dossier. Why did the haunting activity cease in 2011?Nat, investigates with the help of The Higgins curators, Victoria Partridge and Lydia MacDonald. One museum item, a doll named Queenie comes under some scrutiny, so Nat also speaks with Fiona Dodwell author of A Cursed Collection of Haunted Dolls. Special thanks to The Higgins Bedford and Victoria and Lydia in particular.Thank you also to Fiona Dodwell for her insight into haunted dolls and why so many of us find these childhood items so creepy. More information, images and links can be found on the show blog weirdinthewade.blogDo you have a memory of Bedford Museum and the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery from the last 40 years? You can get in touch with Nat about this or anything else weird in the wade related at: [email protected] Weird in the Wade will be on a short break during February returning with an episode celebrating women who haunt, are haunted or investigate the paranormal with special guests Evelyn Hollow and Deborah Hyde of Uncanny fame, and Bethan Briggs Miller of Eerie Essex, and Steph Lay from the City of Secrets project Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig.Additional editing on this episode by Tess Savigear.Theme music and the creepy doll theme by Tess Savigear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We return to Brighton and the suburb of Prestonville to discover one of the most bizarre hauntings Nat has ever found. Investigated by the Daily Mirror in 1907, the Presonville Horror defies all understanding of what a ghost might be. A mother and daughter are plagued by strange sounds and sights whilst they care-take a large crumbling house. A flamboyant sceptic investigates and claims to have solved the mystery of the haunting, though few believe him. Is this haunting of 1907 linked to another on the same street investigated by the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) in 1888? To have two houses just 5 numbers apart on the same street making ghostly headlines seems like more than just a coincidence?Find out more on today’s episode. Thanks to Tom Ruffles’ SPR archive blogFind show notes and links for further reading at weirdinthewade.blogContact the show at [email protected] Weird in the wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat DoigTheme music and this episode’s Unicorn theme by Tess Savigear Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices