Preternatural shapeshifters, plague stones and the Grey Man of Bellister! Tonights highlights come from The Denham Tracts, a publication by David Nutt for the Folklore Society in 1895 which brought together a wonderful collection of local pamphlets and tracts published by Michael Aislabie Denham during the middle of the nineteenth century.

'The belief of our credulous ancestry in a female river demon is still implanted in the mind of childhood on the banks of the Tees; and many are the tales still told of her dragging naughty children into its deep waters when playing, despite the orders and threats of their parents.'

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit the episodes page at thelocalmythstorian.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush.

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Local superstitions, magical hands and the witches of the Northwest; its our second part exploring Lancashire Folklore, the collection wrote in collaboration between John Harland & T.T. Wilkinson, published in 1867.

'The cows of her neighbours were constantly milked by her - the pitcher in which she conveyed the stolen milk away, walking before her in the shape of a goose. Under this disguise her depredations were carried on till a neighbour, suspecting the trick, struck the goose and immediately it was changed into a broken pitcher.'

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit the episodes page at thelocalmythstorian.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush.

Find Eli Lewis-Lycett Folklore and History on Facebook and Bluesky

Boggarts, ancient cyphers and miraculous footprints! Welcome to episode 13, part one of our journey through Lancashire Folklore, written by John Harland and Thomas Turner Wilkinson and published by Frederick Warn & Co of Covent Garden in 1867.

'The boys at the Burnley Grammar School are said to have succeeded on one occasion in raising the Devil. They repeated the Lord's Prayer backwards, and performed some incantations by which, as it is said, Satan was induced to make his appearance through a stone flag on the floor of the school-house. After he had got his head and shoulders well out, the boys became alarmed and began to hammer him down with the poker and tongs.'

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit the episodes page at thelocalmythstorian.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush.

Find Eli Lewis-Lycett Folklore and History on Facebook and Bluesky

The Banshee, the dance of the dead and eagles that fly you to the moon! Its the final part of three with Lady ‘Speranza’ Wilde's 1887 work, Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland.

'Sometimes the Banshee assumes the form of some sweet singing virgin of the family who died young. Or she may be seen at night as a shrouded woman, crouched beneath the trees, lamenting with veiled face, or flying past in the moonlight'.

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit the episodes page at thelocalmythstorian.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush.

Find Eli Lewis-Lycett Folklore and History on Facebook and Bluesky

Leprechauns, midnight rides and the doom of the priests! Its part two of our journey across Ireland with Lady ‘Speranza’ Wilde's 1887 work, Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland.

'But as to the pot of gold, from that day to this not one of the family, father, or son, or any belonging to them, ever set eyes on it. However, the little Leprechaun still sits under the dock leaf of the hedge, and laughs at them as he mends the shoes with his little hammer, but they are afraid to touch him, for now they know he can take his revenge.'

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit the episodes page at thelocalmythstorian.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush.

Find Eli Lewis-Lycett Folklore and History on Facebook and Bluesky

Horned witches, friendly werewolves and vengeful fairies! We're off to Ireland and the first of three episodes we'll be spending there exploring Lady ‘Speranza’ Wilde's 1887 work, Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland.

'And so the knocks went on, and the call was heard, and the witches entered, until at last twelve women sat round the fire; the first with one horn and the last with twelve horns. And they carded the thread, and turned their spinning wheels, and wound and wove, all singing together an ancient rhyme, but no word did they speak to the mistress of the house. Strange to hear, and frightful to look upon with their horns and their wheels, the mistress felt near to death and she tried to rise that she might call for help, but she could not move, nor could she utter a word or a cry, for the spell of the witches was upon her.'

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit the episodes page at thelocalmythstorian.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush.

Find Eli Lewis-Lycett Folklore and History on Facebook and Bluesky

Fields of fire, witchcraft and a fortune found in the fairy realm! It's part two of Sidney Oldall Addy's 1895 folk tale collection, Household Tales and Traditional Remains.

'Now when the weaver came back from Newark the children told him about the cat. So he watched all night in an old lumber-room, for the cat came in and went out through a broken pane in the window. One night the cat came in as the weaver was sitting by the fire, so he picked up a fork and struck her on the cheek. He then threw her out of doors, believing that she was dead. But in the morning, when he went to look for the cat's body, he could not find it. But ever after that the witch had her face tied up, and she had no more power to do harm to the weaver or to his family.'

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit the episodes page at thelocalmythstorian.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush.

Find Eli Lewis-Lycett Folklore and History on Facebook and Bluesky

Enchanted mountains, the bewitching of puddings and high jinks in the Bonehouse - we've not covered anything quite like this yet! It's Sidney Oldall Addy's 1895 folk tale collection, Household Tales and Traditional Remains.

'Now Kate knew that if you put the ball inside the ring and wished something your wish would be granted. When the giant had got well into the water, Kate slipped the ball into the ring, and wished that the giant were leagues away and herself safe in her own village. Immediately she found herself walking up the village street, and meeting her father and mother and Willie coming out to seek her. And so Kate became the owner of the ring and the ball, and whenever after that she wished anything her wish was granted.'

Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.

For show notes and links, visit the episodes page at thelocalmythstorian.com

Episode written, produced and presented by Eli Lewis-Lycett. All source material taken directly from the stated publication. Main theme music by Humanoid Media. Incidental music from Restum-Anoush.

Find Eli Lewis-Lycett Folklore and History on Facebook and Bluesky