The Ding Dong Merrily Christmas Horror: The Berry Man's Carol

Welcome to the Wyrd Wessex Christmas AfterWyrd Special,

This year, Craig and Andy take a break from all the weird things in the news to present a piece of original festive horror: the terrifying true-ish story of a local investigation that went utterly wrong during the holiday season.

In this fictional, bone-chilling narrative, the Wyrdo's head to St. Mary’s of Temple Bottom to document a charity event—a revival of a supposed folk festival featuring the mysterious Berry Man on Faulkner's Hill. What begins as a search for local folklore soon turns into a terrifying encounter with ancient pagan madness, all set to the relentless, unsettling tune of 'Ding Dong Merrily on High'.

Merry Christmas and Don't blame the owls!

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

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Written by Emma Brooks and Hosted by Craig Brooks & Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Exceptional_3D - Unexplained mystery intro/outro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Craig sits down with Bob Barry of the Potterne Mummers to dive deep into the heart of a quintessential British folk tradition. From the "Turkish Knight" to "Little Man Jack," we explore the life, death, and comedic rebirth that defines the Potterne Mummer's Play.

Stay tuned for the full play at the end of the episode.

In this episode:

The History of the Play: Bob shares his journey from reviving Morris dancing in Oxfordshire in 1979 to joining the Potterne side in 1987. We learn about the 1953 revival by schoolmaster Bernard Baker and the older roots traced back to Reverend Buchanan in 1896.

Characters of the Performance: A breakdown of the seven traditional characters:

Father Christmas: The "Master of Ceremonies" (dressed in traditional green tatters, not Coca-Cola red!).

King George: The brash hero of the piece.

The Turkish Knight: The antagonist who meets a messy (but temporary) end.

The Spanish Doctor: The miracle worker with a questionable potion and a high fee.

The Valiant Soldier: A boastful warrior ready for a fight.

Old Almanac: The short part—perfect for the "new boy" in the troop.

Little Man Jack: The mysterious figure carrying his family (dolls) on his back.

The Spirit of Mumming: Bob explains the importance of keeping the tradition "pure" versus modernizing it with current affairs, and the friendly "territorial" agreements between different Mumming sides in Wiltshire.

Charity at Heart: The Potterne Mummers perform up to 25 times in the five days leading up to Christmas Eve, raising thousands of pounds for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Resources & Links:

Wiltshire Air Ambulance: If you enjoyed the performance, please consider donating to the Mummers' primary charity.

https://www.wiltshirebathairambulance.org.uk/donate#oneoff

Don't blame the owls!

Stay Wyrd

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Dark Origins of Christmas: The Folk Horror Wild Hunt

NOTE: This episode contains strong language and adult themes related to folklore and history.

Merry Christmas! This year, the Wyrdo's dive into the dark origins of Christmas, exploring the unsettling pagan roots and folk horror tales that lie beneath the modern festive cheer. We welcome messages from friends including Eric Nelson (Bigfoot Collection, Willow Creek), Eileen Budd, Paul MacDonald (Scottish Big Cat Research Team), Author Nick Jubber, and Pat Robinson. We open the show with a nod to the classic case of the Hammersmith Ghost.

In this episode, we discuss the darker side of the season:

Folk Horror Origins: Craig and Andy explore ancient British dread, including the tale of Herla and the Herla thing (the original terrifying Wild Hunt in Britain) and the famous medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

The Mythology of Santa: We track down Father Christmas himself for an exclusive interview, where we put aside the jollity to discuss serious subjects:

Tulpa vs. Cryptid: We debate whether he is a thought-form sustained by belief or simply the world's most successful cryptid.

The Miracles & Madness: We cover the historical miracles of St. Nicholas, including the unsettling tale of the children resurrected from a butcher’s brine barrel.

Pop Culture & Ethics: We cover the Die Hard Christmas film debate, the tipping point of the naughty/nice list, and the ethics of a global meritocracy of gifts.

Thank you to all our wonderful guests and friends...

Merry Christmas & Stay Wyrd!

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

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Written by Craig Brooks and hosted by Craig Brooks and Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Leonell Cassio - The Paranormal Is Real (ft. Carrie)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello and welcome to AfterWyrd! My name is Andy, and I'm joined by Craig, and this is the place where we discuss all the strange, mysterious, and just downright odd things that didn't fit into the main podcast. This is our last AfterWyrd of the year, and it’s a packed one!

• Woken Up In The Coffin: The unbelievable story of a woman in Bangkok who was declared dead but woke upwith a faint knocking sound—just before her cremation!
• The Demonic Jumper: A visitor to Westminster Abbey was asked to remove her sweatshirt because security deemed the image of the Greek God Pan (from The Wind in the Willows) to be the Devil. We discuss the overzealous security and the historic irony!
• Faberge Theft: The shocking tale of a man who swallowed a $14,250 Faberge pendant and forced police to wait six days for the evidence to "re-emerge." Plus, the Wyrdo's debate if the jewellery is now scrap!
• Weaponised Neuroscience: We discuss alarming reports that mind-altering brain weapons are no longer science fiction, prompting experts to urge global action to protect the central nervous system (CNS).
• Merlin's Mound: Exciting news about restoration plans for Marlborough Mound, a 4,000-year-old monument second only to Silbury Hill, with possible excavations and its connection to King Arthur's magical mentor.
• The Vegemite Lawsuit: A prisoner is suing for his human rights after an Australian state banned inmates from eating Vegemite, citing its potential for fermenting alcohol.
• Is Die Hard a Christmas Film?: The results of a recent public poll might not be what you expect, but the debate rages on!

"Don't blame the owls."

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

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Hosted by Craig Brooks & Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Exceptional_3D - Unexplained mystery intro/outro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1827, Maria Marten vanished, but her secret wouldn't stay buried. A dark true crime story featuring a charming killer, William Corder, a shocking betrayal, and a mother whose terrifying, prophetic dreams revealed the exact spot of her daughter's remains beneath the floor of the Red Barn. We dive into the sensational trial, the gruesome public dissection, and the macabre fate of Corder's skin. A Wyrd tale of deception and death.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

"Foxey" Corder: The background of William Corder, a "ladies' man" and fraudster whose early crimes were capped by a chilling prophecy: "I'll be damned if he will not be hung some of these days."

The Ruse: Corder's elaborate deception, including a fake elopement to Ipswich and a claim he couldn't return because of his 'angry friends and relatives'.

The Power of Dreams: The chilling account of Maria's stepmother, Ann Marten, who dreamt of her daughter's murder and the precise location of her body in the Red Barn.

The Shocking Trial: The sensational 1828 trial, which required ticket-only entry and was packed with over 20,000 spectators, featuring evidence of pistols, a fake passport, and the final, damning confession.

The Gruesome Epilogue: The unforgiving justice of the time, including Corder's public execution, the galvanism experiments performed on his body, the phrenological examination of his skull, and the truly unsettling fate of his skin.

The Macabre Souvenirs: The fate of Corder's remains, including the famous and horrific account of his skin being used to bind copies of his own trial history.

The Conspiracy Theory: The doubts raised about Ann Marten's dreams and the theory of a possible love triangle and betrayal that complicates the entire story.

Wyrd News & Recommended Listening

If you enjoyed the link between crime and the paranormal, be sure to check out our previous episode on the Greenbrier Ghost—the only known case where the testimony of a ghost was used in court!

For bonus material and the latest Wyrd news, check out our bonus show AfterWyrd. Don't blame the owls!

Thank you again for joining us, everyone. Until next time...

Stay Wyrd!

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

Buy our merch here

Written by Craig Brooks and hosted by Craig Brooks and Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Leonell Cassio - The Paranormal Is Real (ft. Carrie)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(This episode covers some disturbing material, so listener discretion is advised.)

Join the Wyrdo's as they celebrate hitting 666 followers and delve into the latest high strangeness and unsettling news stories from the UK and beyond.

• The Sandown Clown Prophecies: A massive update to the classic 1973 case! New documentation reveals the girl, Fay, met the entity four more times over 16 years. Sam delivered prophecies about the Cold War and a chilling final message: "The last time you will see me until the end."
• AI Nightmare Bear: An AI-powered teddy bear is pulled from the market after it offered children shocking advice on finding knives, lighting matches, and escalating conversations into graphic sexual topics, including shibari knots for beginners.
• UK Organ Trafficking Plot: A shocking, true story about a man tricked into coming to Britain under the guise of a job, only to discover his kidney was scheduled to be harvested for financial reward.
• Mulder and Scully: Andy and Craig discuss their tribute song finally being played to a surprising X-Files star on BBC Wales!
• a viral video of a T-800 robot attacking its CEO!

"Don't blame the owls."

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

Buy our merch here

Hosted by Craig Brooks & Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Exceptional_3D - Unexplained mystery intro/outro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Wyrdo's are honoured to welcome filmmaker Dave Brewis, the man behind the fascinating documentary series, Gatherings.

Dave has spent years documenting the enduring traditions and living folklore that often get dismissed by mainstream media as "weird" or "eccentric." We dive deep into his unique observational philosophy—which uses "custodians, not commentators"—and why these customs, from the Horn Dance to the Haxy Hood, are essential, self-perpetuating acts of community built around a sense of place.

• Adapt or Die: We discuss the critical philosophy: "We must adapt and make changes even if it means bending tradition, because holding on too tightly causes tradition to stop."
• The Healing Power of Folk: The ultimate takeaway is the human warmth and generosity these non-commercial activities generate, offering something "quite healing" against modern individualism and screen-based activity. Dave argues the focus should be on regional identity, not a single national story.
• The British Irony: How his work led him to document the uniquely British sense of humour and daftness, which the French call le deuxième degré (irony).
• The Media Problem: How customs have historically been treated as "off-beat" throwaways by media, from Pathé newsreels onwards.
• Featured Customs: We cover the Burry Man (and the crucial 'does he pee?' question), the Haxy Hood, Abbot's Bromley Horn Dance, Rush Bearing, and the Bonfire Societies.
• The French Parallel: Dave describes the surreal, blackface bear-shaving tradition of La Fête de l'Ours in the Pyrenees.
• Wessex Folklore: Craig shares plans to finally document the local Potterne Mummers' Play.

Dave Brewis’s documentary series Gatherings is available now!

• Website: gatherings.tv (Find all links here)
• Streaming Platforms (UK, US, AUS, CAN): Search for Gatherings on Apple (4K), Amazon Prime, and YouTube TV/Movies.

Thank you once more, Dave Brewis, and thank you everyone for tuning in.

Until next time, stay Wyrd.

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

Buy our merch here

Written by Craig Brooks and hosted by Craig Brooks and Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Leonell Cassio - The Paranormal Is Real (ft. Carrie)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello, and welcome to AfterWyrd! Craig and Andy are already in their Christmas tops, but don't let the festive cheer fool you – they're diving into some seriously dark and bizarre news this week!

From shocking updates on the Slender Man case to a drunk vicar's car crash and an unbelievable stabbing at a Countdown tournament, plus a quick chat about Krampus and haunted pooping puppets. This episode is packed with the strange, the kooky, and the utterly unexpected.

In This Episode:

Slender Man Update: A concerning and emotional update on Morgan, one of the teens involved in the infamous Slender Man stabbing case, including their recent escape from a group home and new legal developments.

The Drunk Vicar Car Crash: Hear the unbelievable tale of a vicar in Lincoln who was banned from driving after crashing the Bishop's car while drunk, creating a scene straight out of Father Ted!

Countdown Stabbing: The shocking story of a former Countdown champion handed an indefinite hospital order after stabbing a rival contestant at an unofficial tournament – a truly dark turn for a beloved quiz show.

Kaga Tio & Christmas: Andy dusts off his old friend Kaga Tio, a pooping puppet, amidst Christmas decorations and Krampus banter.

"Don't blame the owls."

www.wyrdwessex.co.uk

Buy our merch here

Hosted by Craig Brooks & Andy Stevens

Edited by Craig Brooks

Intro music by Exceptional_3D - Unexplained mystery intro/outro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.