Weird in the Wade

There's a wood between the Bedfordshire town of Potton and the ancient hamlet of Sutton, which has spooked many locals including Nat. The creepiness seems to coalesce around an ancient bridge along an equally venerable footpath which has possibly been in use for over 1000 years. 

After Nat encountered this strange part of the woods nearly three years ago, she's been trying to piece together it's history and to find a cause of the unsettling feelings walkers have described.

Why do few birds sing in that part of the woods?

Was the path used as a route to an execution site?

Is a big cat sighting from the 1990s somehow involved?

Nat uncovers Victorian fake news along the way and a torrid tale of polluted waterways and sewage dumps, but does she discover the truth?

Find photographs and further reading on the show blog weirdinthewade.blog

If you have any suggestions or questions email [email protected]

Thanks to local author Paul Jameson for his insight and here's where you can find out more about his wonderful books: https://www.modquokka.com/

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Theme music is by Tess Savigear

All additional music and sound effects by Epidemic Sound. 

In this festive special episode Nat chats with Danny Robins of Uncanny, the Witch Farm, the Battersea Poltergeist and 2:22 A Ghost Story Fame. They chat about haunted cinemas, theatres and doppelgangers.

But before their chat, Nat explores the creepy tales from one of Bedford's former cinemas. There's phantom monks and an old Priory to explore along the way.

Special guest Owen Staton returns with a confession about a haunted cinema he worked in! 

And Nat learns why an ambulance and priest were stationed outside a Biggleswade cinema in the 1970s.

It really is a bumper festive fearsome delight of an episode.

Find show notes on the blog https://weirdinthewade.blog/

Join Team Weird on Patreon and receive bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/c/WeirdintheWade

Find Weird in the Wade on social media here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear

All additional music and sound effects from Epidemic Sound.

This stocking filler of an episode is packed full of new witnesses and updates to previous cases. 

In today’s episode we’ll hear from a new witness to the haunting of the Golden Pheasant. It's a chance to set the story straight about one of the hauntings I covered in that episode.

There’s new information about Thelma Roberts the 1950s UFO investigator and some medical evidence which could shed new light on the Potton Poisoner case.

And at the end of today’s episode I will reveal who the special Christmas episode guest is. 

Have an update or story to share message Nat on [email protected]

Join the patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/c/WeirdintheWade

Find us on Patron at: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Theme music and the Potton Poisoner theme by Tess Savigear.

All other music by Epidemic Sound.

They say every theatre has a ghost. Nat embarks on an investigation to see if this is true. Starting with the newest theatre in Biggleswade, the Bigg Theatre. Once a town hall, then a petrol station, department store and a restaurant, it seems the Bigg Theatre building has a long history associated with performance and more recently ghostly happenings.

Three actors share their stories of uncanny occurrences within theatres from Brighton, to Swansea and northern towns. 

Why do performance spaces feel so otherworldly at times? Is there a logical reason for this or a spiritual one?

Guests on this episode include:

Anna Stolli from the Bigg Theatre find out more about the theatre here: https://www.thebiggtheatre.co.uk/

Owen Staton from the Time Between Times Story Telling Podcast. Listen to his podcast here: https://podfollow.com/1573244734

Find links, show notes and further reading on the weird in the wade blog here: https://weirdinthewade.blog/2024/11/25/22-haunted-theatres-show-notes-links-and-further-reading/

Follow the podcast on social media, find links here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

Want extra content and to support the show? Then check out Weird in the Wade's Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/c/WeirdintheWade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Theme music is by Tess Savigear

All additional sound effects and music from Epidemic Sound

In this episode we travel to RAF Henlow where phantom footsteps in the snow, and a poltergeist are said to be linked to a daring pioneer of parachuting in the 1920s. We'll learn about the hauntings, and this airman's dare devil antics which tragically led to his untimely death. 

Nat Doig also shares some of her eerie memories of living at RAF Henlow as a child in the 1980s, including ghost stories, creepy world war II buildings and a haunted landscape.

There's also some exciting updates about BBC Sounds and a Halloween event with BBC 3 Counties Radio.

Find show notes, links and more information on the show blog at weirdinthewade.blog

Support Weird in the Wade at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/WeirdintheWade

Find Weird in the Wade on social media: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear 

Additional music and sound effects from Epidemic Sounds

19th Century spiritualism is at the heart of this episode which we'll explore through the exploits of a Biggleswade medium who believed he was in direct contact with the spirit of William Shakespeare. John Francis Hunt, who we met in the previous episode, was an extraordinary man, he pursued justice, sought out buried treasure and was a constant correspondent with the newspapers, the social media of his day. 

We'll explore spiritualism's roots in A

merica with the Fox sisters. How spiritualism became a kind of culture war in the mid 19th century as well visiting an 1875 séance held in Bedford and described by the press as bogus.

There's also a brief update at the end of the episode about Weird in the Wade's win of Gold for best history podcast at the British Podcast Awards! 

Find show notes and further reading on the blog at weirdinthewade.blog 

Support Weird in the Wade and get exclusive bonus episodes every month by joining Team Weird on Patreon. patreon.com/WeirdintheWade

Find us on social media at: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Joint cracking in this episode provided by Jason Doig, Tess Savigear and David Stephenson

Theme music by Tess Savigear

All additional sound effects and music from Epidemic Sound. 

I'd almost given up on discovering how murder bridge between Biggleswade and Sutton, got it's name. Until completely by accident I stumbled across a ghost story, reported as part of the minutes of a meeting of the Biggleswade Hospital Board in 1922. That led me on a twisty path to the truth, involving a libel case, a notorious Biggleswade spiritualist who believed he was the ghost of Shakespeare's secretary, and two tragic and mysterious deaths. At the heart of this tragic story was the reason why Murder Bridge was given it's name, and who the locals thought the ghost that haunted it might be. 

Expect seances, Victorian true crime, and some very colourful characters. 

At the end of this episode there is a trailer for the new and delightfully spooky RUE Papers by Emma Butler. In later episode's I play the part of Rose! Listen to this new podcast at: https://podfollow.com/1749765774 

If you'd like an extra episode every month, and to support the podcast why not join Team Weird on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WeirdintheWade

Or you can support through Ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Find Weird in the Wade on social media including Facebook and Threads here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear

Additional voices by M Savigear

All additional music and sound effects Epidemic Sound

The Night Hag, is an old name for sleep paralysis. A sleep condition or disorder that has led to some of the most terrifying stories and folktales from around the world. From encounters with demons, witches and ghosts, to alien abductions sleep paralysis has spawned many scary stories. Likewise many paranormal experiences have been explained by sceptics as being caused by sleep paralysis.

In this episode I explore my own terrifying experience of sleep paralysis, consider what might cause it, discover links to our past including some local ghost sightings in workhouses over a century ago.

I also chat with Dr Ciaran O'Keeffe, parapsychologist and expert sceptic on Uncanny and Most Haunted about his studies into sleep paralysis, it's causes, how to deal with it if it happens to you, and it's impact on our culture and understanding of the paranormal. It's a discussion you won't want to miss!

Have a question or a comment pleas email the show at [email protected]

or find us on social media links are here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

Exciting news!

I am delighted to say that Weird in the Wade has been nominated for best history podcast at the British Podcast Awards! It's an award judged by a panel but if you'd like to vote for Weird in the Wade in the listeners choice award you can do so here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting

Support the podcast

If you'd like to get exclusive extra content and support the podcast you can do so at patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WeirdintheWade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Theme music is by Tess Savigear

All additional sound effects and music by Epidemic Sound  

Find out how terrifying sighting of a Cavalier ghost in the 1930s links to Biggleswade's mysterious tunnels. I explore the cellar below where the phantom was seen, discover hidden passageways, bricked up tunnel entrances, and much more. I take you on a trip down the river, and to the Camden House school room, we explore the history of Biggleswade's brewing industry, and I visit the Bedfordshire archives all in an effort to solve the riddle of what these tunnels were built for, and why they were bricked up. 

Join me on this journey if you dare!

You can see images and further links on the blog at Weirdinthewade.blog 

Join Team Weird and support the show at Patreon: patreon.com/WeirdintheWade

Or at Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Find Weird in the Wade on social media at: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

You can also vote for Weird in the Wade at the British  Podcast Awards listeners choice here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear

Camelot Monastery Gregorian Chant by Darren Curtis

All additional sound effects and music by Epidemic Sound

Today's episode follows a ghost story over three centuries. We start in the 1880s with school children terrified by a ghost in a garden. Then we explore a newsagents bothered by paranormal activity in the 1960s. In the present day we discover a secret tunnel entrance and hear rumours of a helpful spirit where the garden once bloomed. Linking all these hauntings is the building of Camden House. Once a Victorian school, then a newsagents for over 50 years, more recently it has been a succession of takeaways and restaurants. 

I also had a last minute breakthrough which filled in a missing piece of the puzzle. I've added this towards the end of the episode so don't believe me early on when I say I can find no evidence of a tragic Edwardian school teacher who could be haunting the old school! Listen on and find out what I discovered.

And yes this is the first part of an exploration of the Biggleswade tunnels. Check out the show blog for a map identifying tunnel entrances and town centre hauntings at: weirdinthewade.blog 

If you want more from Weird in the Wade join Team Weird on our Patreon and get bonus episodes every month. Find out more here: patreon.com/WeirdintheWade 

You can find links to our shop for Weird in the Wade merch, as well as how to donate to the show through Ko-fi and links to all our socials here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

A show transcript is also available on our blog: https://weirdinthewade.blog/

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear

All additional music and sound effects by Epidemic Sound

As part of my haunted house challenge I spent the night at the Golden Fleece Hotel in York. The pub is renowned for being the most haunted pub in the city and maybe even Britain. No fewer than 15 ghosts have been reported to haunt the 17th century pub. 

Listen to my live recordings during the night, as well as interviews with fellow guests over breakfast, all of whom had strange stories to tell. 

I investigate one of the pubs most enduring ghost stories and find out one of the strangest tales I've ever come across. 

I also chat with the wonderful Rob Kirkup of How Haunted podcast about his love of ghosts, and York hauntings in particular. He tells a chilling ghost story of his own and we compare notes about our stays at the Golden Fleece which although were 13 years apart had some creepy similarities. 

Also this week over on the YouTube channel I will be hosting a live one year anniversary celebration, telling stories and answering questions. Please join me if you can details can be found here!

Be Part of Team Weird!

Join us on the socials find out where here.

Read the blog for photographs, show notes and news https://weirdinthewade.blog/

Buy a Weird in the Wade T-shirt, bag, mug or more at the merch shop.

Buy the show a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Tess Savigear wrote the theme

All additional music and sound effects from Epidemic Sound.

We take a short wander away from Biggleswade, over the county border into Hertfordshire in this episode. Nat Doig tells the tale of Blind George of Anstey. It's a folktale with a bit of everything, a secret tunnel, a blind fiddle player, a faithful dog, the devil, and a ghost. 

Nat also explores myths and legends around blindness including busting some modern myths with her guest Paul Day.

Nat and Paul discuss a neurological condition which affects many blind people, and could hold a clue to solving at least some ghost sightings. Paul also shares his experiences of going on a ghost hunt in a spooky tower with a spiral staircase.

It's a slightly different episode to the usual Weird in the Wade but one that will be just as thought provoking possibly more so.

For show transcript, notes and links for further information on the issues discussed in the podcast including Charles Bonnet Syndrome, please visit the show blog: https://weirdinthewade.blog/

You can find the show on social media here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

You can email Nat at [email protected]

If you'd like to support the show you can by the pod a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, produced and presented by Nat Doig

Theme music Tess Savigear

A huge thank you to Litha for granting permission for their song Blind George to play on this episode. You can hear the track here: https://www.litha-music.com/images/music/Blind_George.mp3

And Blind George's theme from: freesound 42953 Freqman gypsy violin variation

In this episode Nat Doig explores the tale of Biggleswade's body snatchers. As is often the case it turns out that the truth is stranger and more satisfying than fiction. Do the body snatchers haunt the town still? Why might the town have forgotten the most exciting part of the story, preferring instead to remember just a murky fragment of the tale? Nat ponders these questions and finds some surprising answers.

This episode also looks at a haunting linked to a victim of crime in London's Green Park. Listen as Nat tells the story of this sorrowful phantom recorded under the sombre trees of the park on a cold winters dusk. 

A transcript for the show can be found here

Find show notes on the blog here and photographs for this episode here.

Weird in the Wade social media links can be found here.

The You Tube Channel here

Information about the live stream on 1st May here

You can email the show at [email protected]

Researched, written, presented, and edited by Nat Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear

All additional music and sound effects Epidemic Sound

In this bumper episode I explore why so many ghost stories and hauntings have a connection with crime or criminals.

I investigate the local legend of Biggleswade's Murder Bridge, a place every school child knows not to approach. 

I tell you the tale of Thomas Dun, reported to be Black Tom's phantom friend or even the real Black Tom. His 800 year old story is full of despicable deeds and more strange and eerie folk tales. 

And finally as a real treat, I talk with Wayne from Eerie Edinburgh about why he thinks so many ghostly stories centre around criminals and victims of crime. Many such stories feature on his wonderful podcast and YouTube videos. 

You can find a full transcript of today's episodes, notes, photographs and further reading on the show blog weirdinthewade.blog 

If you have a suggestion or question please email me at [email protected]

You can find the podcast on social media here. 

And if you want to support the podcast you can by the show a coffee here: https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Researched, written and presented by Nat Doig

Show Theme by Tess Savigear

All additional music and sound effects Epidemic Sound 

In this episode we explore one of Bedford's most famous hauntings. A folktale so well known it gave it's name to an area of the town. What is now a rather unassuming roundabout just north of Bedford town centre, known locally as Black Tom's Grave, was once a place of fear. Was a highwayman executed on that site? Does his restless spirit still wander beneath the trees there? Why are there so many paranormal reports in that small area of Bedford? And who is the shadowy figure often reported along side the spectre of Black Tom?

We also look at other myths and legends attached to highwaymen with connections to Bedfordshire including Biggleswade and beyond. Why do so many of us love a highwayman story and footpad phantom?

Visit the Weird in the Wade blog to see photos, sources and show transcript.

Enjoying the show? Buy the podcase a coffee or two at https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Find Weird in the Wade on social media, links here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

If you have any comments, suggestions or just want to get in touch please email the show at [email protected]

Weird in the Wade is researched, written and presented by Nat Doig

Theme Music by Tess Savigear

All additional music and sound effects Epidemic Sound

Happy New Year! In this bonus episode I visit the ruin of St Mary's Old Church, Clophill. On a chilly December morning, 60 years after the ruin became notorious for black magic rituals, devil worship, vandalism, desecration and hauntings, I spend a few hours recording and photographing the site. An instance of pareidolia (seeing a figure in random mottled wall markings in this case) forces me to confront some childhood demons. 

You don't have to have listened to the previous episodes about Clophill's infamous church to listen to this bonus episode but you might enjoy it more if you have heard episode's 9 and 10 first. 

Photographs accompanying this episode can be found on the show blog: weridinthewade.blog or on my flickr page.

If you have any feedback, suggestions or just want to get in touch with the show email: [email protected]

Or find the show on social media by following this link, https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

You can buy the show a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written and presented by Nat Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear

All additional music and sound effects are from Epidemic Sound

In this Christmas bonanza episode chock full of ghosts, I tell you about the many hauntings reported at St Mary's Old Church, Clophill, over the last 60 years. From Spectral beasts scaring news agents at Christmas, to a punk band who felt their haunting encounter at the church brought them bad luck, to more recent mobile phone footage of monk like phantoms. It's all explored in this episode. 

Did the church's sad past of vandalism and desecration disturb spirits who should have been left to rest in peace, or did black magic rituals held at the church, summon something demonic that lingers there still, or has the church's notoriety primed us to expect the unexpected when visiting the site?

I want to extend my thanks to Damien O'Dell for giving me permission to cover one of his exclusive stories from his book Paranormal Bedfordshire - find out more about his books here.

Find out more about the sources used for this episode and discover further reading and photographs on the blog: weirdinthewade.blog

If you'd like to get in touch with the show please email [email protected]

Find us on social media: here

On Wednesday 20th December I'll be chatting with Rick Palmer on his fabulous podcast Some Other Sphere, you can listen here: https://someothersphere.podbean.com/

Researched, written and presented by Nat Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear

All additional sound effects and music by Epidemic Sound

There's an abandoned church on a hill top at Clophill in Bedfordshire, that fuelled my nightmares as a child. In today's episode I explore the history of this notorious church that the tabloid press labelled a "black magic church" back in the 1960s. This ruined church has associations with magic, ghosts, grave robbers, the devil, desecration and death. But are the newspaper stories and the local folklore true? And why was I so scared by the very thought of this church as a child? How do my nightmares link to a very different kind of church in Biggleswade? All is revealed in this episode of Weird in the Wade.

I confront my demons (pun intended) to cover this story for the show.

Find photos, links to further reading and show transcript here: www.weirdinthewade.blog 

If you'd like to support the show you can buy Weird in the Wade a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Social media links can be found here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

Researched, written and presented by Nat Doig

Theme Music by Tess Savigear

All additional sound effects and music from Epidemic Sound

In this bonus episode we hear from a new witness who saw a large black cat in Bedfordshire in the 1990s. His sighting was near to the famous encounters with the beast of Silsoe which I also explore.

We also catch up with Owen Staton, completing the interview started in episode 7, The Big Cat of Biggleswade and Phantom Felines.

Find out more about Owen and his podcasts by following him on Twitter / X here. 

Read the show notes and links on the blog at weirdinthewade.blog 

Contact the podcast at [email protected] 

Find us on social media at this link here

Weird in the Wade is researched, written and presented by Nat Doig

Theme music is by Tess Savigear

Additional music by Epidemic Sounds

The Golden Pheasant in Biggleswade is not the town's oldest or even grandest pub, but this real ale beer house is reported to be Biggleswade's most haunted. Over the years strange phenomena and mysterious stories have built up around the establishment.

I visited the pub and chatted with regulars and staff to try and get to the bottom of the haunting. What I discovered made my blood run cold on at least three occasions as I uncovered two tragic deaths from the Victorian age, which seem to provide answers to the ghost sightings and sounds experienced at the  pub. Whether it's ghosts, a time slip or a folk memory of these tragedies being remembered you can decide. 

Happy Halloween everyone!

Show transcript and notes are at our blog: www.weirdinthewade.blog 

Contact the podcast at [email protected] 

Find us on social media via our linktree

Researched, written and presented by Natalie Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear

All additional sound effects and music by Epidemic Sound