Best Loremen Podcast Podcasts (2024)

1
S5 Ep41: Loremen S5Ep41 - Ghosts of Gallipoli 41:42

39m ago41:42

41:42

Alasdair takes James to Gallipoli (with layovers in Glasgow and County Durham) for a brace of chilling First World War ghost stories. (Which are slightly undermined by James's bizarre donkey conspiracy theories.) Our source is Raymond Lamont Brown's 1975 Casebook of Military Mystery. So hop aboard Loremen Airways and enjoy the authentic 70s air tra…

1
Local Legends #11: The Loremen 1:17:50

8d ago1:17:50

1:17:50

On this week's episode of Local Legends, Martin gathers round the campfire to talk about the folklore of Middlesex with the hosts of The Loremen Podcast James Shakeshaft and Alasdair Beckett-King. Over seven years ago, when they were fairly early in their careers as stand-up comedians, James and Alasdair found themselves chatting about folklore on …

1
Series 4 Episode 13: Sussex (Live at Chichester Festival!) 1:59:02

1h ago1:59:02

1:59:02

For our Series 4 finale we've got something really special: our first-ever Three Ravens Live Show, all about Sussex, recorded at the Festival of Chichester! We start off with a full live performance of Three Ravens care of Eleanor and our friend and neighbour Ben Harber, and then have a chat about the curious history of Chichester itself. After tha…

1
S10 Ep7: Pubs Most Haunted! 42:01

1h ago42:01

42:01

Please come out with us for a little drink, won't you, dear guest? Tonight we're on the prowl for spooky pubs. Pubs Most Haunted! That's what you get when you build a public house on ancient Ley Lines or inside of the world's oldest, prehistoric stone circle. Oh, and it helps to have a load of shifty characters living there down through time, along…

1
Local Legends #12: Amy Boucher 1:26:23

10h ago1:26:23

1:26:23

For our penultimate Local Legends episode for Series 4, Martin gathers round the campfire to talk about the folklore of Shropshire with Amy Boucher. Amy is a writer and a folklorist, an educator and a podcaster. She focuses on her native Shropshire, with her emphasis primarily being on the interplay between folklore, history and the paranormal. Lik…

1
Something Wicked #10: H.H. Holmes 1:21:10

2d ago1:21:10

1:21:10

In our final bonus episode for Series 4, we're exploring the truly wild life and genuinely abominable crimes of H.H. Holmes, America's first serial killer. Part of the "Something Wicked" series, we start by chatting through how communication technology in the 19th century created a much more anonymous society, one in which a man born Herman Webster…

1
S5 Ep40: Loremen S5Ep40 - Cornish Terrors 26:25

3d ago26:25

26:25

Get ready to cream your teas, because the boys are going to Cornwall. Join us, and meet West Country witches, the long-fingered ghost of Looe Island and a gritty reboot of Rumpelstiltskin. As James will tell you, Cornwall is such a mysterious county that no one really knows where it is. These Cornish Terrors spring from the pages of The Folklore of…

1
Series 4 Episode 12: Shropshire 1:21:01

6d ago1:21:01

1:21:01

On this week's episode we're headed back to Shropshire in North West England, and Eleanor is telling a Devil tale with a twist... We start off chatting about St Killian, about whom Martin is decidedly unimpressed, after which we sidle on into Shropshire! In addition to talking about the Wrekin, A.E. Housman's A Shropshire Lad, and the morbid nature…

1
Dying Arts #10: Broom and Besom Making 48:38

10d ago48:38

48:38

In this week's bonus episode, Eleanor talks us through the history and folklore of brooms and besom-making - so flying ointment at the ready! Part of the "Dying Arts" series, we start by discussing the difference between brooms and besoms, the neolithic strategies used to sweep, and how the Black Death ushered in new concepts of cleanliness and god…

1
S5 Ep39: Loremen S5Ep39 - The Many Ghosts of Sandford Orcas 36:51

10d ago36:51

36:51

James lures Alasdair to a bad mannered manor house in Dorset*. We're in Sandford Orcas - which is a village, not pod of Free Willies - and the place is simply brimming with ghosts! From Ghosts in the South West by James Turner, Shakey tells a tale of troublesome monks, lunar assassins and one very macabre way of not getting blamed for farts. And yo…

1
Series 4 Episode 11: Middlesex 1:54:44

13d ago1:54:44

1:54:44

On this week's episode we're headed back to Middlesex, the historic county better known as London, and Martin is telling a whopper of a story, all about the horrors unearthed during the digging of the city's underground... We start off chatting about St Serf and his wild and crazy life, dragon slaying and all, after which we move on to Middlesex! I…

1
S10 Ep6: The Loremen Crossover - The Bedtime Story 42:05

13d ago42:05

42:05

Back by popular demand! The Loremen return to The Midnight Library for a comforting slumber party! Well, that's probably not what they'll tell you, but maybe you shouldn't be so trustful of two strange men who call themselves "The Loremen". Tonight, James Shakeshaft & Alasdair Beckett-King find themselves holed up in The Red Room, and actually have…

1
Local Legends #10: Graeme Cooke 1:20:41

15d ago1:20:41

1:20:41

On this week's episode of Local Legends, Martin chats with the Lancashire-born host of the Tales of Britain and Ireland podcast, Graeme Cooke. For the last six years Graeme has been releasing episodes, but, unlike us, he's taking things slow and steady: he recently published his 50th episode, and by focusing on quality, deep research and a diverse …

1
Three Ravens Bestiary #10: Kelpies 54:53

17d ago54:53

54:53

From nuggles to brags, the Ceffyl Dŵr to nixies, there's plenty of reasons to be nervous about horse-shaped monsters on the shoreline - but fear not, as Martin is here to demystify Kelpies and mythical water horses in general! Part of the "Three Ravens Bestiary" series, we start by discussing the links between seaweed and kelpies, the first appeara…

1
S5 Ep38: Loremen S5Ep38 - Bedtime Stories at the Midnight Library 42:10

20d ago42:10

42:10

The Loremen have been transported back to the Midnight Library, and Miranda has a selection of bonecurdling bedtime stories to horrify and delight you. These are original tales from the shelves of the Midnight Library, and they get rather grisly. Younger listeners and the timid-of-ear be warned! Content Warning: body horror and sound effects LoreBo…

1
Series 4 Episode 10: Lancashire 1:34:29

20d ago1:34:29

1:34:29

On this week's episode we're headed back to Lancashire, and Eleanor is telling a spooky story based on a haunted attraction at Blackpool's Pleasure Beach... We start off by discussing St John the Baptist and his bonfires of bones, after which we head off to Lancashire! In addition to talking about Liverpool and its mythical protector birds Bella an…

1
Local Legends #9: Emma Ozenbrook 1:26:12

26d ago1:26:12

1:26:12

On this week's episode of Local Legends, Martin gathers round the campfire with Kent resident and host of the Real Life Ghost Stories podcast, Emma Ozenbrook. Born in Ireland, Emma has lived in Kent for a fair old chunk of time and knows it very well, which, combined with her love for a good story, makes her a cracking ambassador for 'The Garden of…

1
Magic and Medicines #10: Cunning Folk 1:04:45

24d ago1:04:45

1:04:45

Feeling under the weather? We have something to help with that as, in this week's Bonus Episode, Eleanor is uncovering the mysterious history of folk healers in England! Part of the "Magic and Medicines" series, we start by chatting through who 'Cunning Folk' were, including quite how wide-scale their business was, as well as the time periods in wh…

1
S5 Ep37: Loremen S5Ep37 - The High Peak Beast 37:09

29d ago37:09

37:09

If you manage to guess the nature of this episode's cryptid then please write in and claim your prize! Inspired by Steve Cliffe's Moor Mysteries, James and Alasdair return to Derbyshire's Peak District. The Loremen are on the hunt for stones adorned with strange carvings. We're on the hunt for the truth about Parma Violets. And we are on the hunt f…

1
Series 4 Episode 9: Kent 1:39:42

27d ago1:39:42

1:39:42

On this week's episode we're headed back to Kent, and Martin is telling a spooky story based on the life of a sinister historic Archbishop of Canterbury... We start off discussing St Nectan, his errant cows, and headless commute back home, after which we venture to Kent! In addition to chatting about Dover Castle, the oldest boat in the world, and …

1
S10 Ep5: Essential Eccentrics! 41:23

28d ago41:23

41:23

Is your uncle the one that makes little suits of armor for his pet squirrels- or is that you? There's a rumor that Miranda was raised by someone who insisted that their pet horse eat in the kitchen. There's a bishop in the village who wears a Batman costume under his holy robes (you didn't hear that from us though). Eccentrics are some of the most …

1
Local Legends #8: David Crowther 1:12:21

29d ago1:12:21

1:12:21

On this week's episode of Local Legends, Martin gathers round the campfire with Oxfordshire local and host of The History of England podcast, David Crowther. Born in Loughborough over the border, David has lived in Oxfordshire for many years, giving him a perfect perspective on the county. That of someone who's familiar with it, but who sees it wit…

1
Something Wicked #9: Catherine Monvoisin 1:09:19

1M ago1:09:19

1:09:19

In this week's bonus episode, we're exploring the history of the 17th century mass murderer and sorceress La Voisin! Part of the "Something Wicked" series, we start by chatting through the history of poisoner rings and life in the times of Louis XIV, "the Sun King." We then discuss the rise to power of Catherine Deshayes, a penniless child fortune-…

1
S5 Ep36: Loremen S5Ep36 - The Old Man of Monterey Bay 45:13

1M ago45:13

45:13

The Loremen return to the good old U S of America. Inspired by a gift from a listener, the boys head to Monterey Bay, CA, and tangle with a whole bunch of sea beasts. (Or should that be school? Pod? Flock? What is the collective noun for aquatic cryptids?) We meet the monkey-faced Old Man of Monterey (AKA Bobo) and some real-life red-haired sea ser…

1
Series 4 Episode 8: Oxfordshire 1:18:47

1M ago1:18:47

1:18:47

On this week's episode we're headed back to Oxfordshire, and Eleanor is telling a tale drawn from a ghastly 18th century true crime! We start off discussing St Olivia of Palermo, who was apparently resistant to boiling oil - if not axe-blows - after which we head to Oxfordshire. In addition to chatting about Oxford's Civil War heritage, Henry VIII'…

1
Local Legends #7: James Wright 1:28:06

1M ago1:28:06

1:28:06

On this week's episode of Local Legends, Martin gathers round the campfire with Nottinghamshire local and author of the fascinating new book Historic Building Mythbusting, James Wright. Though a long-time resident of Nottinghamshire and a genuine expert in its historic buildings and folklore, James was born in Staffordshire and has been involved wi…

1
Dying Arts #9: Glove Making 46:20

1M ago46:20

46:20

In this week's bonus episode, Eleanor talks us through the surprisingly saucy history of glove making! Part of the "Dying Arts" series, we start by discussing where Eleanor's interest in the topic first arose, specifically in Renaissance drama, clothing and costume, before we then explore the truly ancient relationships humans have had with gloves,…

101
S5 Ep35: Loremen S5Ep35 - Oxford Mysteries LIVE Part 2 (with Bonus) 30:35

1M ago30:35

30:35

The Loremen lived again - again! This is the second installment of the live show recorded in Oxford (famed birthplace of the comma) as part of the Saint Audio Podcast Festival. James guides our live audience around the spooky environs of Oxford, this time courtesy of John Richardson's Oxford & County Ghost Stories. In Part 2, the boys encounter a p…

1
Series 4 Episode 7: Nottinghamshire 1:26:32

1M ago1:26:32

1:26:32

On this week's episode we're headed back to Nottinghamshire, and Martin is telling his take on the legend of Robin Hood! We start off discussing St Elmo, witchfire, and his three rather unpleasant deaths, after which we head to Nottinghamshire. In addition to chatting about Southwell Minster, Newark Castle ruins, and a pretty epic story associated …

1
S10 Ep4: Bejeweled Skeletons- Bone Bling! 34:39

1M ago34:39

34:39

What will you wear for eternity? Will your bones go bare while others are dripping with gold and precious jewels? Probably. But let us fill you in on how some have come to be covered in a king's ransom of rubies and diamonds- and how you can see them! And, if The League of Lady Gravediggers have their way... how you can join them. Grab your favorit…

1
Local Legends #6: Mike O'Leary 51:53

1M ago51:53

51:53

On this week's episode of Local Legends, Martin gathers round the campfire with the author of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Folk Tales Mike O'Leary. Mike has been a professional storyteller since 1995, and across the last almost 30 years has developed a real expertise in the folklore of Hampshire. Based in Southampton, a city which he’s studied acade…

1
Three Ravens Bestiary #9: Goblins 49:38

1M ago49:38

49:38

From gnomes to kobolds, dvergr to hobs, it's time to gather up our mining lamps and shed some light on the very shadowy history of goblins... Part of the "Three Ravens Bestiary" series, we start by chatting through ways in which, across the last two centuries, we have come to think of goblins as distinct fae creatures, separate from elves, pucks, a…

151
S5 Ep34: Loremen S5Ep34 - Oxford Mysteries LIVE Part 1 28:53

2M ago28:53

28:53

The Loremen lived again! This episode was recorded in Oxford (the Cambridge of Oxfordshire) as part of the Saint Audio Podcast Festival. James takes Alasdair and a live lorefolk audience on a tour of the county, courtesy of Mike White's book The Ox-Files. In Part 1, the boys encounter an apparition in Burford, a haunted cellar and a teeny-tiny croc…

1
Series 4 Episode 6: Hampshire 1:16:45

2M ago1:16:45

1:16:45

On this week's episode we're headed back to Hampshire, and Eleanor is telling her take on The Wherwell Cockatrice! We start off discussing St Melangell and her abbey filled with wild animals, after which we head to Hampshire. In addition to chatting about the New Forest and some of the many magical and witchy goings on associated with it, plus some…

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