FolkLands

Eat, drink and be merry! It's time to go a-wassailing, venerate the trees, scare away the dark spirits and celebrate all things apple. We find ourselves in the lovely little village of Hartley Wintney for a traditional orchard wassail. Expect Morris dancers, fire and seasonal village chats. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"It's in the trees! It's coming!" Today we are heading to Waverley Abbey in Farnham Surrey for some dragon sightings and cryptid chat with the legendary Richard Freeman and Jackie Tonks. Expect Scandinavian Vardoger or Forewalkers, Tulpa's, dragon sightings, goblin chat and as the fogs descend, do we detect the ghostly voices of children coming from the ruins? Well, you'll just have to listen and...

Come join us for some Mayday Mudlarking as we explore the Thames foreshore with mudlarker Ollie Dory on a beautiful spring morning. Mainly due to the preserving anaerobic mud of the Thames, coupled with the fast flow and rapid tides of the old river. Extraordinary treasures can unearthed, you just have to know where to look for them. Clay pipes, to medieval daggers, to mysterious fairy loaves from...

On todays episode we are back amongst the books as we delve between the shelves at the British Library alongside our great friend Edward Parnell. Expect spooky chats and wyrd wanderings, with a little splash from psychogeographer Iain Sinclair and writer-journalist Suzy Feay, plus interviews with writer-editor Nick Freeman, writer-performer Kit Green, the British Library's event co-ordinator Jon F...

In todays swirling and twirling episode we explore one of the oldest traditions in England, the Abbott's Bromley Horn Dance. At nearly 800 years old and counting this is an extraordinary piece of living folklore, bursting with myth and legend we plunge right into the heart of the dance, exploring its history and standing today from those that live and breath it. Come, bring bells, join us as we da...

On this very special episode of FolkLands we are live at the Fortean festival with a deep dive return to the mysteries and marvels of Doarlish Cashen. Justin and I go leap wildly into the abyss of Gef and the Irving family once again to unearth even more strange and unusual tales from the Manx island. Joining us is great friend of the show and fellow Get aficionado Edward Parnell. Prepare for high...

On todays special Christmas episode we delve into the FolkLands archives and unearth our favourite folky bits from the last two years of field recordings and interviews. Expect hellish caves, creeping fear and strange goings on in the furrows. Enjoy and have a fantastic yule, solstice and festive season whenever you may find yourselves. See you next year, run for the hills!! Instagram - @folk_land...

On todays FolkLands episode we explore the mysteries and wonders of one of our favourite places in the world, Avebury stone circle. Teeming with retro hauntology and childhood memories of the Children of the Stones, these great sarsens were also the haunt of Derek Jarman and JRR Tolkien amongst many others. Come with us we traverse the wild Wiltshire landscape with friend of the show Ed Parnell, c...

On todays episode we explore one of the most famous, one of the most unusual paranormal cases to ever cone out of the UK. Gef the Talking Mongoose. Appearing to the Irving family in the early 1930s, Gef or the 8th wonder of the world, as he liked to call himself, began to not only help and almost play with the Irvings especially the young daughter Voirry but to slowly terrorise the small family fa...

On todays episode we explore the birth of Wicca and visit the enchanted lair of one of the famous seers of all Mother Shipton. In Castletown on the Isle of Man we venture to the old witches castle the original site of the Witchcraft Museum set up by Cecil Williamson. The wilds of Yorkshire are the setting and home of prophetess Mother Shipton, here we discover her life and work and see the famous...

On todays FolkLands episode we travel deep into the Welsh countryside for Welsh Occult Conference, an annual meeting of Occultist and Alchemists, Wizards, Witches and of course seekers of the strange and unusual, hosted by practicing Alchemist and Author Gary Nottingham and event organiser Lesley Jackson, along with guests including Atlantis owner Geraldine Baskin. Expect tales of wonder and myste...

On todays show we delve even deeper into the strange and unusual world of Manx folklore. First, we hunt down a fairy cave said to be inhabited by a sea witch and then onward to a famous fairy hill where time is said to standstill and people are never quite the same again. Strange animals, haunted houses, witches and wizards. Come now to where the piper plays and you mustn't drink the wine. Enjoy H...

Welcome to Ellen Vannin, the shrouded and mysterious Isle of Man. On todays adventure we travel further than ever before, across the Irish Sea in search of Fynoderees, Bugganes and of course the Good Folk, we hear tales of famous witches whose echoes would reach around the world, fairy hills that can swallow you whole, ancient wells and saintly thieves and of course a little bit about the Bee Gees...

On todays show we go looking for the Straw Bear of Whittlesea, an annual winter custom set deep in the Cambridgeshire Fenlands. No one quite knows where the bear comes from or how it even began but we do know that it was banned in the 19th century as it was seen as a form of begging. A person or driver is wrapped completely in Straw, head to toe, and danced around the town to celebrate Plough Mond...

On todays Druid filled episode we find ourselves amongst the sacred hawthorns of Primrose Hill celebrationg Lughnasadh wit the Primrose Hill Loose Association of Druids. An order that can trace its roots back to Lolo Morganwg and the birth of modern Druidism Song, wine, poetry, home made quiche, we've got it all, so join us as we turn the wheel of the year once again. We hear stories from modern p...

Greetings seekers of the strange and unusual. A veritable literary feast awaits you weary traveller amongst the forgotten henges of northern England. Today, we find ourselves in the most estimable company of author and connoisseur of all things that go bump in the night Mark Valentine, and Ray Russell, Tartarus press co owner, writer and musician. Together we explore the fields of furrows, the hen...

In todays winter celebration of an episode we explore the glorious Welsh tradition of the Mari Lwyd. She is a skull covered in the ribbons of a bride, The Grey Mare, or Holy Mary. She is many things, she is neither dead nor alive, if you're cold then she's cold. Down the cold dark back streets of London's Kings Cross a warm welcome awaits. Every year to celebrate the end of winter the Mari Lwyd ma...

In todays monster episode we explore the world of cryptids and mythical beings. In the very capable hands of Richard Freeman and Jackie we discuss the exorcism of Loch Ness, the British Bigfoot, the Cornish Owlman and a whole host of other strange and extraordinary creatures that lurk within the British countryside and that sometimes make their way into our towns. Talking dogs, horned cats, goblin...

On todays final show of 2024 we take a long walk on the moor with writer and gentleman Jeremy Dyson. We first head to Ripon to witness the supposed longest surviving continuous folklore practice in the world, The Ripon Hornblower, and find out more about this extraordinary custom. We grab our walking boots and head up Ilkely Moor, with dark tales of alien encounters and cannibals that lurk amongst...

Today we unearth a hidden corner of London as we creep around the frozen docks and inky darkness of Limehouse. In the 16th to the 18th century the area of Limehouse became synonymous as a melting pot of folklore and people as the docks brought stories, superstitions and strange new cultures. It had its own Golem wandering the abandoned warehouses and dockyards, it had the sensational tales of Thom...

In todays episode of FolkLands we delve into the world of spirit as we explore some of the stranger Inns, hostelries and public houses of London. From the 'hanging' breakfasts of Newgate, the bombed charnel house of St. Brides and the trap doors of Sweeney Todds barber shop we sink beneath the streets of London to reveal its dark, spooky and inglorious heart. Expect plague pits, Ostriches, dungeon...

In todays episode we explore the dark, dusty and mysterious world of books. Those weird, rare, and legendary forgotten tomes that have been Justin and I’s lifelong passion and obsession. We delve into Victorian spirit photography, the extraordinary and intoxicating work of Ithell Colquhoun, books of dangerous occult magic, of herbal folklore, and those of rare and exquisite beauty. A huge thank yo...

In todays episode we are tracking down the elusive and often misunderstood witch of Leicester. Black Annis. Local tales tell of her blue skin and liking for stealing away children should they stray into her lair then skinning them to add to her dress, her bower strewn with bones. Or is this not quite as true as we were had to believe, could she have been an anchorite nun living alone in the woods,...

On this weeks episode we explore the folklore that was part of the best years of our lives, or so they say, Playground lore. From marbles and jacks, to tag and skipping, kicking and kissing whilst not forgetting all the ghost and ghouls that roam the back of the design area, we explore it all with the help of the Opie archive and the brilliant and playful Julia Bishop, Yinka Olusoga and Catherine...

In today's episode we go stone bothering. We begin in Leicester with the now largely forgotten Wishing Stone of Bradgate Park, a large granite menhir overlooking the babbling River Lin. We then go on the hunt for one of the most cursed stones of these ancient lands, the Humberstone, now terrifyingly placed between a KFC and a Halfords. We end with a pilgrimage to the Rollright Stones of Oxfordshir...