Loremen Podcast

The Loreboys have returned! Alasdair kicks off Series 7 with the story of amateur ghost-hunter Rosina C. Despard. Her Cheltenham home was the site of one of the most well-documented hauntings of the 19th century... Or was it? Creaks on the stair! A rustle of cloth! A face hidden by a handkerchief! It simply has to be a ghost... Surely? We promise not to end every sentence this series with an ellip...

We conclude our round-up of the Lorefolk's favourite moments from 2025. Now is a time to reflect on man-eating horses, saucy giants and islands that definitely aren't potatoes. No one who remembers The Amazing Journey of 1607 will be surprised to learn that the episode about "the pinnace" made it to the top five. Or eight. The Disappearing Diplomat Scareships and the Headless Cyclist - LIVE! Albin...

It's time for the annual Loremen misunderstanding of how countdowns work! We've selected the top ten* moments from 2025, as voted for by the Lorefolk. Part 1 of this year's Almanac is more of a Jamesmanac, as Shakeshaft delivers hit after hit. Roman robots! Man-faced pigs! Two Jesuses? The featured episodes are: The Legends of Lullingstone Valentine's Special 2025 with Jenny Collier The Roman Robo...

It's PIIIIIIIIGMAAAAAS! James and Alasdair are joined by multi-award-having comedian Daisy Earl. We make merry with the legend of a boozy Mancunian pig named Polly, and the Scottish fairy tale of Whuppity Stoorie. (The latter of which bears a strong resemblance to the more famous tale of old... you know... Rumple-whatshisname.) Follow Daisy! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Who is that, judging me from afar? Why it's the Man-Faced Pigs of Brussels (Wisconsin), the pickiest swine the Loreboys have encountered to date! With a sprinkling of Christmas Pig magic, here is a festive little tale to warm you from your snout right down to your curly, curly tail. ⁠⁠⁠⁠See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Laurence Hisee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the LoreFolk at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Long Hanborough? Home of the Oxford Bus Museum? Yes! THAT Long Hanborough. And once you've listened to this episode, you'll know it for more than being home to the Spice Girls' bus from Spice World (1997). You'll know it for containing a spooky cottage with a particularly busy poltergeist. ⁠⁠⁠⁠See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the LoreFolk at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/loremenpod⁠⁠...

You know what they say: if you remember Finstock, you've been to West Oxfordshire. Here we discover a wealth of ghosts from James's old stomping ground. There's a 1990s spectre, an 1800s preacher and a 39000s (BCE) neanderthal. Plus, a truly chilling lady ghost whose beckoning hands can only be seen by children. Pop on your body warmers... now! ⁠⁠⁠See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠L...

James dives back into the well of Cornish lore and surfaces with story of undying love - and a chilling counterpart to last week's tale. It's a case of Till Death Us Don't Part in the legend of Sarah Polgrain and Yorkshire Jack, whose marriage vows echoed beyond the grave. Plus, a lovely handful of teeth. ⁠⁠See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!⁠⁠⁠ Edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Laurence Hisee⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the LoreFolk at ⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Sure, this starts with a derailment. But a derailment BY Alasdair? What crazy mixed up episode is this? Well, most of it is a classic ghost story from Cornwall. Featuring a fast-thinking blacksmith, a humble servant, a burst horse and a bit of magick. ⁠⁠See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!⁠⁠ Edited by ⁠⁠⁠Laurence Hisee⁠⁠⁠ Join the LoreFolk at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/loremenpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Prussia, 1809. An Englishman named Benjamin Bathurst vanishes without leaving a trace. Apart from his trousers. And his cloak. And possibly his skull. Who is behind this baffling disappearance? A local hoodlum, a French comte, or Napoleon Bonaparte himself? This cold case has remained unsolved for over two centuries. Until now! Because James has a theory NO ONE has considered before. (Maybe a hors...

The boys discover a peculiar cult boasting not one, but two Jesuses. Yowzah! Must be pretty awkward at Christmas. James whisks Alasdair off to the commune of the Agapemonites: a scandalous Victorian sect nestled in the sauciest region of Somerset. (Well, a few miles north of Taunton.) There's a little extra spice in the mix, because James has noticed that the word "sects" sounds a bit rude. See Al...

James and Alasdair do their absolute darndest to keep Austin at least a little bit odd with this selection of spooky tales from that Texan bastion of peculiarity. SPOILER ALERT: we get the fairy tale Goldilocks very wrong. But wait! Before you have your butler send us a strongly worded telegram, we do get it right in the end. Edited by Laurence Hisee Join the LoreFolk at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon...

Queen Victoria, the second longest Queen of England (at the time of recording), escaped death on numerous occasions. But did she ever explore the spirit world? Alasdair recounts an series of (attempted) murder mysteries and relates the strange tale of a stolen timepiece. While James attempts to answer that age old question: who watches the watch, man? Find out more about Vicky's Ticker in Roger Cl...

Alasdair bedazzles James with tales of gold-digging ants. Did we mention these creatures were also massive? And deadly? Well, they were! Beginning with an Old English legend from Hana Videen's bestiary The Deorhord, the Loreboys travel into a world of dubious manuscripts and outlandish beasts. Lock up your camels! This episode was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Are the paths of Wiltshire stalked by a pagan deity in disguise? Usually on Loremen we recount tales that are seldom told, but this week is different. The legend of the Peaked Red One was, in fact, told by James and Alasdair at the Strange Days Festival of Forteana. But the sound quality was a bit bobbins, so we told our stories again, and here they are! There's ghosts, treasure and a little man w...

Comedian and podcaster Amy Matthews takes the Loreboys on a spooky tour of her Essex hometown. From Bell Wharf to Doom Pond, Leigh-on-Sea is no stranger to strange goings-on. But what's the truth behind the legend of the witch who sold the wind? Order Amy's stand-up album Commute with the Foxes now, and check out the English Heritage Podcast! See the ⁠⁠Loremen LIVE in London on Oct 15th⁠⁠. This ep...

It's Britain's most haunted village, according to the Guinness Book of Records. Pluckley in Kent is replete with legends and thick wi' ghosts. James leads Alasdair through your basic Pluckley hauntings, and uncovers a couple of stories that haven't had mainstream media coverage*. Plus... has James been Mandela-effected? * I.e. they're not in the Usborne Book of Ghosts.** ** Plus a BIG*** reveal ab...

The Loremen meet the Map Men. Yes, it's the crossover we can only assume people have been clamouring for! Jay and Mark joined us to discuss the mythical island / clerical error known (amongst other things) as Hy-Brasil. Prepare for some dodgy pronunciations and little local lore from Enfield. Watch the Map Men on YouTube and pre-order their book. And see the Loremen LIVE in London on Oct 15th. Thi...

Storm's comin', and it is quite literally "mucky out". Alasdair forecasts peculiar precipitation with spells of weird science. The black rains that fell on one small Scottish parish in the 1860s have a variety of explanations, ranging from the odd (squids) to the really odd (Italy). Plus, we have a doozy of a theory from the man himself: Charles Fort. This episode was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joseph...

Matt Stewart (Do Go On Pod, Who Knew It? With Matt Stewart) joins James as Alasdair is laid-low having lost his voice. Matt is about to launch his UK tour and James gives him a stern warning about the city of Cambridge. Book yout tickets via his website www.mattstewartcomedy.com and check out his YouTube special and various podcasts. Listen to Alasdair (in full voice) guesting on The Rules Podcast...

Buff the buckles on your shoes and ready your bodices for ripping. James has plucked a tale of betrayal and romance from the annals of Yorkshire legend. SMASH CUT: It's another Shakeshaft Movie Special. This time featuring gambling dens, a fortune teller, an innocent man accused and - of course - gentlemen of the road (i.e. highwaymen / thieves). This episode was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joseph Burro...

Polterguys are back! As are Alasdair and James! After a wee August break, the Loreboys return with some noisy sprits from a disputed corner of Oxfordshire. Listen carefully and you might just learn something about early British Christians. Not how to pronounce their names, though. Apologies in advance for that. This episode was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the...

The boys are on holiday, so this episode is pure "bants". Enjoy a selection of bonus bits from our recent episodes and take care out there, kids. If you like this and want more of it, go to patreon.com/loremenpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Alasdair and James in a not-at-all dank Oxford cellar, as part of the Oxford Comedy Festival. The boys meet a hornéd hunter and a two-faced Edward: legends who left the pages of literature and entered the realm of lore. Like a pair of old-school Slendermen. Thanks to Matthew Chadourne and the Oxford Comedy Festival for having us! Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/IMykate4t9s Join...

James takes Alasdair back to the Croydon of the Cotswolds™ - Banbury! - for a deep-dive into the origins, variations and possible meanings of the town's "famous" nursery rhyme. You know, the one with the rude horse and the lady with peculiarly positioned bells? Plus, James shares the tragic tale of a horse whose sat-nav led to a vicar's downfall. This episode was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joseph Burrows...