The Three Ravens Podcast

The second in a trio of bonus compilation episodes of the Three Ravens podcast, to help plug the gap between Seasons 3 and 4. We’ve entitled the episode Three Horrors because it contains contains three of our creepier stories, including our Devon story, "The Hairy Hands of Dartmoor," our Staffordshire story, "The Children of Cannock Chase," and our Derbyshire story, "The Boggarts of Arbor Low." Th...

The first in a trio of bonus compilation episodes of the Three Ravens podcast, to help plug the gap between Seasons 3 and 4. We’ve entitled the episode Three Marsh Tales because, perhaps unsurprisingly, it contains three stories set in misty, slippery, squishy bogs, including our Cambridgeshire story, "Hereward The Wake," our Huntingdonshire story, "The Lantern Men," and our Lincolnshire story, "T...

For the Three Ravens Season 3 finale, and to conclude their first lap around England's 39 historic counties, Eleanor and Martin venture to Norfolk. After a brief chat about St Adrian, and whether he's really St Adrian at all, they pad on silent paws deep into the heart of the history and folklore of Norfolk. They talk about sites like Grime's Graves, Norwich Cathedral, and Felbrigg Hall, and legen...

In this seasonal Bonus Episode, Eleanor and Martin explore the history and superstitions of Leap Day. Starting in Ancient Rome, they discuss how shenanigans with lunar calendars, imaginary months, and Egyptian mathematics led to the creation of Leap Day. They then dig into the peculiar customs that developed around it, from St Oswald's magic limbs to healing pigs' trotters, reversals of gender rol...

On this week's episode, Martin and Eleanor hurry to Hertfordshire, a county of outlaws, ghosts, and really old stuff! After a brief chat about the pagan god Walborga and her regrettable shift into St Walburga, they proceed upstream and dabble in the history and folklore of Hertfordshire. They talk about sites like Hertford Castle, St Alban's Cathedral, and the ancient town of Ware, legends and her...

In this week's Bonus Episode, Martin and Eleanor explore the life of the knight thought to have inspired the Bluebeard fairytale, also known as "the first serial killer." Part of the "Something Wicked" series about folkloric true crimes, they start by discussing the state of France when Gilles de Rais was born, from the reign of 'Charles the Mad' and the Hundred Years War to the specifics of de Ra...

This week, Eleanor and Martin saunter to Staffordshire, home of Wedgwood china and their first Headless Horseman! After a brief chat about Jack O'Lent and some minor saints with silly names, they proceed on a macabre tour around the history and folklore of Staffordshire, talking about sites like Stafford Castle, Lichfield Cathedral, and Doxey Pool and legends including Jenny Greenteeth, Sauntering...

In this Bonus Episode, Eleanor and Martin explore the history of Basket and Trug Making, which may just be the oldest crafts of all. Part of the "Dying Arts" series, they start by discussing the basics, including what a basket really is, including ancient examples from Rome and Egypt. After chatting about how basket and trug-making were crafts that managed to defy mass-scale industrialization righ...

In this seasonal Bonus Episode, Martin and Eleanor cosy up and explore the rather bonkers history of Valentine's Day. They start in the 8th century, with the Venerable Bede and Catholic Martyrology of Jerome, neither of which refer to Valentine's Day or St Valentine. Next, they venture back in time to recount the macabre life of the 3rd century figure we now know as St Valentine before leaping for...

In this week's episode, Martin and Eleanor wade through the ancient mysteries of Lincolnshire. After a brief chat about Shrovetide and some associated lunacy, such as 'Old Football' and 'Dappy Door Night,' they clamber into their ancient boat and paddle through history and folklore of Lincolnshire. They talk about ancient relics like the Corieltauvi Bull Rider and the Witham Shield, monuments incl...

In this week's Bonus Episode, Martin and Eleanor follow the trail in search of Bigfoot, uncovering a whole world of mythical wild men! Part of the "Three Ravens Bestiary" bonus series, they start by chatting about the origins of Bigfoot, including some notable 20th century hoaxes, arriving at root of these legends: the Native American Sasquatch. Through this, they hop across to Europe, discussing...

This week's episode sees us Eleanor and Martin wending their way to Wiltshire, home of both Stonehenge and Avebury Ring! After a brief chat about the ghastly life of St Agatha, they burrow deep into the monumental history and folklore of Wiltshire, from Old Sarum, Wardour Castle, and two of the most famous stone circles in all the world to the Flying Monk of Malmesbury, Urchfont's 18th century ser...

In this Bonus Episode, Eleanor and Martin peer into the arcane history of scrying! Part of the "Magic and Medicines" series, they start by chatting about our understanding of scrying in prehistoric cultures and the earliest references to mirror divination in Ancient Greece, Egypt, Persia, and Mesoamerican societies. Then it's on to Renaissance occultism, including what was gleaned from John Dee's...

On this week's episode, Martin and Eleanor dash to Derbyshire, a county forged in earthquakes and wildfires! After a brief chat about the pagan festival of Imbolc, they slip into the sacred hot springs of Aquae Arnemetiae to discuss the history and folklore of Derbyshire, from the Viking burial complex at Heath Wood, Peveril Castle, and the plague village of Eyam to The Devil’s Bonfires of Longden...

In this week's Bonus Episode, Martin and Eleanor conjure up the wild life story of the first witch condemned in Ireland. Part of the "Something Wicked" series about folkloric true crimes, they set the scene by discussing the history of Kilkenny within Ireland's five historic counties, then explore how a young Flemish immigrant managed to become one of the richest women in 13th century Leinster. Wi...

This week and Martin and Eleanor hurry to Herefordshire on the border between England and Wales. After a brief chat about St Vincent's Day, including his painful life and Raven Church, they dig a dyke to mark the borders of the history and folklore of Herefordshire - from the Black Mountain, Goodrich Castle, and Arthur’s Stone to Jack-a-Kent, the King of Cats, the Mermaid of Marden, and much more...

In this Bonus Episode, Eleanor and Martin explore the history of Fan Making, a critically-endangered craft. Part of the "Dying Arts" series, they start off chatting about the 3,000 year-old legacy of fans from China, Japan, and Africa, then dig into the European craze for fans, including their religious uses, their styles, hidden compartments, and secret language. After exploring the shifts the 19...

On this week's episode Eleanor and Martin relay to Rutland, England's smallest county. After a chat about St Ceolwulf's Day and the Venerable Bede, they blow their hunting horns and gallop through the history and folklore of Rutland - from Oakham Castle, Great Casterton, and Rutland Water to Amelia Woodcock, the Wise Woman of Wing, the Rutland Dinosaur, the astonishing life of Lord Minimus, and mu...

In this week's Bonus Episode, Martin and Eleanor dive into the murky history of Selkies. Part of the "Three Ravens Bestiary" bonus series, they start by talking through the modern view of these mystical half-human, half-seal sea creatures, and chat about the most popular selkie myth of recent times - one of kidnap, stolen seal skins, and forced marriage. But then they wheel back to the origins of...

This week Eleanor and Martin are off to Essex, a county where Boudica famously engaged in some impromptu remodeling... After a chat about Plough Monday and associated silliness, they then sharpen their three Saxon daggers and rampage through the history and folklore of Essex - from the Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins, Old King Cole, and the sacking of Colchester to the ghosts of Borley Rectory...

In this Bonus Episode, Eleanor and Martin explore the history of poppets! Part of the "Magic and Medicines" series, they chat about the many roles dolls play in magic, from Worry Dolls and Kolossoi to paleolithic carvings and ushabti, and dig into some strange corners of human history - from the Reader's Digest drive to curse Adolf Hitler to Scottish 'clay corpses', myths about Voodoo Dolls, Japan...

On this week's episode, Martin and Eleanor head to Leicestershire, the county where Richard III died at Bosworth Field. After a chat about New Year's Day traditions and superstitions, they leap into the history and folklore of Leicestershire - from Simon de Montfort and Melton Mowbray pork pies to Belvoir Castle, Ashby de la Zouch, and Kirby Muxloe, as well as the Humberstone, further adventures o...

In this week's Bonus Episode, Martin and Eleanor dig into the legend of the Christmas Scarecrow, Hans Trapp. Part of the "Something Wicked" series about folkloric true crimes, they set the scene by talking about life in the Holy Roman Empire during the 15th century. Then it's time to recount the truths and some of the likely fictions surrounding this legendary Christmas bogeyman. For example, did...

Deck the halls and jingle your bells as Eleanor and Martin welcome you to a festive celebration of all things Christmas, Yule, and Midwinter! Starting off deep in prehistory, they chat through the pagan origins of Midwinter celebrations as found at neolithic sites like Stonehenge, discuss Ancient Greek and Roman concepts of the end-of-year, wassailing, and Norse Yuletide traditions, plus the long...

As promised, here is a spooky ghost story for Christmas care of Three Ravens. Following in the tradition of M.R. James, E.F. Benson, and Charles Dickens, it feels only right to cosy up and listen to something scary on Christmas Eve. This year it's Martin doing the honours, with a longer story set in the English Renaissance. We follow Maline, a young maid working in a gloomy, snow-swept castle, whe...