In the local history books of Suffolk, one name is particularly associated with witchcraft and wizardry - that of old Winter. According to tales handed down from generation to generation, Winter the cunning man used his skills for good, helping the people of rural Suffolk to deter criminals and fight back against malevolent curses and bedevilment.
Read MoreThe esteemed M.R. James is our companion tonight. Renowned scholar, one time director of The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, and perhaps most importantly, finest purveyor of the festive tradition of stories of the supernatural.
Read MoreWe investigate the most peculiar tale of the green children of Woolpit, Suffolk. The sudden and unexplained appearance of two mysterious and verdant siblings in the 12th century has subsequently given rise to folklore and speculation, with theories spanning from fairy folk to, gasp, ALIENS! Join us for a brief romp through the history and theories behind the story.
Read MoreRuth is Stranger than Fiction makes a rare foray into the 20th century with the bizarre story of Harold Davidson, the rector of the Norfolk parish of Stiffkey from 1906 - 1932. We explore the unusual escapades of this unlikely figure, from a career on the London stage to his self-proclaimed role as ‘the prostitute’s padre.’
Read MoreHappy Hallowe’en to you all! We’ve got some spooky stories for you this episode with further investigations into ghostly goings on through the history of Cambridge. We cover Abbey House, said to be the most haunted building in the city and home to an unlikely selection of phantoms, including an overbearing squire, a tragic nun, and a strange creature called Wolfie.
Read MoreIt’s part 2 of the particular case of the body snatchers of Great Yarmouth. What brought them to this town on the Norfolk coast, so far from the medical schools of the cities? How did the residents of the town react to the snatching of their recently deceased relatives? And what became of the stolen corpses? It’s a grisly tale and no mistake.
Read MoreJoin us as we travel back to the 1820s and the dank world of body snatching. Gangs of resurrectionists roam the graveyards of the country, digging up the corpses of the recently deceased and selling them to top surgeons and eager medical students. Grim stuff. But was this a necessary horror in the service of medical advancement? Let’s see what Ruth, Jo, and Katy make of it.
Read MoreTown meets gown as Ruth and Chris encounter some of the many ghosts that haunt the cloistered corridors and courtyards of the University of Cambridge. Listen for supernatural tales of exorcisms at Peterhouse, foul smells at Sidney Sussex (including the reappearance of our old friend Cromwell), and an unfortunate sequence of events involving the plague and a disillusioned priest at Corpus Christi.
Read MoreIn this episode we discuss some very mysterious archaeological discoveries, made in the early 1800s in the village of Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire. The Chronicle Hills reveal their secrets and a ghostly tale unfolds. Perhaps more unpleasant still, the drinks take an unusual turn with a couple of very savoury offerings that divide the team, and everyone laughs childishly at amusing terminology.
Read MoreWe’re going a bit Agatha Christie for this one… it’s a dark November night at Stanfield Hall in Norfolk, and some bloody events are about to unfold. Disputed inheritances, convoluted family histories, poorly considered disguises, and a cowardly butler. Our tale of murder and mystery is accompanied by some rather potent cocktails, as all good tales should be.
Read MoreWe’re going back to the fens my lovely listeners… back to the fens for tales of mysterious lights in the darkness and strange phantoms whose only desire is to lead decent folks astray… it’s the ghost lights, the lantern men, the corpse candles and the will o’ the wisps! Classic fenland folklore lies within.
Read MoreCaution is recommended for the squeamish listener as we join Ruth and Chris for a very unpleasant story about a series of nasty discoveries that baffled the city of Norwich in late June 1851. Both literally and metaphorically, this tale takes us further into the gutters than ever before. Brace yourselves.
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