Show Notes
In this episode Nat completes her exploration of witchcraft in Bedfordshire starting with a 19th Century ghost sighting of a witch.
The episode covers a case of Victorian girls playing at witches to horrific and cruel effect. Then moves through the 20th Century with it's contrast between the rise of wicca and nature based neo pagan witchcraft, and the persistent fear of "black magic" and the satanic panic.
Nat ponders whether we have moved far enough away from the causes and motivations of the 17th century witch trials. But ends the episode with a delightful piece of witch related folklore.
This episode contains some descriptions of cruelty to animals but Nat gives you a heads up before those sections.
You can read more about the witches of Bedfordshire on the blog at weirdinthewade.blog
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Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig
Theme music and the track Waking Up are by Tess Savigear
All additional music and sound effects by Epidemic Sound.
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More from Weird in the Wade
It seems rather strange that two of the world’s most famous aviation mysteries originated in Bedfordshire, those of the Flying Duchess and Glenn Miller. Nat has always had a fascination with the Glenn Miller disappearance and that of Amelia Earhart, but the story of the flying Duchess was new to her, along with the ghost stories attached to the Duchess.
In this final exploration of abandoned places Nat explores haunted hospitals. Busy thriving hospitals seem to attract many ghost stories, but what of the hospital buildings which become disused or are repurposed? Do these former centres of medicine have particular ghost stories and paranormal experiences associated with them?
In this third episode exploring why abandoned, ruined and derelict places attract so much folklore and urban legends, Nat looks at more recent ruins.
In a second episode considering abandoned places in Bedfordshire, Nat explores the devastation caused by the Black Death in the 14th century. This includes the myths and legends which grew up around the plague, as well as the villages and settlements left in ruins.
!!! Last chance to get tickets to Bedfordshire's Dark History a show created by Nat Doig and Olie Campbell. Saturday 25th July 2pm The Quarry Theatre Bedford. Grab tickets here !!!