

Loremen Podcast
Loremen Podcast
Join the Loremen (James Shakeshaft and Alasdair Beckett-King) as they "investigate" local legends and forgotten folklore.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 17, 2025 • 45min
Loremen S6Ep25 - The Cauldknockle Haunting
Looking for a tale to warm your knockles? If so, you've come to the wrong place! Alasdair's North Country legend will make your knockles chillier than ever. You're gonna wish you'd invested in 8 tiny beanies to keep 'em warm*.
This is the sanguinary story of Stephen Hollin's ghost from Manfield (near Darlington). Stephen is a spectral prankster who will either kill you with a plough coulter or steal all your cheese. Stroll through his field and you'll be lucky to make it out with both your shoes...
* Delightful image and business idea © James Shakeshaft, 2025.
Mistake Warning: Alasdair says the River Tees goes through Sunderland, when it actually goes through Middlesbrough. Shocking bad mistake.
This episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor
Join the LoreFolk at patreon.com/loremenpod
ko-fi.com/loremen
Check the sweet, sweet merch here...
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631
@loremenpod
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Jul 10, 2025 • 33min
Loremen S6Ep24 - The Figure on the Stairs
Welcome to Sydenham, but be warned — this ain't your grandma's Sydenham. It's more likely to be your great-great grandma's Sydenham.
James takes Alasdair to a tumbledown cottage on a moonlit night, where an unwary rambler had a terrific fright. At least, according to the ghosthunter Elliot O'Donnell. From dreamland visions to the horrors of the London rental market, this episode should give you a shiver, even in the midst of a heatwave.
This episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor
Join the LoreFolk at patreon.com/loremenpod
ko-fi.com/loremen
Check the sweet, sweet merch here...
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631
@loremenpod
youtube.com/loremenpodcast
www.instagram.com/loremenpod
www.facebook.com/loremenpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 3, 2025 • 39min
Loremen S6Ep23 - Stone Watch 2025
James takes Alasdair on a whistle-stop tour of Britain's mobile stones, as catalogued in Janet and Colin Bord's The Secret Country. These standing stones were made for walking, and that's just what they'll do. Except when they're spinning around on the spot. Or not moving at all.
Plus, we answer the questions no other podcast would dare ask:
Do stones grow? (No)
Should you go in a Piper's Hole? (No)
Do stones respect / understand Daylight Savings? (We don't know)
Catch James on the Stone Watch 2025 livestream on YouTube.
Check out the Quantum Mechanics Podcast's episode on Stone Watch 2025.
Join... Us... at The Oxford Comedy Festival on the 10th July 2025 (2025).
This episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor
Join the LoreFolk at patreon.com/loremenpod
ko-fi.com/loremen
Check the sweet, sweet merch here...
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631
@loremenpod
youtube.com/loremenpodcast
www.instagram.com/loremenpod
www.facebook.com/loremenpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 26, 2025 • 36min
Loremen S6Ep22 - The Ghosts of 50 Berkeley Square, London
In the midst of a heatwave, James brings the temperature down with the chilling tale of a ghost named Bloody Bones. The loreboys visit the most notorious haunted house in London. It's the Victorian equivalent of the Cat Bin Lady (but with ghosts in a house rather than a cat in a... well, you know).
Prepare yourself for tales of hubris and horror, plus a typewritten message from the beyond!
Join... Us... at The Oxford Comedy Festival on the 10th July 2025 (2025).
This episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor
Join the LoreFolk at patreon.com/loremenpod
ko-fi.com/loremen
Check the sweet, sweet merch here...
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631
@loremenpod
youtube.com/loremenpodcast
www.instagram.com/loremenpod
www.facebook.com/loremenpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 19, 2025 • 36min
Loremen S6Ep21 - Prince Edward, Island
Do you struggle to tell the difference between Prince Edward Island, the Canadian province, and Prince Edward the Duke of Edinburgh (15th in line to the throne AT TIME OF RECORDING)? If nothing else, this episode will teach you which of the two produces 25% of Canada's potatoes.
Plus, you can expect a bunch of cryptids sprung from the pages of Chasing North American Monsters by Jason Offutt (and thanks to the publisher, Llewellyn, for sending us a copy).
P.S. Keep listening after the music for a clip from this week's bonus episode, available in full to our Patreons.
This episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor
Join the LoreFolk at patreon.com/loremenpod
ko-fi.com/loremen
Check the sweet, sweet merch here...
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631
@loremenpod
youtube.com/loremenpodcast
www.instagram.com/loremenpod
www.facebook.com/loremenpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 12, 2025 • 41min
Loremen S6Ep20 - Ada Freer and the Island Seers
The remote islands of Scotland are known to be home to folk with the second sight. Alasdair tells James the story of three gifted seers, each of whom came to a sticky end. (In one case, literally. Barrel of tar, innit?)
This is a bumper episode for new ways to exploit the Loremen brand. We're talking a new TV show, a dark reboot of the name Kenneth, and a brand new music genre combining Drum & Bass with the Irish playwright George Bernard-Shaw.
And, yes, these ideas are all copyrighted!
P.S. Keep listening after the music for a clip from this week's bonus episode, available in full to our Patreons.
This episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor
Join the LoreFolk at patreon.com/loremenpod
ko-fi.com/loremen
Check the sweet, sweet merch here...
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631
@loremenpod
youtube.com/loremenpodcast
www.instagram.com/loremenpod
www.facebook.com/loremenpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 5, 2025 • 33min
Loremen S6Ep19 - The Amazing Journey, 1607
James relates an unintentionally saucy tale about a man who took his pinnace to London. A pinnace is a kind of small boat and James didn't realise how rude was going to sound when spoken aloud. How would you pronounce it? Try it, say "pinnace" out loud. Say it on the bus, if you're on the bus.
Double-entendres aside, this is the 1607 story of a truly amazing journey made by air, land and - friend of the show - water.
This episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor
Join the LoreFolk at patreon.com/loremenpod
ko-fi.com/loremen
Check the sweet, sweet merch here...
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631
@loremenpod
youtube.com/loremenpodcast
www.instagram.com/loremenpod
www.facebook.com/loremenpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 29, 2025 • 52min
Loremen S6Ep18 - The Legends of Lullingstone
A walk in the park turns out to be no walk in the park. Alasdair introduces James to Lullingstone Castle, home to both an aristocratic orchid hunter and the spectre of Colonel Meates - surely one of the meatiest ghosts in Kent.
Straying from the path, we encounter Percy Pilcher (the unfortunate aeronaut), Thomas Becket (the spiteful saint), and a Roman beefcake by the name of Titus Manlius.
This episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor
Join the LoreFolk at patreon.com/loremenpod
ko-fi.com/loremen
Check the sweet, sweet merch here...
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631
@loremenpod
youtube.com/loremenpodcast
www.instagram.com/loremenpod
www.facebook.com/loremenpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 22, 2025 • 57min
Loremen S6Ep17 - Spring Heeled Jack with Edy Hurst
Forget everything you thought you knew about Spring-Heeled Jack!
Because this marauding menace not only affrighted the women of London, but also the Uncles of Warrington!
Edy Hurst joins the LoreBoys to blow that case wide open, with tales of that famous monster springing* up in the most unlikely of places**!
* pun
** Warrington
See Edy at the Edinburgh Fringe
And see Edy's tour here
See the Loremen LIVE in Oxford on the 10th July 2025 (2025)
This episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor
Join the LoreFolk at patreon.com/loremenpod
ko-fi.com/loremen
Check the sweet, sweet merch here...
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631
@loremenpod
youtube.com/loremenpodcast
www.instagram.com/loremenpod
www.facebook.com/loremenpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 15, 2025 • 39min
Loremen S6Ep16 - The Roman Robot of Cirencester
This episode features not only the titular Roman Robot and a (potentially) BAFTA-winning sitcom idea — but James ALSO chucks in a selection of ghostly tales from the Cirencester area. You know, like when you've ordered something online and you get tiny bag of free Haribo. Enjoy!
This episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor
Join the LoreFolk at patreon.com/loremenpod
ko-fi.com/loremen
Check the sweet, sweet merch here...
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631
@loremenpod
youtube.com/loremenpodcast
www.instagram.com/loremenpod
www.facebook.com/loremenpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices