

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

Jan 1, 2026 • 1h 12min
Loremen S6Ep48 - 2025 Almanac Part 1
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 Robot of Cirencester
The Man-Faced Pigs of Brussels
Vicky's Ticker
Somerset Sects
Witches of Essex with Joel Morris
* Actually fifteen.
Join us LIVE in Leicester on the 7th February 2026 (2026)!
Thanks to our editors over the year, Joe and Laurence.
And thanks to you, the lovely Lorefolk! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 25, 2025 • 52min
Loremen S6Ep47 - Xmas Pig 2025 with Daisy Earl
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 Laurence Hisee
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

Dec 18, 2025 • 34min
Loremen S6Ep46 - The Man-Faced Pigs of Brussels
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 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

Dec 11, 2025 • 35min
Loremen S6Ep45 - The Hanborough Haunting
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
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

Dec 4, 2025 • 29min
Loremen S6Ep44 - Finstock Phantoms
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 Laurence Hisee
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

Nov 27, 2025 • 32min
Loremen S6Ep43 - The Penzance Poisoner
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 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

Nov 20, 2025 • 37min
Loremen S6Ep42 - The Spectral Bridegroom
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
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

Nov 13, 2025 • 48min
Loremen S6Ep41 - The Disappearing Diplomat
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 horse ate him.)
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
Edited by Laurence Hisee
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

Nov 6, 2025 • 34min
Loremen S6Ep40 - Somerset Sects
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 Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
Edited by Laurence Hisee
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

Oct 30, 2025 • 32min
Loremen S6Ep39 - Keeping Austin Weird
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.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


