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

Feb 6, 2025 • 32min
Loremen S6Ep2 - The Curse of the Black Monk
Alasdair introduces James to the inverted ghost of Lady Elizabeth Hoby. Prepare your ears for the tragic tale of Lady Hoby's (imaginary) son William. Are the legends true? Was the mistress of Bisham Abbey cursed by a Benedictine monk? Was Lady Hoby... a murderer?As usual, the answer is "probably not". But that won't stop the Loreboys. And if anyone invites you to Bisham Abbey, take care that you don't fall foul of the curse of the black monk! Thunderclap!This episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio EditorJoin us LIVE in Leicester on the 9th February 2025 (2025): comedy-festival.co.uk/events/loremen-liveJoin the LoreFolk here...patreon.com/loremenpodko-fi.com/loremenCheck the sweet, sweet merch here...https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631@loremenpodyoutube.com/loremenpodcastwww.instagram.com/loremenpodwww.facebook.com/loremenpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 30, 2025 • 40min
Loremen S6Ep1 - The Hellfire Club
(No, not that Hellfire Club.)The Loremen return for series 6 and it's a saucy start to the year. We travel to the county of Buckinghamshire to meet some rich and powerful men who are behaving disgracefully — what a twist!William Hogarth, Sir Francis Dashwood and The Notorious John Booth set up a secret drinking society in the 18th century. The first rule of the Hellfire Club was that you had to have been to Italy, and the second rule was that you had to be drunk. (A bar for entry that has been pretty much smashed by low-cost airlines and duty free.)From cavorting in monasteries to tangling with Satan himself, these utter legends lived by the motto, "Do what thou will!"This episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio EditorJoin us LIVE in Leicester on the 9th February 2025 (2025): comedy-festival.co.uk/events/loremen-liveJoin the LoreFolk here...patreon.com/loremenpodko-fi.com/loremenCheck the sweet, sweet merch here...https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631@loremenpodyoutube.com/loremenpodcastwww.instagram.com/loremenpodwww.facebook.com/loremenpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 23, 2025 • 44min
'Tween Season Bonus!
It's still the 'tween times and the Loreboys are on their winter break. But fear not! Here is a wealth of bonus bits from the last year to keep your earholes warm!If you would like these bonuses and access to the Lorefolk Discord you can join the Lorefolk here...patreon.com/loremenpodAND ALSO!Join us LIVE in Leicester on the 9th February 2025 (2025): comedy-festival.co.uk/events/loremen-liveCheck the sweet, sweet merch here...https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631@loremenpodyoutube.com/loremenpodcastwww.instagram.com/loremenpodwww.facebook.com/loremenpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 16, 2025 • 1h 20min
Loremen S5Ep64 - 2024 Almanac Part 2
The yuletide is over, Xmas Pig is a dim memory and it is already time to tear down the Plough Monday decorations. There's just time for a bit of sentimentality. So join the Loreboys as we look back on the 5 (five) best episodes of 2024 (twenty twenty four). What an exciting year we had!A heartfelt thanks goes out to you, the listeners for all the listening you did. We could not do it without you! (Well, we could, but it would be weird and kind of pointless.)Look away now if you don't want to know the results!The featured episodes are:
S5Ep17 The Wild Man of Letchworth Hall
S5Ep16 The Curse of Naworth Castle with Chris Cantrill
S5Ep33 Bamburgh Castle and the Laidly Worm
S5Ep37 The High Peak Beast
S5Ep30 Hunting the Werewolf of Cannock Chase
Join us LIVE in Leicester on the 9th February 2025 (2025): comedy-festival.co.uk/events/loremen-liveJoin the LoreFolk here...patreon.com/loremenpodko-fi.com/loremenCheck the sweet, sweet merch here...https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631@loremenpodyoutube.com/loremenpodcastwww.instagram.com/loremenpodwww.facebook.com/loremenpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 9, 2025 • 1h 28min
Loremen S5Ep63 - 2024 Almanac Part 1
It's Almanac time! The Loreboys take a look back over the episodes of 2024 and re-listen to some of the best clips, as voted for by the Lorefolk.This is a bumper compilation, with loads of extra chit-chat and a deep dive into The Art of Kissing. (The book.) This is one of your classic Top 11 countdowns, starting at 9 and counting down to 6. We'd love to say that'll make sense when you've listened to the episode. But it won't.The featured episodes are:
S5Ep59 Oxfordshire Fairies
S5Ep27 Leicester Fairies, Nuns, Ghosts and a Big Stone LIVE
S5Ep29 The Japanese Tree With A Human Face with Uncanny Japan
S5Ep25 The Beast of Belper and the Surrey Puma with Long Cat Media
S5Ep34 Oxford Mysteries LIVE Part 1
S5Ep31 Gregor MacGregor, The Prince of Nowhere
Join us LIVE in Leicester on the 9th February 2025 (2025): comedy-festival.co.uk/events/loremen-liveJoin the LoreFolk here...patreon.com/loremenpodko-fi.com/loremenCheck the sweet, sweet merch here...https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631@loremenpodyoutube.com/loremenpodcastwww.instagram.com/loremenpodwww.facebook.com/loremenpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 31, 2024 • 26min
Xmas Pig 2024 with The Quantum Mechanics!
For the last Xmas Pig of 2024, The Quantum Mechanics join James for a final piggy tryptic of tales.With stories from the UK's "Cannock Chase" to America's "Road Bridge" it seems The Pigman gets around a bit. Whether he be a butcher gone wrong or the victim of a science experiment also gone wrong, The Pigman is always a source of terror...This episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor.LoreBoys nether say die!Support the Loremen here (and get stuff):patreon.com/loremenpodko-fi.com/loremenCheck the sweet, sweet merch here...https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631@loremenpodyoutube.com/loremenpodcastwww.instagram.com/loremenpodwww.facebook.com/loremenpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 29, 2024 • 26min
Xmas Pig 2024 with Bethan Briggs-Miller!
To brighten these gloomy days between Xmas Pig and Plough Monday, we have another wonderful deputy loreperson! It's Bethan Briggs-Miller of Eerie Essex with an original (and porcine) method of dispersing youths. Plus a dark bit of Peppa Pig-lore that will chill you to your trotters.Check out the East Anglian Folklore Centre here.This episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor.LoreBoys nether say die!Support the Loremen here (and get stuff):patreon.com/loremenpodko-fi.com/loremenCheck the sweet, sweet merch here...https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631@loremenpodyoutube.com/loremenpodcastwww.instagram.com/loremenpodwww.facebook.com/loremenpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 27, 2024 • 14min
Xmas Pig 2024 with Mark Norman!
Mark Norman of The Folklore Podcast joins James to share a bit of porcine folklore that hits very close to home! Christmas is a time for reflection, and who among us can say, "Non, je ne piglette rien"?This episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor.LoreBoys nether say die!Support the Loremen here (and get stuff):patreon.com/loremenpodko-fi.com/loremenCheck the sweet, sweet merch here...https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631@loremenpodyoutube.com/loremenpodcastwww.instagram.com/loremenpodwww.facebook.com/loremenpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 25, 2024 • 25min
Xmas Pig 2024 with Jenny Collier!
Would you have another slice of Xmas Pig? You would! Well, today's stocking filler features our Welsh correspondent Jenny Collier, so you are in luck! Look forward to some peculiar pig-based folklore, and a bit of chat about Disney's 1980s "Dark Phase". We're talking about The Black Cauldron!This episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor.LoreBoys nether say die!Support the Loremen here (and get stuff):patreon.com/loremenpodko-fi.com/loremenCheck the sweet, sweet merch here...https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631@loremenpodyoutube.com/loremenpodcastwww.instagram.com/loremenpodwww.facebook.com/loremenpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 23, 2024 • 19min
Xmas Pig 2024 with Sunil Patel!
The Xmas Pig keeps on rolling! Returning deputy Sunil Patel joins us for a chat about the festive customs of Sweden and Germany. But beware, you'd better have your wits about you in the depths a Swedish winter, or a glowing hog might get you!Catch Sunil on rival podcast Rural Concerns and/or the Sky Original comedy Bad Tidings.https://open.spotify.com/show/1UE33s636jHPCIUDMe622PThis episode was edited by Joseph Burrows - Audio Editor.LoreBoys nether say die!Support the Loremen here (and get stuff):patreon.com/loremenpodko-fi.com/loremenCheck the sweet, sweet merch here...https://www.teepublic.com/stores/loremen-podcast?ref_id=24631@loremenpodyoutube.com/loremenpodcastwww.instagram.com/loremenpodwww.facebook.com/loremenpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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