

The Three Ravens Podcast
Three Ravens
Three Ravens is an English myth and folklore podcast hosted by Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux.In each weekly episode, released on Mondays, we explore a historic county, digging into the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Across our first six series we ventured around England's 39 historic counties twice, taking turns to tell a new version of a legend from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it may have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past.Our Bonus Episodes are then released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Forgotten Melodies about folk song types with original performances from us, and Magus, which is about the lives of the most famous witches and wizards in history).On Saturdays, we then release episodes of our interview series Local Legends, with each episode featuring a chat between us and an acclaimed folklorist, author, podcaster or historian, deepening discussions about that week's county.In between series, since March 2025 we have also launched our Lang Fairy Tale Project, for which we are recording and releasing the 700+ stories collected by English academics and authors Nora and Andrew Lang, published in over a dozen volumes from the end of the 19th century and changing children's literature forever.With entire other Bonus Series to enjoy, including our comic retelling of the legend of Gawain and the Green Knight, original narratives such as our upcoming series Dog Days about the supernatural adventures of young playwright Christopher Marlowe in Elizabethan London, and our annual Haunting Season every October, there's tonnes of fun to be had in our back catalogue of over 300 episodes. In addition to which, we also release a range of exclusive content on Patreon, where supporters also enjoy ad-free listening, including monthly 'One Off' episodes covering a range of folky topics, editions of the Three Ravens Newsletter, and over two-dozen episodes of the Three Ravens Film Club, through which we discuss folk horror films from across the decades, and more.For a guide of where to start, click here - but our advice is to just pick an episode that sounds interesting, then hit 'Play' and join us around the campfire to listen in...Three Ravens Series 7 will launch in September 2025, and will be all about the heritage and legends of the 13 historic counties of Wales. For press or collaboration inquiries or learn more about our book, published in hardback by The History Press, and the podcast in general, visit our website. Join our Patreon here, and find links to our social media channels and sponsor Three Spirit Drinks here. Use Voucher Code THREERAVENS for a 15% discount. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 3, 2024 • 27min
Part III: The Seed Is Sown
Adapted in a light-hearted, comical style from a diverse set of genuine Medieval Arthurian Romances, this special Three Ravens retelling of the iconic 14th century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is our bonus miniseries for Advent 2024.Split into 25 parts, one for each day of December leading up to and including Christmas Day, the tale follows Gawain, a young knight in King Arthur's court who embarks on a rambling quest, packed with adventures, which takes him all around ancient Britain - a journey which begins at one Midwinter feast and ends at another, exactly one year later.In this third part, Gawain swings the axe, and what happens next none in Camelot could have predicted. Then, with feelings of regret, Gawain tries to muddle on, though luckily he has a few around him who can pick him up and set him straight...The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcastThree Ravens is a myth and folklore podcast hosted by Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux.In each Monday episode we explore a historic county, digging into heritage, folklore and traditions, then we tell a new version of a legend from that county. Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays and Saturdays.Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 2, 2024 • 23min
Part II: The Green Knight's Challenge
Adapted in a light-hearted, comical style from a diverse set of genuine Medieval Arthurian Romances, this special Three Ravens retelling of the iconic 14th century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is our bonus miniseries for Advent 2024.Split into 25 parts, one for each day of December leading up to and including Christmas Day, the tale follows Gawain, a young knight in King Arthur's court who embarks on a rambling quest, packed with adventures, which takes him all around ancient Britain - a journey which begins at one Midwinter feast and ends at another, exactly one year later.In this second instalment, the mysterious Green Knight presents himself to all of Camelot and proposes a Midwinter Game, with only King Arthur himself initially willing to accept the sinister terms...The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcastThree Ravens is a myth and folklore podcast hosted by Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux.In each Monday episode we explore a historic county, digging into heritage, folklore and traditions, then we tell a new version of a legend from that county. Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays and Saturdays.Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 2, 2024 • 1h 12min
Patreon Exclusive: Snow Queens
Alas, this week plague has struck the House of Raven (well, the flu has, at least) and Eleanor is laid-up feeling decidedly unwell. So, we have dipped our beaks into the vault, and pecked out a seasonally-appropriate Patreon Exclusive episode to plug the gap!Originally released last December, we start the episode off with a chat about the common characteristics of 'Snow Queens' or 'Snow Witches', including lots of examples, from Babushka and La Befana to Mother Holda and Gryla, as well as Snow Goddesses like Skadi and Chione.After drawing some common threads together, and discussing some problematic issues with many representations of Snow Queens, it's then onto the main event: Martin's telling of his take on "The Snow Queen" - after which we have a little chat about the story and distinctions made between our version and that of Hans Christian Anderson.We really hope you enjoy it, and fingers-crossed that a) Martin doesn't catch 'the lurg' as well, and b) Eleanor feels well enough to record this week's Magic and Medicines episode about the Zodiac - after which we should be back on track!The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcastThree Ravens is a myth and folklore podcast hosted by Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux.In each Monday episode we explore a historic county, digging into heritage, folklore and traditions, then we tell a new version of a legend from that county. Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays and Saturdays.Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 1, 2024 • 44min
Part I: Midwinter at King Arthur's Court
Adapted in a light-hearted, comical style from a diverse set of genuine Medieval Arthurian Romances, this special Three Ravens retelling of the iconic 14th century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is our bonus miniseries for Advent 2024.Split into 25 parts, one for each day of December leading up to and including Christmas Day, the tale follows Gawain, a young knight in King Arthur's court who embarks on a rambling quest, packed with adventures, which takes him all around ancient Britain - a journey which begins at one Midwinter feast and ends at another, exactly one year later.In this first part, we meet Gawain and discover how and why he ended up in Avalon, all before a mysterious stranger arrives at Camelot's great hall to change his life forever... The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcastThree Ravens is a myth and folklore podcast hosted by Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux.In each Monday episode we explore a historic county, digging into heritage, folklore and traditions, then we tell a new version of a legend from that county. Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays and Saturdays.Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 30, 2024 • 1h 18min
Local Legends #25: Dr Maureen James
On this week's episode of Local Legends, Martin is joined by the rather amazing Dr Maureen James, who is a folklorist, historian, and author of both Cambridgeshire Folk Tales and Lincolnshire Folk Tales.Maureen has been passionate about Social History for over 40 years. Though, as we discuss in this conversation, she did not start her career in academia – she began adult life as a wife and mother, pivoting into history later on. This led her to undertake her BA at Cambridge, then an MA in Museums and Galleries in Education with the Institute of Education, University of London, and a PhD through the University of Glamorgan with the focus of her thesis being The Legends of the Lincolnshire Carrs.In addition to a fascinating lifetime of taking part in historical reenactments, storytelling in period costume, and academic lecturing, she served as a Director of The Society for Storytelling, is a member of The Folklore Society, the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, and The Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology, and has written articles for magazines and journals including Cambridgeshire Life, Facts and Fiction, The Cauldron, Smallholding, Time and Mind, and Folklore.In this chat, we touch on much of this, as well as the Princes in the Tower, how pockets are actually quite a complex subject, whether John Major can use a drop spindle, and all sorts of folklore from Huntingdonshire and beyond, including the legacies of several witches, the myths surrounding Oliver Cromwell, the tale of The Two Fat Geese, and much more besides!To learn more Maureen and her work, do visit her brilliant website – https://tellinghistory.co.uk – which links to her books, academic papers, stories, and all sorts of wonderful other websites, too.And we will be back tomorrow with the first part of Martin's new adaptation of Gawain and The Green Knight which will be released in 25 installments leading right up to Christmas!The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcastThree Ravens is a myth and folklore podcast hosted by Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux.In each Monday episode we explore a historic county, digging into heritage, folklore and traditions, then we tell a new version of a legend from that county. Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays and Saturdays.Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 28, 2024 • 1h 2min
Something Wicked #13: Henry VIII
For our "Something Wicked" series finale we're talking about perhaps England's most famous king, if not its most infamous, Henry VIII.We start off chatting about the context in which Henry VIII ascended the throne - the death of his elder brother and the heir apparent Arthur Tudor, the work Henry VII had done to create peace and a functioning economy after The Wars of the Roses, and the issue of quite what to do with Arthur's teenage widow, the Spanish princess Catherine of Aragon... From there though, we're off to the races, with Henry inheriting the English crown, finally assenting to marry Catherine, and enjoying a fair bit of success on the European stage - all of which rather climaxed at The Field of the Cloth of Gold, where he wrestled with (and lost to) the King of France.All of that stuff, though already fairly murdery, was very much Henry's upswing. The downwards trajectory of his life, frankly, then ensued, starting in the mid-1520s, quickly spiraling out of control and crashing into near bankruptcy for the nation by the time of Henry's death in 1547.From the "King's Great Matter" to the break with Rome, the subsequent systematic destruction of almost all of England's ancient art, music and literature, the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and his other five, largely disastrously unsuccessful marriages, it's a mess. More than a pickle, we make the case that Henry VIII was an increasingly septic, smelly tyrant, the mass killer of about 2% of the English population of his day, and a truly deluded ruler who squandered his inheritance.Yes, he made some big changes which benefited his successors, but by golly did he do some damage as he did so! It's a whip-cracking rollick through the highlights, and the low-lights, of the reign of "Fat Hank" in which we detail exactly which wives were beheaded, divorced, survived, and why - as well as which of them rivaled Henry in terms of total number of spouses, if not in regards to waistline... The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcastThree Ravens is a myth and folklore podcast hosted by Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux.In each Monday episode we explore a historic county, digging into heritage, folklore and traditions, then we tell a new version of a legend from that county. Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays and Saturdays.Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 25, 2024 • 1h 36min
Series 5 Episode 8: Huntingdonshire
This week Martin is leading us back into marshy bogs which no longer exist to talk all about the history and folklore of the half-forgotten county of Huntingdonshire!We start by discussing St Catherine's Day traditions, including Cathern Bowls, Cathern Queens, and Catherine Wheels, as well as Catherine's grisly demise. After which, it's time to visit another county which no long exists - Huntingdonshire, the historic seat of the Cromwell family.We chat about subjects including the Three Wonders of Huntingdonshire, the Robin Hood and Little John stone, the county's Roman remnants, its legacy of highway robbery, and much more, and for this week's County Dish we talk Stilton Cheese and Oliver Cromwell's favourite pudding, Barley Broth!On the folklore front, interspersed with some excerpts from next Saturday's Local Legends interview with historian and author Dr Maureen James, we talk about the folk hero Raveley Jack, the ghostly drummer boy of Alconbury, the tale of a farmer possessed and seemingly killed by the Devil, and much more besides.Then it's on to the main event: Martin's story, "The Witches of Warboys" - a narrative retelling of one of the most infamous witch trials in English History...We hope you enjoy it, and will be back on Thursday with both our final Something Wicked bonus episode about Henry VIII and our Patreon Exclusive Film Club episode about the 2017 folk horror film November, ahead of Saturday's full Local Legends chat with Maureen!The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcastThree Ravens is a myth and folklore podcast hosted by Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux.In each Monday episode we explore a historic county, digging into heritage, folklore and traditions, then we tell a new version of a legend from that county. Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays and Saturdays.Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 23, 2024 • 1h 25min
Local Legends #24: Mark Norman
For this week's episode of Local Legends, Martin has gathered round the campfire to talk all things Devon with folklorist, author, and host of The Folklore Podcast, Mark Norman.If you like a bit of folklore, particularly in podcast form, you’re likely already acquainted with Mark, or with some of his work at least, as he is the creator and host of ‘the big show’ when it comes to all things folkloric. The Folklore Podcast launched in 2016 and since then has become one of the biggest folklore podcasts in the world. For the show, Mark and a team of other fellow presenters interview world-class experts in the field of folklore and share their research with a wide audience, spreading their knowledge on a global scale. Outside of The Folklore Podcast though, Mark is a very busy person. He lives in Devon and is an independent folklore researcher and author, as well as an elected council member of The Folklore Society. His books include Black Dog Folklore from 2016, Telling the Bees and other Customs from 2020, and the focus of our chat today, The Folklore of Devon which came out in paperback just the other day. Mark has contributed to other books and magazines on areas of folklore and traditional belief, too, and he is the curator of The Folklore Library and Archive. Plus, and his most recent book, Zoinks!, looks at folklore through the lens of Scooby Doo – something which speaks to Mark’s nature as a fun, imaginative, playful sort of person who approaches sometimes surprising subjects with rigour and passion. In this chat, we cover all of this and a lot else, including "Scone Politics," why Devon has quite so many black dog legends, strategies for avoiding malevolent faeries, the menace of Worzel Gummage, the Hairy Hands of Dartmoor, and much more besides!To learn more Mark and his work, do visit The Folklore Podcast website – thefolklorepodcast.com – which links to his books, his social media accounts, and his other work.And we will be back on Monday with an all-new County Episode all about the history and folklore of Huntingdonshire!The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcastThree Ravens is a myth and folklore podcast hosted by Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux.In each Monday episode we explore a historic county, digging into heritage, folklore and traditions, then we tell a new version of a legend from that county. Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays and Saturdays.Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 21, 2024 • 54min
Dying Arts #13: Clock, Watch and Orrery Making
For this week's bonus episode, Eleanor presents the final Dying Arts episode of the series, which is a timely one all about the critically endangered traditional crafts of Clock, Watch and Orrery Making!We start by chatting through what Orrery's are, and before long we're elbow-deep in discussions of how ancient civilizations like the Greeks and Mayans set about trying to understand the universe, the movements of planetary bodies, and how those concepts manifested themselves in early calendars and shadow clocks. This takes us through some curious concepts like Flat Earth theories, geocentrism, and significant historical figures like Copernicus, Galileo, and good ol' Tycho Brahe.Then though, we're into clocks and watches, chewing through everything from candle clocks and hourglasses to amazing devices like the Antikythera Mechanism, the Ancient Chinese 'Cosmic Engine,' and the kinds of water clocks used in the Middle Ages to portion the day up for various prayers. Via verge escapements, pendulums, and the race of the Longitude Prize, we soon find ourselves at the advent of electrified 'Railway Time' and mass production.Featuring bits of clock and watch folklore, a quick nod to Doctor Faustus, and appearances by the likes of Robert Hooke and our old pal Sosigenes of Alexandria, it's a slightly mind-bending ride. So, what are you waiting for - there isn't a moment to waste!(As for how long a moment is, well, we'll let you decide...)The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcastThree Ravens is a myth and folklore podcast hosted by Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux.In each Monday episode we explore a historic county, digging into heritage, folklore and traditions, then we tell a new version of a legend from that county. Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays and Saturdays.Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 18, 2024 • 1h 31min
Series 5 Episode 7: Devon
On this week's episode Eleanor is taking us on a pixie-led journey down to Devonshire in England's South West and telling us her take on the legend of "Kitty Jay's Grave."We start off chatting about St Cecilia and her death-defying life of chastity and angel-seeing, and after that we're bombing down the A303 to Devon, one of Martin's favourite counties and one cream-and-then-jam-packed with folklore!We chew over topics such as the wild and mysterious landscape of Dartmoor, the wolf-taming wanderer St Petroc, the 16-sided grotto of A La Ronde, and much more, all before Eleanor explains the difference between Devon Flats and Devon Splits, chats through the county's rich culinary heritage, and offers up a recipe for this week's County Dish, Graveyard Pie...As for folklore, interspersed with some excerpts from next Saturday's Local Legends interview with Devon's-own Mark Norman, host of The Folklore Podcast and author of many truly excellent books on folklore here and abroad, we talk about the county's legacy in witchcraft and 'piskies,' ghosts including Lady Howard and her carriage of bones, Cutty Dyre, the Ogre of Ashburton, and much more besides.Then it's on to the main event: Eleanor's story, "Kitty Jay's Grave" which, fair warning in advance, might just leave you in tears as it did Martin!We very much hope you enjoy it, and will be back on Thursday with the final Dying Arts bonus episode of the series about Clock, Watch and Orrery-Making ahead of Saturday's full Local Legends chat with Mark!The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcastThree Ravens is a myth and folklore podcast hosted by Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux.In each Monday episode we explore a historic county, digging into heritage, folklore and traditions, then we tell a new version of a legend from that county. Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays and Saturdays.Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.