Weird in the Wade – Details, episodes & analysis

I'd almost given up on discovering how murder bridge between Biggleswade and Sutton, got it's name. Until completely by accident I stumbled across a ghost story, reported as part of the minutes of a meeting of the Biggleswade Hospital Board in 1922. That led me on a twisty path to the truth, involving a libel case, a notorious Biggleswade spiritualist who believed he was the ghost of Shakespeare's secretary, and two tragic and mysterious deaths. At the heart of this tragic story was the reason why Murder Bridge was given it's name, and who the locals thought the ghost that haunted it might be. 

Expect seances, Victorian true crime, and some very colourful characters. 

At the end of this episode there is a trailer for the new and delightfully spooky RUE Papers by Emma Butler. In later episode's I play the part of Rose! Listen to this new podcast at: https://podfollow.com/1749765774 

If you'd like an extra episode every month, and to support the podcast why not join Team Weird on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WeirdintheWade

Or you can support through Ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Find Weird in the Wade on social media including Facebook and Threads here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear

Additional voices by M Savigear

All additional music and sound effects Epidemic Sound

The Night Hag, is an old name for sleep paralysis. A sleep condition or disorder that has led to some of the most terrifying stories and folktales from around the world. From encounters with demons, witches and ghosts, to alien abductions sleep paralysis has spawned many scary stories. Likewise many paranormal experiences have been explained by sceptics as being caused by sleep paralysis.

In this episode I explore my own terrifying experience of sleep paralysis, consider what might cause it, discover links to our past including some local ghost sightings in workhouses over a century ago.

I also chat with Dr Ciaran O'Keeffe, parapsychologist and expert sceptic on Uncanny and Most Haunted about his studies into sleep paralysis, it's causes, how to deal with it if it happens to you, and it's impact on our culture and understanding of the paranormal. It's a discussion you won't want to miss!

Have a question or a comment pleas email the show at weirdinthewade@gmail.com

or find us on social media links are here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

Exciting news!

I am delighted to say that Weird in the Wade has been nominated for best history podcast at the British Podcast Awards! It's an award judged by a panel but if you'd like to vote for Weird in the Wade in the listeners choice award you can do so here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting

Support the podcast

If you'd like to get exclusive extra content and support the podcast you can do so at patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WeirdintheWade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Theme music is by Tess Savigear

All additional sound effects and music by Epidemic Sound  

In this Christmas bonanza episode chock full of ghosts, I tell you about the many hauntings reported at St Mary's Old Church, Clophill, over the last 60 years. From Spectral beasts scaring news agents at Christmas, to a punk band who felt their haunting encounter at the church brought them bad luck, to more recent mobile phone footage of monk like phantoms. It's all explored in this episode. 

Did the church's sad past of vandalism and desecration disturb spirits who should have been left to rest in peace, or did black magic rituals held at the church, summon something demonic that lingers there still, or has the church's notoriety primed us to expect the unexpected when visiting the site?

I want to extend my thanks to Damien O'Dell for giving me permission to cover one of his exclusive stories from his book Paranormal Bedfordshire - find out more about his books here.

Find out more about the sources used for this episode and discover further reading and photographs on the blog: weirdinthewade.blog

If you'd like to get in touch with the show please email weirdinthewade@gmail.com

Find us on social media: here

On Wednesday 20th December I'll be chatting with Rick Palmer on his fabulous podcast Some Other Sphere, you can listen here: https://someothersphere.podbean.com/

Researched, written and presented by Nat Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear

All additional sound effects and music by Epidemic Sound

There's an abandoned church on a hill top at Clophill in Bedfordshire, that fuelled my nightmares as a child. In today's episode I explore the history of this notorious church that the tabloid press labelled a "black magic church" back in the 1960s. This ruined church has associations with magic, ghosts, grave robbers, the devil, desecration and death. But are the newspaper stories and the local folklore true? And why was I so scared by the very thought of this church as a child? How do my nightmares link to a very different kind of church in Biggleswade? All is revealed in this episode of Weird in the Wade.

I confront my demons (pun intended) to cover this story for the show.

Find photos, links to further reading and show transcript here: www.weirdinthewade.blog 

If you'd like to support the show you can buy Weird in the Wade a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Social media links can be found here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

Researched, written and presented by Nat Doig

Theme Music by Tess Savigear

All additional sound effects and music from Epidemic Sound

In this bonus episode we hear from a new witness who saw a large black cat in Bedfordshire in the 1990s. His sighting was near to the famous encounters with the beast of Silsoe which I also explore.

We also catch up with Owen Staton, completing the interview started in episode 7, The Big Cat of Biggleswade and Phantom Felines.

Find out more about Owen and his podcasts by following him on Twitter / X here. 

Read the show notes and links on the blog at weirdinthewade.blog 

Contact the podcast at weirdinthewade@gmail.com 

Find us on social media at this link here

Weird in the Wade is researched, written and presented by Nat Doig

Theme music is by Tess Savigear

Additional music by Epidemic Sounds

The Golden Pheasant in Biggleswade is not the town's oldest or even grandest pub, but this real ale beer house is reported to be Biggleswade's most haunted. Over the years strange phenomena and mysterious stories have built up around the establishment.

I visited the pub and chatted with regulars and staff to try and get to the bottom of the haunting. What I discovered made my blood run cold on at least three occasions as I uncovered two tragic deaths from the Victorian age, which seem to provide answers to the ghost sightings and sounds experienced at the  pub. Whether it's ghosts, a time slip or a folk memory of these tragedies being remembered you can decide. 

Happy Halloween everyone!

Show transcript and notes are at our blog: www.weirdinthewade.blog 

Contact the podcast at weirdinthewade@gmail.com 

Find us on social media via our linktree

Researched, written and presented by Natalie Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear

All additional sound effects and music by Epidemic Sound

There have been several sightings of a big cat stalking the water meadows, heaths, and back gardens of Biggleswade in the last twenty years. And they're not your usual black panther type sightings; they're more intriguing. Of course, I just had to investigate.

In this episode I speak with an eye witness about the large and unusual cat they saw whilst walking their dog. We have another witness statement sent into the show, and I look at old newspaper stories. All in an attempt to work out what the Beast of Biggleswade really is.

And I share with you my theory...

I also speak with Owen Staton, of the Time Between Times podcast, about his brushes with big cats in Wales, from school lockdowns, to one incident he attended in his role as a police officer. We also discuss what makes these big cat sightings so compelling.

I finish the show with a couple of ghost stories which feature phantom felines. 

Special guest this week is Owen Staton of the Time between Times and Spectre of the Sea podcasts.

If you have a suggestion, feedback or question please email the show at weirdinthewade@gmail.com 

Find us on social media: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade 

Researched, written and presented by Nat Doig

Theme music by Tess Savigear

Cat meows and purrs by the pod-cat Kasumi

All additional sound effects and music from Epidemic Sound.

In this final part of the story of Sarah Dazley, the Victorian poisoner, we follow the evidence shared at William Dazley's inquest and murder trial. We unpick tricky testimony and tangled timelines in an attempt to decide if Sarah really did it. There's gossip, pills and powders, a dead pig, and a teenage pregnancy all to uncover. 

We hear a new ghost story shared by a listener this time centred around the Chequers Inn at Wrestlingworth where the inquest was held. Does Sarah's restless spirit still haunt the pub?

And keep listening for a sneak preview of our next episode about big cats and phantom felines.

Have a suggestion, question or want to share a story? Please get in touch with Weird in the Wade at weirdinthewade@gmail.com 

Find the podcast on social media through the links on: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

If you enjoy the show and are able to support us by buying Weird In the Wade a coffee you can do at: https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written and presented by Nat Doig

Crowd voices by Savigear and McOwen

Theme music and the Potton Poisoner theme by Tess Savigear

All other music and additional sound effects by Epidemic Sound 

This is the second part of a three part story about Sarah Dazley the Potton Poisoner. 

This episode opens with Sarah's arrest on the banks of the Thames in London and her appearance in front of the Lord Mayor. We'll hear a late night conversation between Sarah and the women guarding over her in a Biggleswade tavern. Find out why arsenic poisoning was such a problem in Victorian Britain. As well as exploring the details of the inquests into the deaths of her first husband and baby. It's an episode with twists and turns, delving into Victorian attitudes towards domestic abuse and violence, and their preoccupation with the nature of women. It sets up a final episode at the dramatic murder trial in Part Three.

This episode deals with murder, domestic violence, and the death of an infant. Please choose carefully where and how you listen. 

If you have any thoughts or suggestions please email the show at: weirdinthewade@gmail.com 

Find links to the podcast socials and website here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

Weird in the Wade is researched, written and presented by Nat Doig

Theme music and the Potton Poisoner theme is by Tess Savigear

Additional crowd voices by Savigear and McOwen

All other music and sound effects are by Epidemic Sound

On Saturday 5th August 2023 it will be 180 years since the execution of Sarah Dazley the Potton Poisoner, she was hanged outside Bedford Gaol in front of 10,000 people.

The haunting of a pretty cottage ties to the story of the Potton Poisoner. A murder case that was a Victorian sensation. Scandalising a nation, and still fascinating true crime enthusiasts today. Should Sarah Dazley, dubbed the Potton Poisoner by Victorian press, be known as the UKs first recorded female serial killer? Or is she innocent? The story is murkier and more twisty than a penny dreadful or melodrama.

In Part One, of this three part story, I'll tell you the ghost story that links to Sarah Dazley, and all about the life of the poisoner and her victims. 

Please be advised that although this case is 180 years old it deals with the issues of murder, domestic abuse and infant death. Please choose carefully when and where you want to listen.

Got any thoughts or suggestions? Email the show at weirdinthewade@gmail.com

Find links to the podcast website and socials here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

The podcast is researched, written and presented by Nat Doig

Theme music and the Potton Poisoner theme by Tess Savigear

Additional crowd voices by Savigear and McOwen

All other music and sound effects Epidemic Sound