Loremen Podcast
Join the Loremen (James Shakeshaft and Alasdair Beckett-King) as they "investigate" local legends and forgotten folklore.
- 35 minutes 54 secondsLoremen S7Ep2 - The Mysterious Portal of Langley
James leads Alasdair back into the depths of Wychwood Forest. Therein, the denizens of a peculiar farmstead make a terrible mistake while digging up a tree stump...
As usual, the Loreboys offer fresh nuggets of insight and wisdom. And we might just have come up with a new form of forensic science to aid the police in the fight against crime. (It's fingerprints, but instead of fingers it's bums. It's bumprints.)
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
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22 January 2026, 1:00 am - 33 minutes 52 secondsLoremen S7Ep1 - The Pittville Circus Haunting
The Loreboys have returned!
Alasdair kicks off Series 7 with the story of amateur ghost-hunter Rosina C. Despard. Her Cheltenham home was the site of one of the most well-documented hauntings of the 19th century... Or was it?
Creaks on the stair! A rustle of cloth! A face hidden by a handkerchief! It simply has to be a ghost... Surely?
We promise not to end every sentence this series with an ellipsis followed by a question... Or do we?
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
Edited by Laurence Hisee
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15 January 2026, 1:00 am - 1 hour 35 minutesLoremen S6Ep49 - 2025 Almanac Part 2
We conclude our round-up of the Lorefolk's favourite moments from 2025. Now is a time to reflect on man-eating horses, saucy giants and islands that definitely aren't potatoes. No one who remembers The Amazing Journey of 1607 will be surprised to learn that the episode about "the pinnace" made it to the top five. Or eight.
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The Disappearing Diplomat
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Scareships and the Headless Cyclist - LIVE!
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Albina or the Origin of Giants with Tales of Britain and Ireland
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Pluckley, the Hauntedest Village
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Prince Edward, Island
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The Witch That Wasn't with Willow Winsham
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The Amazing Journey, 1607
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Spring Heeled Jack with Edy Hurst
Join us LIVE in Leicester on the 7th February 2026 (2026)!
Many thanks to our editors over the last year, Joe and Laurence.
And thanks again to the Lorefolk!
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8 January 2026, 3:10 pm -
- 1 hour 12 minutesLoremen 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!
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1 January 2026, 1:00 am - 52 minutes 14 secondsLoremen 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.)
See Alasdair On Tour in 2026!
Edited by Laurence Hisee
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25 December 2025, 1:00 am - 34 minutes 27 secondsLoremen 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
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18 December 2025, 1:00 am - 35 minutes 11 secondsLoremen 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!
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11 December 2025, 1:00 am - 29 minutes 5 secondsLoremen 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
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4 December 2025, 1:00 am - 31 minutes 31 secondsLoremen 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
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27 November 2025, 1:00 am - 36 minutes 33 secondsLoremen 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
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20 November 2025, 1:00 am - 48 minutes 6 secondsLoremen 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
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