Weird in the Wade

Do you like your spooky stories with some historical context? Do you like your history with a pinch of the paranormal? Then Weird in the Wade is the podcast for you. Weird in the Wade is about all that’s weird, wonderful and a little off kilter in a small English town called Biggleswade and its surrounding area. Each episode we explore a story that will make you pause and ponder, whether its a haunting, flying saucers, witches, poisoners or body snatchers. Social history meets the unexplained in Weird in the Wade.

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Episodes

Monday Jan 27, 2025

There's a wood between the Bedfordshire town of Potton and the ancient hamlet of Sutton, which has spooked many locals including Nat. The creepiness seems to coalesce around an ancient bridge along an equally venerable footpath which has possibly been in use for over 1000 years. 
After Nat encountered this strange part of the woods nearly three years ago, she's been trying to piece together it's history and to find a cause of the unsettling feelings walkers have described.
Why do few birds sing in that part of the woods?
Was the path used as a route to an execution site?
Is a big cat sighting from the 1990s somehow involved?
Nat uncovers Victorian fake news along the way and a torrid tale of polluted waterways and sewage dumps, but does she discover the truth?
Find photographs and further reading on the show blog weirdinthewade.blog
If you have any suggestions or questions email weirdinthewade@gmail.com
Thanks to local author Paul Jameson for his insight and here's where you can find out more about his wonderful books: https://www.modquokka.com/
Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig
Theme music is by Tess Savigear
All additional music and sound effects by Epidemic Sound. 
 

Monday Dec 23, 2024

In this festive special episode Nat chats with Danny Robins of Uncanny, the Witch Farm, the Battersea Poltergeist and 2:22 A Ghost Story Fame. They chat about haunted cinemas, theatres and doppelgangers.
But before their chat, Nat explores the creepy tales from one of Bedford's former cinemas. There's phantom monks and an old Priory to explore along the way.
Special guest Owen Staton returns with a confession about a haunted cinema he worked in! 
And Nat learns why an ambulance and priest were stationed outside a Biggleswade cinema in the 1970s.
It really is a bumper festive fearsome delight of an episode.
Find show notes on the blog https://weirdinthewade.blog/
Join Team Weird on Patreon and receive bonus content. https://www.patreon.com/c/WeirdintheWade
Find Weird in the Wade on social media here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade
Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig
Theme music by Tess Savigear
All additional music and sound effects from Epidemic Sound.

Monday Dec 16, 2024

This stocking filler of an episode is packed full of new witnesses and updates to previous cases. 
In today’s episode we’ll hear from a new witness to the haunting of the Golden Pheasant. It's a chance to set the story straight about one of the hauntings I covered in that episode.
There’s new information about Thelma Roberts the 1950s UFO investigator and some medical evidence which could shed new light on the Potton Poisoner case.
And at the end of today’s episode I will reveal who the special Christmas episode guest is. 
Have an update or story to share message Nat on weirdinthewade@gmail.com
Join the patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/c/WeirdintheWade
Find us on Patron at: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade
 
Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig
Theme music and the Potton Poisoner theme by Tess Savigear.
All other music by Epidemic Sound.

22. Haunted Theatres

Monday Nov 25, 2024

Monday Nov 25, 2024

They say every theatre has a ghost. Nat embarks on an investigation to see if this is true. Starting with the newest theatre in Biggleswade, the Bigg Theatre. Once a town hall, then a petrol station, department store and a restaurant, it seems the Bigg Theatre building has a long history associated with performance and more recently ghostly happenings.
Three actors share their stories of uncanny occurrences within theatres from Brighton, to Swansea and northern towns. 
Why do performance spaces feel so otherworldly at times? Is there a logical reason for this or a spiritual one?
Guests on this episode include:
Anna Stolli from the Bigg Theatre find out more about the theatre here: https://www.thebiggtheatre.co.uk/
Owen Staton from the Time Between Times Story Telling Podcast. Listen to his podcast here: https://podfollow.com/1573244734
Find links, show notes and further reading on the weird in the wade blog here: https://weirdinthewade.blog/2024/11/25/22-haunted-theatres-show-notes-links-and-further-reading/
Follow the podcast on social media, find links here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade
Want extra content and to support the show? Then check out Weird in the Wade's Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/c/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 from Epidemic Sound

21. Haunted Henlow Camp

Monday Oct 28, 2024

Monday Oct 28, 2024

In this episode we travel to RAF Henlow where phantom footsteps in the snow, and a poltergeist are said to be linked to a daring pioneer of parachuting in the 1920s. We'll learn about the hauntings, and this airman's dare devil antics which tragically led to his untimely death. 
Nat Doig also shares some of her eerie memories of living at RAF Henlow as a child in the 1980s, including ghost stories, creepy world war II buildings and a haunted landscape.
There's also some exciting updates about BBC Sounds and a Halloween event with BBC 3 Counties Radio.
Find show notes, links and more information on the show blog at weirdinthewade.blog
Support Weird in the Wade at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/WeirdintheWade
Find Weird in the Wade on social media: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade
Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig
Theme music by Tess Savigear 
Additional music and sound effects from Epidemic Sounds
 
 

Monday Sep 30, 2024

19th Century spiritualism is at the heart of this episode which we'll explore through the exploits of a Biggleswade medium who believed he was in direct contact with the spirit of William Shakespeare. John Francis Hunt, who we met in the previous episode, was an extraordinary man, he pursued justice, sought out buried treasure and was a constant correspondent with the newspapers, the social media of his day. 
We'll explore spiritualism's roots in A
merica with the Fox sisters. How spiritualism became a kind of culture war in the mid 19th century as well visiting an 1875 séance held in Bedford and described by the press as bogus.
There's also a brief update at the end of the episode about Weird in the Wade's win of Gold for best history podcast at the British Podcast Awards! 
Find show notes and further reading on the blog at weirdinthewade.blog 
Support Weird in the Wade and get exclusive bonus episodes every month by joining Team Weird on Patreon. patreon.com/WeirdintheWade
Find us on social media at: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade
Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig
Joint cracking in this episode provided by Jason Doig, Tess Savigear and David Stephenson
Theme music by Tess Savigear
All additional sound effects and music from Epidemic Sound. 

Monday Aug 26, 2024

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
 

Monday Jul 29, 2024

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  
 

17. The Haunted Tunnels

Monday Jun 24, 2024

Monday Jun 24, 2024

Find out how terrifying sighting of a Cavalier ghost in the 1930s links to Biggleswade's mysterious tunnels. I explore the cellar below where the phantom was seen, discover hidden passageways, bricked up tunnel entrances, and much more. I take you on a trip down the river, and to the Camden House school room, we explore the history of Biggleswade's brewing industry, and I visit the Bedfordshire archives all in an effort to solve the riddle of what these tunnels were built for, and why they were bricked up. 
Join me on this journey if you dare!
You can see images and further links on the blog at Weirdinthewade.blog 
Join Team Weird and support the show at Patreon: patreon.com/WeirdintheWade
Or at Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade
Find Weird in the Wade on social media at: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade
You can also vote for Weird in the Wade at the British  Podcast Awards listeners choice here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting
 
Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig
Theme music by Tess Savigear
Camelot Monastery Gregorian Chant by Darren Curtis
All additional sound effects and music by Epidemic Sound
 
 

Monday May 27, 2024

Today's episode follows a ghost story over three centuries. We start in the 1880s with school children terrified by a ghost in a garden. Then we explore a newsagents bothered by paranormal activity in the 1960s. In the present day we discover a secret tunnel entrance and hear rumours of a helpful spirit where the garden once bloomed. Linking all these hauntings is the building of Camden House. Once a Victorian school, then a newsagents for over 50 years, more recently it has been a succession of takeaways and restaurants. 
I also had a last minute breakthrough which filled in a missing piece of the puzzle. I've added this towards the end of the episode so don't believe me early on when I say I can find no evidence of a tragic Edwardian school teacher who could be haunting the old school! Listen on and find out what I discovered.
And yes this is the first part of an exploration of the Biggleswade tunnels. Check out the show blog for a map identifying tunnel entrances and town centre hauntings at: weirdinthewade.blog 
If you want more from Weird in the Wade join Team Weird on our Patreon and get bonus episodes every month. Find out more here: patreon.com/WeirdintheWade 
You can find links to our shop for Weird in the Wade merch, as well as how to donate to the show through Ko-fi and links to all our socials here: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade
A show transcript is also available on our blog: https://weirdinthewade.blog/
Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig
Theme music by Tess Savigear
All additional music and sound effects by Epidemic Sound
 

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Weird in the Wade

Do you like your spooky stories with some historical context? Do you like your history with a pinch of the paranormal? Then Weird in the Wade is the podcast for you. On the first Monday of every month we'll share a fascinating story about the darker, creepier or just weirder side of life.  

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