Weird in the Wade

Bonus Episode: Facing my Demons at the Black Magic Church

Happy New Year! In this bonus episode I visit the ruin of St Mary's Old Church, Clophill. On a chilly December morning, 60 years after the ruin became notorious for black magic rituals, devil worship, vandalism, desecration and hauntings, I spend a few hours recording and photographing the site. An instance of pareidolia (seeing a figure in random mottled wall markings in this case) forces me to confront some childhood demons. 
You don't have to have listened to the previous episodes about Clophill's infamous church to listen to this bonus episode but you might enjoy it more if you have heard episode's 9 and 10 first. 
Photographs accompanying this episode can be found on the show blog: weridinthewade.blog or on my flickr page.
If you have any feedback, suggestions or just want to get in touch with the show email: weirdinthewade@gmail.com
Or find the show on social media by following this link, https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade
You can buy the show a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade
Weird in the Wade is researched, written and presented by Nat Doig
Theme music by Tess Savigear
All additional music and sound effects are from Epidemic Sound
 

10. The Ghosts of St Mary’s Old Church

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
  

9. The Black Magic Church

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

Bonus Episode: More Big Cats of Bedfordshire and Beyond

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
 

8. The Most Haunted Pub in Biggleswade

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

7. The Big Cat of Biggleswade and Phantom Felines

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.

6. The Potton Poisoner: Part 3

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 

5. The Potton Poisoner: Part Two

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
 

4. The Potton Poisoner: Part One

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 
 

Bonus Episode: Updates, News and a New Spooky Story

A bonus episode with updates from previous episodes, a new spooky story that happened to Nat Doig earlier this year, and some news about changes to the podcast. There's also a new trailer for the next episode about the Potton Poisoner. 
If you haven't listened to all of our previous episode's here's some timings so you can avoid spoilers! 
Pound Stretcher update is at 3 minutes 45
Flying saucer update is at 8 minutes 15
Potton Wood Update is at 14 minutes 10
New Spooky story and trailer all spoiler safe from 20 minutes onwards
Contact the Podcast at weirdinthewade@gmail.com 
Find us on the socials https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade
Buy us a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/weirdinthewade
Weird in the Wade is researched, written and presented by Nat Doig
Additional voice acting in crowd scene by Savigear and McOwen
Theme music and the Potton Poisoner theme by Tess Savigear 
All other music and additional sound effects Epidemic Sound