logo
episode-header-image
Apr 28
38m 42s

England's Darkest Folklore

History Hit
About this episode

A spectral Black Dog with hellish eyes; a homicidal water spirit who drowns children; a mermaid who takes revenge on a vile cad. Maddy Pelling takes Anthony Delaney on a tour through the dark side of English folklore.


The episode also features thoughts from artist, author and filmmaker, Ben Edge. Find out more about Ben's work here: https://www.benedge.co.uk/


Edited by Tomos Delargy. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.


Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  


You can take part in our listener survey here.


All music from Epidemic Sounds.


After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

Up next
Jul 7
How Bloody Was 'Bloody Mary'?
Last week we heard about Mary's formative years. Today we get to her reign, the infamous burnings and ask ourselves if Bloody Mary was as bad as people think.Edited by Tomos Delargy. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.Please vote for us for Listeners' ... Show More
39m 59s
Jul 3
The Final Days of Anastasia Romanov
In the aftermath of the bloody Russian revolution, the Romanovs went from being a glittering royal family, to vulnerable everyday citizens who were soon murdered.In the wake of their deaths, the that one family member survived, began to gain traction.How do the claims of Princess ... Show More
51m 11s
Jun 30
Bloody Mary: The Real Woman in the Mirror
Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary. Mary I is known as a brutal tyrant. But what was the reality? In the next two episodes Anthony and Maddy will explore Mary's story. Today they explore the traumatic early years that shaped her.Edited by Tomos Delargy. Produced by Freddy Chic ... Show More
42m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2024
51: Terrifying True Urban Legends: Australia
A ghost ship. The Button Man. A shark that threw up a major clue to a murder. Today we're talking about Australian urban legends and the terrifying truth behind them. Subscribe on Patreon for bonus content and to become a member of our Rogue Detecting Society. Patrons have access ... Show More
47m 44s
Aug 2024
SPRING HEELED JACK – The Leaping Terror of London
Spring-Heeled Jack - A terrifying urban legend of Victorian London, Spring-Heeled Jack was known for his inhuman leaps, glowing red eyes, and attacks on unsuspecting victims. Discover more TERRIFYING podcasts at http://eeriecast.com/ Follow Carman Carrion!  https://www.facebook.c ... Show More
42m 23s
Nov 2024
ADZE – The Glowing Vampire of West Africa
The Adze is a shapeshifting creature from West African Ewe folklore that appears as an innocent firefly but is actually a vampiric being capable of squeezing through any crack or keyhole to enter homes. CONTENT WARNING: This episode of Freaky Folklore contains themes and descript ... Show More
41m 8s
Mar 2025
Murderous Women
**This podcast contains graphic descriptions of murders and the punishments of those convicted** Gruesome murders carried out by women captivated the public imagination in Early Modern Britain. Pamphlets, ballads, and woodcuts spread the stories of traitorous wives, cunning poiso ... Show More
53m 26s
Jul 2024
THE BLACK FOREST – Sinister Legends and Chilling Lore
The Black Forest - a dense, forested mountain range in southwestern Germany, renowned for its dark, thick woods and picturesque villages. Its eerie folklore, haunted castles, and legends of supernatural creatures make it a terrifying destination for thrill-seekers. Discover more ... Show More
38m 41s
Apr 29
Haunted with Generation Why Podcast
We teamed up with self proclaimed skeptic, Justin from Generation Why to swap stories that ride the line between true crime and paranormal—and it did not disappoint. Justin brings us the tragic and strange case of Christopher Case, a man who believed he’d been hexed by a witch… a ... Show More
1h 15m
Mar 2025
EP. 194: TEXAS - The BROOMSTICK MURDERS: Serial Killer Kenneth McDuff’s Dark Beginning
In 1966, a brutal, disturbing crime rocked the state of Texas and sent shockwaves through the nation. Three local teenagers had been slaughtered in a small Texan town, in an unfathomably brutal manner. But what would end up happening AFTER the killer was caught, and the revelatio ... Show More
1h 5m
Aug 2024
BLACK ANNIS – The Blue-Faced Terror of Leicestershire
Black Annis - is a terrifying figure in English folklore, specifically from Leicestershire, depicted as a blue-faced hag or witch with iron claws and a taste for human flesh, especially that of children. The Warg - is a monstrous wolf-like creature of immense size, combining best ... Show More
38m 24s
Jun 22
Episode 327 - Haunting of the Ocean Born Mary House
A woman is seven months pregnant on a transatlantic voyage in 1720, giving birth in the belly of a rat-infested ship — when suddenly, pirates attack. But instead of plundering, one pirate hears the newborn’s cry and makes a deal: name the baby Mary, after his mother, and he’ll sp ... Show More
57m 1s
Mar 2025
Ireland's Witchcraft Trials
In 1711, a wave of terror gripped the Islandmagee peninsula in County Antrim. First there was the haunting and supernatural murder of a local clergyman's wife. Then 18-year-old Mary Dunbar suffered violent convulsions, levitation and vomiting of pins, feathers, and buttons, spark ... Show More
44 m