Podcast
Curious Britain
Hosted by Melissa & Prash · EN
Few places on earth are shrouded in as much myth, history, legend, and mystery as the British Isles. From the archaeological puzzles of stone circles and prehistoric pits to ghosts, smugglers and fascinating folklore, the United Kingdom has it all. Explore cryptids, hoaxes, monuments, and miscellanea, as well as the multitude of unusual tales and traditions that make our cultural history so extraordinary, in this celebration of everything intriguing, quirky, and downright Curious about Britain.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
26 | The Flannan Isles Lighthouse Mystery
Aug 900:17:55Tap to summarizeIn December 1900, three lighthouse keepers vanished from the remote island of Eilean Mòr without a trace. Over the years, their disappearance has become legend through stories, songs, and speculation. But what really happened on that storm-swept rock? This episode explores the mystery behind one of maritime history’s most enduring tragedies.📢 Get in touch & support the show Have a story idea or just want to say hello? Drop us an email at curiousbritainpodcast@gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you!💡 Support us on PatreonEnjoying Curious Britain? Help us keep the show going by joining us on Patreon. Your support allows us to keep exploring Britain’s most intriguing stories. https://www.patreon.com/CuriousBritainPodcast💰 Make a one-off contributionEvery little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-time donation, you can do so via PayPal here: https://paypal.me/curiousbritain 🙏 Thank You!Your support means the world to us and helps keep the show alive. We truly appreciate it!Sources:https://www.nlb.org.uk/lighthouses/flannan-islands/ https://www.nlb.org.uk/history/flannan-isles/https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-Eilean-Mor-Lighthouse-Mystery/https://www.enschrage.nl/lh/hebrides/hebrides_outer/flannan_isles.htmlDundee Evening Telegraph - Saturday 29 December 1900Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser - Saturday 05 January 1901
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25 | The Green Children of Woolpit
Aug 200:16:23Tap to summarizeStep into 12th-century Suffolk with this episode of Curious Britain, as we uncover the mysterious legend of the Green Children of Woolpit. Found in the fields with green skin and speaking an unknown language, these children have baffled historians for centuries. Were they lost immigrants, aliens or something else entirely? We explore the strange tale, historical context, and theories behind one of England's most intriguing medieval mysteries.📢 Get in touch & support the show Have a story idea or just want to say hello? Drop us an email at curiousbritainpodcast@gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you!💡 Support us on PatreonEnjoying Curious Britain? Help us keep the show going by joining us on Patreon. Your support allows us to keep exploring Britain’s most intriguing stories. https://www.patreon.com/CuriousBritainPodcast💰 Make a one-off contributionEvery little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-time donation, you can do so via PayPal here: https://paypal.me/curiousbritain 🙏 Thank You!Your support means the world to us and helps keep the show alive. We truly appreciate it!Sources:https://plover.net/~agarvin/faerie/story/green_children.htmlBury Free Press - Friday 17 February 1984The World’s Greatest Unsolved Mysteries by Lionel & Patricia Fanthorpe Music: "Mourning Song" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Lightless Dawn" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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24 | Braunstone Park Tunnels
Jul 1700:11:37Tap to summarizeBeneath Leicester’s Braunstone Park lies a hidden mystery — a forgotten network of tunnels beneath a grand Georgian hall. Once the home of the Winstanley family, Braunstone Hall has long held secrets within its foundations. In this episode, we explore the eerie passages rediscovered after centuries in the dark.📢 Get in touch & support the show Have a story idea or just want to say hello? Drop us an email at curiousbritainpodcast@gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you!💡 Support us on PatreonEnjoying Curious Britain? Help us keep the show going by joining us on Patreon. Your support allows us to keep exploring Britain’s most intriguing stories. https://www.patreon.com/CuriousBritainPodcast💰 Make a one-off contributionEvery little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-time donation, you can do so via PayPal here: https://paypal.me/curiousbritain🙏 Thank You!Your support means the world to us and helps keep the show alive. We truly appreciate it!Sources:Long, David (2021-03-09T22:58:59.000). Lost Britain : An A-Z of forgotten landmarks and lost traditions . Lume Books. Kindle Edition.https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/secret-tunnels-hidden-towers-leicester-3213863 https://www.flickr.com/photos/braunstonehall/8714469687https://www.winstanleyhouse.co.uk https://www.leicester.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/our-parks/braunstone-park/braunstone-park-history/#:~:text=Braunstone%20Park%20was%20originally%20part,Hastings%20and%20the%20Grey%20families.Music:"Morgana Rides " Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Long Note Three Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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23 | Princess Caraboo: The Royal Hoax That Fooled 19th Century England
Jul 1000:16:33Tap to summarizeWhen an exotic traveller knocked on the door of the parson’s house in Almondsbury, Gloucestershire, in April 1817 seeking food and shelter, the local community were fascinated by the mysterious young woman who dressed in oriental attire and couldn’t speak a word of English. Soon, visitors poured into the town from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the famous ‘Princess Caraboo’ from the far-off land of Javasu. But was the elegant stranger really all that she pretended to be…?📢 Get in touch & support the showHave a story idea or just want to say hello? Drop us an email at curiousbritainpodcast@gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you!💡 Support us on PatreonEnjoying Curious Britain? Help us keep the show going by joining us on Patreon. Your support allows us to keep exploring Britain’s most intriguing stories. https://www.patreon.com/CuriousBritainPodcast💰 Make a one-off contributionEvery little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-time donation, you can do so via PayPal here: https://paypal.me/curiousbritain🙏 Thank You!Your support means the world to us and helps keep the show alive. We truly appreciate it!Music:"East of Tunesia" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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22 | The Haunted History of Blackwall Tunnel: Ghostly Hitchhiker & Hidden Secrets
Jun 2600:16:14Tap to summarizeWho knew that an urban tunnel could be so filled with curiosities? From its celebrated opening in 1897 to today, the Blackwall Tunnel has played host to a mass underwater luncheon, caused various kinds of chaos, and been home to a ghostly hitchhiker who flagged down a motorbike and then disappeared. Do spirits really lurk in this modern-day traffic hotspot underneath the River Thames?📢 Get in touch & support the show Have a story idea or just want to say hello? Drop us an email at curiousbritainpodcast@gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you!💡 Support us on PatreonEnjoying Curious Britain? Help us keep the show going by joining us on Patreon. Your support allows us to keep exploring Britain’s most intriguing stories. https://www.patreon.com/CuriousBritainPodcast💰 Make a one-off contributionEvery little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-time donation, you can do so via PayPal here: https://paypal.me/curiousbritain 🙏 Thank You!Your support means the world to us and helps keep the show alive. We truly appreciate it!Sources:“Blackwall Tunnel”, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwall_Tunnel“Blackwall Tunnel Dangers”, Southwark and Bermondsey Reporter, Friday 4th May 1928, British Newspaper Archive “Bomb incidents”, Historic Hansard, API Parliament.UK.com, HC Deb 18 January 1979 vol 960 cc1988-94, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1979/jan/18/bomb-incidents “Centenary of the opening of the Blackwall Tunnel”, Greenwich Peninsula History, July 2013, https://greenwichpeninsulahistory.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/centenary-of-the-opening-of-the-blackwall-tunnel/Huggett, Poppy, “Blackwall Tunnel reported as haunted hotspot in London”, News Shopper, 24th October 2023Icy Sedgwick Blog, “Who is the phantom hitchhiker that haunts the Blackwall Tunnel?”, September 2019, https://www.icysedgwick.com/phantom-hitchhiker/Isle of Dogs Life, “The Blackwall Tunnel – The Twenty First Wonder of the World”, https://isleofdogslife.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/the-blackwall-tunnel-the-twenty-first-wonder-of-the-world/ Isle of Dogs Life, “The Mystery of Sir Walter Raleigh’s House in Blackwall”, https://isleofdogslife.wordpress.com/2014/11/27/the-mystery-of-sir-walter-raleighs-house-in-blackwall/Kendrick, Lauren, “The Hidden Secrets of the Blackwall Tunnel”, March 2022, LondonXLondon, https://www.londonxlondon.com/blackwall-tunnel/Mansfield, Ian, “Today’s the 125th anniversary of opening of the Blackwall Tunnel”, May 2022, IanVisits, https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/todays-the-125th-anniversary-of-opening-the-blackwall-tunnel-54863/Noble, Will, “A Brief History of the Blackwall Tunnel”, February 2023, Londonist.com, https://londonist.com/london/transport/blackwall-tunnel-125-years-anniversaryThe Shady Old Lady’s Guide to London, “The Blackwall Tunnel”, http://shadyoldlady.com/location.php?loc=1104Westwood, J & Simpson, J, The Lore of the Land: A Guide to England’s Legends, 2005, Penguin Group, London
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21 | The Great Stink of 1858: How London's Sewer Crisis Changed the City Forever
Jun 1800:12:36Tap to summarizeIn the summer of 1858, London was overwhelmed by a horrific stench emanating from the River Thames, which had become a vast, polluted cesspool. The unbearable odour disrupted daily life, with Parliament nearly relocated due to the health risks. The crisis, known as the Great Stink, spurred action, leading to the construction of a modern sewage system designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette. This monumental project, initiated to address the sanitation emergency, marked a turning point in public health and urban infrastructure. The episode highlights how this historical event reshaped London's approach to waste management and sanitation.📢 Get in touch & support the show Have a story idea or just want to say hello? Drop us an email at curiousbritainpodcast@gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you!💡 Support us on PatreonEnjoying Curious Britain? Help us keep the show going by joining us on Patreon. Your support allows us to keep exploring Britain’s most intriguing stories. https://www.patreon.com/CuriousBritainPodcast💰 Make a one-off contributionEvery little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-time donation, you can do so via PayPal here: https://paypal.me/curiousbritain🙏 Thank You!Your support means the world to us and helps keep the show alive. We truly appreciate it!Sources:http://www.choleraandthethames.co.uk/cholera-in-london/the-great-stink/ https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/archive/collections/photographs/the-great-stink/ https://www.history.co.uk/articles/the-great-stink-londons-unbearable-summer-of-1858
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20 | The Strange Case of Mary Jobson: The Sunderland Poltergeist
Jun 1100:21:47Tap to summarizeExplore one of the most little-known and unsettling cases of poltergeist activity ever to take place in the UK. This is the case of 12-year-old Mary Jobson from Sunderland, who was brought almost to the brink of death by a series of disembodied phenomena which could not be easily explained away. Where did the music come from? And was she really hearing the voice of God?📢 Get in touch & support the show Have a story idea or just want to say hello? Drop us an email at curiousbritainpodcast@gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you!💡 Support us on PatreonEnjoying Curious Britain? Help us keep the show going by joining us on Patreon. Your support allows us to keep exploring Britain’s most intriguing stories. https://www.patreon.com/CuriousBritainPodcast💰 Make a one-off contributionEvery little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-time donation, you can do so via PayPal here: https://paypal.me/curiousbritain🙏 Thank You!Your support means the world to us and helps keep the show alive. We truly appreciate it!Sources:A Faithful Record of the Miraculous Case of Mary Jobson by W.R ClannyThe Sunderland Echo, December 1950The Yorkshire Post, June 27, 1932Newcastle Chronicle September 19 1874 Music: "Night Vigil" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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19 | One of Our Diplomats Is Missing: Benjamin Bathurst
Jun 400:12:17Tap to summarizeHow do you go about finding someone who walks round a corner and disappears, seemingly without a trace? This is what happened in the curious case of Benjamin Bathurst…📢 Get in touch & support the show Have a story idea or just want to say hello? Drop us an email at curiousbritainpodcast@gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you!💡 Support us on PatreonEnjoying Curious Britain? Help us keep the show going by joining us on Patreon. Your support allows us to keep exploring Britain’s most intriguing stories. https://www.patreon.com/CuriousBritainPodcast💰 Make a one-off contributionEvery little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-time donation, you can do so via PayPal here: https://paypal.me/curiousbritain🙏 Thank You!Your support means the world to us and helps keep the show alive. We truly appreciate it!
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18 | Eyam Plague The Village of the Damned
May 2900:19:01Tap to summarizeAn extraordinary sighting of a comet over London in 1664 heralded a double disaster of the following two years: The Great Plague and the Great Fire. But it wasn’t just Londoners who suffered. The Peak District village of Eyam made an incredible sacrifice, dooming themselves to the pestilence to stop the disease spreading further, in a curiously progressive approach that became the forerunner to modern-day quarantines. 📢 Get in touch & support the showHave a story idea or just want to say hello? Drop us an email at curiousbritainpodcast@gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you!💡 Support us on PatreonEnjoying Curious Britain? Help us keep the show going by joining us on Patreon. Your support allows us to keep exploring Britain’s most intriguing stories. https://www.patreon.com/CuriousBritainPodcast💰 Make a one-off contributionEvery little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-time donation, you can do so via PayPal here: https://paypal.me/curiousbritain🙏 Thank You!Your support means the world to us and helps keep the show alive. We truly appreciate it!Sources:https://www.eyamvillage.org.uk/plaguehttps://www.eyam-museum.org.ukhttps://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Why-Is-Eyam-Significant/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35064071https://britishheritage.com/travel/derbyshire-village-of-eyam-the-town-that-stopped-the-plague https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/03/02/bubonic-plague-coronavirus-quarantine-eyam-england/ https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Nursery-Rhymes/ https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/great-plague#:~:text=In%201665%20a%20devastating%20epidemic,in%20London%20suddenly%20in%201665 https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/discover/three-myths-you-believe-about-great-fire-london http://smhccg.org/folklore-legends/lost-love-of-rowland-torre-and-emmott-sydall/
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17 | The Mystery of the Devonshire Footprints
May 22, 202500:13:08Tap to summarizeThe heavy snowfall overnight in Devon in February 1855 was unusual. But what was even more unusual was the trail of footprints that appeared in the snow, ranging for over 100 miles, crossing rivers and 20-foot-high obstacles. They didn’t seem to be made by any recognisable animal. So who, or what, was walking through Devon that night?📢 Get in touch & support the show Have a story idea or just want to say hello? Drop us an email at curiousbritainpodcast@gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you!💡 Support us on PatreonEnjoying Curious Britain? Help us keep the show going by joining us on Patreon. Your support allows us to keep exploring Britain’s most intriguing stories. https://www.patreon.com/CuriousBritainPodcast💰 Make a one-off contributionEvery little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-time donation, you can do so via PayPal here: https://paypal.me/curiousbritain🙏 Thank You!Your support means the world to us and helps keep the show alive. We truly appreciate it!Sources: Cheshire Observer, Saturday 24th February 1855https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000158/18550224/014/0004Fanthorpe, Lionel & Patricia, “The World’s Greatest Unsolved Mysteries”, 1997, Dundurn Press
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