Podcast Summary: "DARK WEB: The Dodleston Messages"

Podcast: So Supernatural
Hosts: Rasha Pecoraro and Yvette Gentile
Date: February 13, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the bizarre story of the Dodleston Messages—one of the most infamous supernatural mysteries involving alleged communication across time via a rudimentary computer in 1980s England. The hosts, Rasha and Yvette, unravel the chilling tale of Ken Webster, Debbie Oakes, and their friend Peter Trinder, who become embroiled in a multi-era pen pal correspondence with a man from the 16th century and, eventually, mysterious entities from the future. The episode explores the blend of historical mystery, alleged time travel, poltergeist activity, and skepticism surrounding the case, asking: Was this an elaborate hoax, a paranormal encounter, or something stranger?

Key Topics and Discussion Points

Setting the Stage: From Pen Pals to the Paranormal

• Nostalgia and Connection: The hosts reminisce about old-fashioned pen pals, setting up the intrigue of long-distance (and cross-time) correspondence. (00:31–02:02)
• Introduction to the Mystery: In 1984, Ken Webster, Debbie, and Nick discover a mysterious file ("KDN") on their borrowed BBC Micro computer in Dodleston, England. The file contains a cryptic poem addressed to all three. (03:21–05:33)
• Early Phenomena:
  • Discovery of bizarre six-toed footprints climbing walls.
  • Cold spots and gusts of wind in the cottage.
  • Stacked cat food cans appearing inexplicably. (06:44–07:24)

The Messages Begin

• The First ‘Letter’: An oddly worded file addressed to Ken, Debbie, and Nick in archaic English. The group initially suspects a prank but no one confesses. (05:33–06:11)
• Escalation: Months later another file ("reate") appears, written in Early Modern English. The mysterious author claims to observe the current inhabitants, expresses wonder at modern conveniences, and accuses them of stealing his home. He signs off as "LW." (08:15–09:49)
  • Quote:
    • LW: “He calls the lights in the cottage ‘the work of the devil’ and thinks Ken and Debbie must be rich and important…” (08:41)

Investigating the Impossible

• Technical Impossibility: Given the era, the BBC Micro can’t be hacked remotely, isn’t connected to any network, and all data is wiped on shutdown—a crucial point for skeptics. (10:26–12:01)
• Seeking Expertise: Ken and Debbie consult fellow teacher Peter Trinder, who identifies the writing as period-appropriate Early Modern English from the 16th or 17th century. He encourages them to respond through the computer. (12:01–12:54)

Bridging Centuries: Correspondence with 'LW'

• Pen Pal Exchange: The trio writes back, asking for the author’s name, time period, and details. LW claims the current king is Henry VIII, narrowing his era to the 1540s. (13:52–15:20)

• Identity Revealed:

  • LW identifies himself as Lucas Wayman, a landowner/professor, allegedly living on the same land in Tudor times.
  • He explains he communicates using a "leams boist" (light box)—interpreted as their computer—given to him during a supernatural encounter involving a green light and a futuristic messenger. (15:20–17:08)
    • Quote:
      • Lucas: “A messenger… gave him a box that lights up with no flames… when he spoke to the box, it translated his voice into flickering characters on the screen.” (16:29–17:08)

• Historical Plausibility: Peter's research suggests the language and cultural references match the region and period. The foundation's red stones match Lucas’s descriptions. (17:08–18:41)

Poltergeist Activity & Personal Encounters

• Increasing Phenomena:
  • Furniture stacked to the ceiling.
  • Debbie experiences visions and dreams about Lucas, blending periods in her mind and possibly experiencing apparitions. (18:41–19:59)
  • Discovery that Dodleston sits on a ley line (magical energy path), possibly explaining the heightened supernatural activity. (20:46–22:06)

Doubts, Inconsistencies, and New Revelations

• Suspicious Details:

  • Lucas makes errors regarding historical dates and places, including claiming to have studied at Jesus College, Oxford—which didn’t exist in his time.
  • Later, Lucas admits he made errors on purpose to test if Ken, Debbie, and Peter were truly from the future, revealing his own suspicions. (23:09–24:08)

• Crisis for Lucas: Lucas is arrested for witchcraft due to suspicion about the "light box." He communicates through a friend and then returns under house arrest. He reveals confusion: the giver of his device was supposedly from the year 2109, not 1985. (24:08–26:35)

  • Quote:
    • “He was under the impression this entire time that Ken was from the same time as the person who gave him the light box. … that person… was from 2109, 124 years in Ken's future.” (25:38)

Enter 2109: The Entities From the Future

• Communication with 2109: Ken writes a message explicitly to the year 2109. The response suggests the Dodleston group is part of an "experiment" intended to change history, with "2109" acting as unseen guides. (27:37–29:32)

  • Quote:
    • 2109: “Ken, Deb, Peter, you have two choices. One, that we explain this experiment and cause what should not be to happen, or two, understand that you have a purpose that shall change the face of history. We 2109 must not affect you directly, but guide you and allow room for your own destiny.” (29:01)

• Paranormal or Sci-fi?: 2109 describes itself as "a multitude" in a "tachyon universe," which supposedly exists outside time and feeds off unknown energy. The hosts compare this to both science fiction and supernatural lore. (36:34–37:12)

The Official Investigation: SPR

• Society for Psychical Research (SPR): SPR sends investigators John Bucknall and David Welch. With controlled observation, neither historical nor futuristic messages manifest. To test further, John and David write secret questions—only for 2109 to reply with answers that seem to respond to their queries, even though the local group never saw the questions. (34:16–36:34)
  • Memorable Moment: SPR is ultimately unconvinced and leans toward believing the entire affair is a sophisticated hoax, though they have no explanation for how it was executed. (37:12–38:22)

The End of the Messages and Ongoing Mystery

• Final Farewells: By mid-1986, messages stop. Thomas (formerly Lucas) says goodbye, plans to write a book about the experience, and hopes to meet Ken again someday. (38:22–39:14)
  • Ken publishes "The Vertical Plane" in 1989 and updates it in 2022. The case is featured on TV, stirring renewed debate among believers and skeptics. (39:14–40:04)

Theories, Evidence, and Unanswered Questions

• Supporting Evidence:

  • Historical records confirm a sheriff named Thomas Fowleshurst existed in the right place and time.
  • A real Thomas Hardin was found in Oxford archives, with a background matching details from the messages.
  • But, as the hosts note, these could have been cleverly incorporated into a hoax. (40:04–41:53)

• Skepticism and Linguistics: Some linguistic analysis suggests the ‘old’ English wasn’t period-perfect, and inconsistencies in spelling and grammar have been flagged. Peter, however, insists experts can’t admit the messages’ authenticity for fear of professional risk. (42:33–44:41)

  • Quote:
    • Peter: "Of course, the experts said it was fake. ... admitting it was real would put their careers at risk. But... deep down they knew that the language was accurate because it was written by Thomas Hardin and the messages were real." (43:52)

• Unsolved: The hosts emphasize that the ultimate fate of Thomas/Lucas, the true identity and purpose of 2109, and evidence of the original manuscript allegedly hidden in Oxford remain unsolved—and perhaps waiting to be discovered. (44:41–45:54)

Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• On the Uncanny:
  • Rasha: "Six-toed footprints...went up the wall. That's not creepy at all." (06:44)
• On Historical Accuracy:
  • Yvette: “The language Lucas uses isn’t just period accurate, it’s location accurate too…” (17:08)
• Doubt and Testing:
  • Yvette: “Lucas himself brings them up…he has gotten the facts wrong on purpose to see if they really were from the future.” (23:09)
• On 2109’s Motives:
  • Message from 2109: "We 2109 must not affect you directly, but guide you and allow room for your own destiny." (29:01)
• Skeptical Inquiry:
  • Yvette: "John and David...think this has to be a hoax. They just had no idea how it was being done." (38:22)
• On Lingering Mystery:
  • Rasha: “So until someone finds that book, this is one chapter we simply just cannot close.” (44:41)

Important Timestamps

• Introduction and context: (00:31–02:02)
• Discovery of the first message: (03:21–05:33)
• Supernatural phenomena escalate: (06:11–08:15)
• The first reply from the 'past': (08:15–09:49)
• Consulting Peter / Early Modern English: (12:01–12:54)
• Correspondence across time: (13:52–17:08)
• Physical and psychic phenomena: (18:41–20:46)
• Investigation and historical research: (22:06–23:09)
• Arrival of messages from 2109: (27:37–29:32)
• SPR investigation: (34:16–38:22)
• Final messages & unsolved mysteries: (38:22–44:41)

Summary and Takeaways

The Dodleston Messages story remains one of the most debated supernatural claims of the digital age—a tale that blurs lines between technology, the paranormal, and human psychology. The So Supernatural hosts present a thorough and balanced exploration, considering both the compelling historical details and skeptical objections. The unearthing of matching historical figures adds authenticity, but linguistic and technical doubts leave the truth tantalizingly out of reach. Whether hoax or genuine anomaly, the Dodleston Messages continue to mystify, inviting listeners to keep searching for the truth, maybe even in the hidden corners of Oxford.

"So until someone finds that book, this is one chapter we simply just cannot close." (44:41)

For more on this topic or to engage with the hosts, visit So Supernatural on Instagram @sosupernaturalpod or their website.