Loremen Podcast

Ah, Chipping Norton! A town that sounds like a minced oath from the 19th century, like "Flaming Nora!" Or "Odds Bodkins!" Also the town that produced a podcast presenter utterly determined to get to the bottom of local legends, obscure curiosities and whatnot. (It's James. We're talking about James.) Please enjoy this love letter to the market town of "Chippy" that could have been James' debut Edinburgh Festival Fringe show if circumstances were different.* *Audience's expectations were much lower. Wang us some sweet, sweet dough via here if you'd be so kind... ko-fi.com/loremen @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Get in the sea" has been in common parlance since 2015 but it is by no means a modern concept. Towns, cities and fabled islands have been doing just that for thousands of years. Alasdair takes us on a deep dive (PUN) into Yorkshire's own submerged towns, one of which was populated exclusively by pirates. Well, they must have had non-pirates to do the normal stuff like take the bins out, but you get the idea. Pop a couple o coffers here would ya guv? Ko-fi.com/Loremen @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joined by Rachel Fairburn (off of the All Killa No Filla podcast), the Loremen return to the Wild West Country for a poke around a magical and mysterious area known as 'The Gump'. With hooting stones, partying pixies and wrestling demons, this tale has something for everyone. Giants? Yes, mate. Plu,s Alasdair remembers an encounter with the ghost of Yorkshire's Gary Coleman.  Wap us a few pennies here would you guv?? Ko-fi.com/Loremen @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK | @RachelFairburn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Shakeshaft plays against type by offering up a story that's very nearly historically accurate. The legend of the Vegetable Lamb of Tartary or 'Barometz' seemed so plausible. It was a grazing lamb that grew on a bush; it seemed like it HAD to be real. The stories were so convincing a series of extraordinarily named men launched expeditions to find it. They didn't find it. It's not a real thing. Come one, a vegetable lamb? What next, strawberry crackling? Beef tomatoes? BLOOD ORANGES?! Chuck us a few pennies here Ko-fi.com/Loremen @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've decided not to put out an episode of Loremen this week. Half our listeners come from the USA, and the black lives matter protests should matter to everyone, everywhere.   Stay safe. Love people.   https://blacklivesmatter.com/about/ https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Swedish comedian Evelyn Mok brings us a selection of Scandinavian stories about nymphs. This episode is like a delicious selection of small, tasty treats. If only there were an appropriate Swedish word for that...   Nope, can't think of one.   Prepare for an abundance of naked nymphs and some phallus-y fallacies, all from Sweden's SECOND best city - Gothenburg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jenny Collier returns! Again! This episode answers the age-old question, "how many is too many plagues?" We discover that finding the dead centre of Britain is surprisingly controversial. And we ask hard-hitting questions about 1980s TV star and evil puppet, Pob. Questions such as, "you don't remember Pob?" and, "how can you not remember Pob?!" We also dive into the Welsh myth of Lludd and Llefelys and learn that London was founded by a Welshman. Who knew?  The Welsh knew.    @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK | @JenJenCollier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 16th century was a dangerous place, kids. Con artists, knaves and robbers roamed the land, causing mischief. If the pamphlets Alasdair has uncovered are to be believed, there was a vast underground crime network with its own secret language. It was a lot a lot like the John Wick franchise. And, like the John Wick franchise, it's a load of old nonsense. Still, bit of fun, innit?   @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Loremen meet old Mister Crump in this listener-suggested tale of Gloucestershire oddities. (Thanks for sending it in, Emily!) What begins as an exploration of spectral phenomena quickly devolves into a cabin fever-dream. We discuss of bees, bones, back doors and boozy ghosts. It's another lockdown episode and things are getting weird... Enjoy! @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alasdair takes a deep dive into an epic, extraordinary year! 1816 was a real shocker, by all accounts. The world seemed to have been turned upside down. Holidays were ruined. Worst of all, people moped around indoors writing POETRY. Maybe life two centuries ago wasn't so different after all... Hmmm? (Puts on sunglasses.) (Takes sunglasses off because of the lack of summer.) @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FLORIDA MAN RECORDS PODCAST! The Loremen are joined by indie game auteur Francisco González - a genuine American! He gives us the lowdown on Florida's creepiest life-size, melty-faced, doll-boy, Robert the Doll. This bumper episode also investigates Florida's OTHER claim to paranormal fame: the Skunk Ape of the everglades. (He's basically a stinky bigfoot.) Plus, if you enjoyed the world's oldest paperboy in last week's episode, you'll go crazy for America's smallest post office. (It's impractically small!)    @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK | @GrundislavGames Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning comedian Harriet Braine steps up to the Loremen plate and tries to convince us that Surbiton is an interesting place, actually. We meet modern folk legends in the form of a goat-headed cheesemaker, a dead giant and the world's oldest paper boy. However, we do end up talking about the train station a lot. Such is the overwhelming blandness of Surbiton: "The city suburb that always sleeps". @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK | @HarrietBraine  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Chris Cantrill (The Delightful Sausage) gives us the lowdown on Yorkshire's biggest pigs. This boy knows his pork and porcine lore! Meanwhile, James embarrasses himself and insults the North. (Neither for the first time.) We also learn why a Bradfordian should always carry a tongue and how Chris is handling lockdown with his in-laws.  @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK | @ToplessCantrill  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Mancunian tale of the macabre. Two hauntings, one terrible clock, several pronunciations of M. Night Shyamalan and a twist we're sure you won't see coming. (The twist isn't that there is no twist. Come on.) This episode is another coronavirus lockdown edition, so please listen from a safe distance of 2 metres (6' 6").  @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bath comedian Sunil Patel ( BBC Asian Network) dons the mantle of Deputy Loreperson in this Covid-19 Lockdown Special. Sequestered in our separate garrets, sheds and jazz lounges, we learn the story of King Bladud. Bladud was a daredevil, a leper, an assistant pig farmer and founder of the city of Bath. Now that's a portfolio career. Who petrified the Keynsham snakes? Is it possible to fly from Bath to London, Icarus-style? Does Sunil Patel's mum know he's on TV? Find out in Episode 14. @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK | @SunilDPatel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Loremen are joined by the delightful half of award-winning double-act The Delightful Sausage - Amy Gledhill. We chat about the Hull Werewolf, also known as "Old Stinker". With bonus coverage of an underwater witch, a beheaded boy and, of course, the Pig-man. Plus we hear some of the funniest place names in all of Yorkshire. Warning - This episode may cause you to question the very nature of reality / Hull.  @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK | @ThatGledhill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award winning comedian Sooz Kempner (Mystery On The Rocks Podcast) joins the Loremen with stories of airborne gremlins. Not to be confused with the film Gremlins (1984), these impish critters* outfoxed RAF pilots in World War 2. As always**, the Loremen shine the searing light of scrutiny on our guest's tall tales. But will we finish recording the episode before the gremlins attack? *not to be confused with the film Critters (1986).  **not to be confused with the film Always (1989).   @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK | @SoozUK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James brings in an extraordinary tale of betrayal, backstabbing and the Devil himself. He also lobs a bunch of civil war stories directly into your ears. Which musical instruments can Satan play? Why does Warwick market stink? How big is TOO big for a shoe? Please write in to tell us your favourite devilish pseudonyms. Old Scratch? Old Nick? Old Scratchy Nick? Let us know on the socials. Ayoade Warning: James does a Richard Ayoade impression for about the ninth time this series. @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian and podcaster Michael Legge (you know - off Do The Right Thing) joins the Loremen to tell us about the Irish legend of Fionn mac Cumhail - aka - Finn McCool.    We learn why it is big and clever to act like a massive baby, which is useful. Plus who was the more famous 7Up logo, Fido Dido or Cool Spot? AND which character from the extended Back To The Future universe James's wife thinks he is the most like. @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK | @michaellegge  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like all great tales, this episode begins with a riddle and ends with a warning... The Roaring Bull of Bagbury is certainly a unique story that sparks off some sinister memories from James' past. And poses a few of life's bigger questions - What are the Mooies? What size is a small pineapple? How big is too big a bull? MOOIE WARNING - contains talk of Mooies. Should have warned you earlier, soz.  @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices