Tales From Antiquaria: 19th Century Folklore & Legends
Tales From Antiquaria is a podcast dedicated to exploring the legacy of work published regarding folklore and local history during the golden age of antiquarian writing in the nineteenth century.
Curated by folklorist Eli Lewis-Lycett, each each episode presents a series of highlights from a given title in their original form; revealing a world full of witchcraft, superstition, curious local beliefs and lost traditions, as recorded first hand by collectors and enthusiasts during the 1800s.
Episodes are published via all major podcast platforms.
Episodes
26 episodes
British Goblins
Vanishing islands, the glass ship of Merlin and the castle of the Fairy King! Tonight, its all about William Wirt Sikes' 1880 collection, British Goblins.'The sovereign of the fairies, and their special guardian and protecto...
Yorkshire Legends and Traditions
Crocks of gold, spectral river horses and the giantess of Mulgrave! Tonight we're in Yorkshire, with Reverend Thomas Parkinson's 1888 collection, Yorkshire Legends and Traditions. 'At the village of Upsall resided many ...
Myths and Legends of Our Own Land (Part Two)
Phantom fiddlers, haunted treasure and the Devil on long island! Its the second part of our journey through Myths and Legends of Our Own Land, the American folklore collection of Charles M Skinner from 1896.'It was twelve o'...
Myths and Legends of Our Own Land (Part One)
Witches in the Catskills and the infamous galloping Hessian of Tarry Town! Welcome to America, as we explore part one of Myths and Legends of Our Own Land, Charles M Skinner's collection of American folklore from 1896.'Had h...
The Norfolk Garland
Black Shuck, witchcraft and the galloping ghost of Sir Thomas Boleyn! Its The Norfolk Garland, John Glyde's 1872 collection of Norfolk folklore.'The spectre of this gentleman is believed by the vulgar to be doomed on a certain night...
My Summer Holiday (Being a Tourists Jottings About Tenby)
The legend of Dunraven, ship wrecks and sermons in the stones! My Summer Holiday - Being a Tourists Jottings About Tenby is an 1863 publication from William Freeman of London and the work of an unknown author; and seemingly, deliberate...
Summer Listener Special
A little while ago I mentioned that I was receiving emails with questions and comments about the show and that if I got enough, I could pull them all together and produce an episode around them. Well, this is that episode, our Summer Listener S...
The Real Folklore of Cheshire - Live from The Grange School
Medieval miracles, Cheshire dragons and the strange tale of a haunted farm house! This time we're live from The Grange School in Hartford, Cheshire with a recording of Eli's lecture for Northwich and Distrcit Heritage Society from t...
Popular Romances of the West of England (Part Two)
Voices from the sea, druidical sacrifice and the incredible story of the enchanter of Pengerswick! Its time for part two of Popular Romances of the West of England by Robert Hunt, published by John Camden Hotton of London in 1865...
Popular Romances of the West of England (Part One)
Nightriders, spriggans and the Mermaid of Padstow! We're back in Cornwall with part one of our wander through Popular Romances of the West of England by Robert Hunt, published by John Camden Hotton of London in 1865.'When ca...
The Denham Tracts
Preternatural shapeshifters, plague stones and the Grey Man of Bellister! Tonights highlights come from The Denham Tracts, a publication by David Nutt for the Folklore Society in 1895 which brought together a wonderful collection of lo...
Lancashire Folklore (Part Two)
Local superstitions, magical hands and the witches of the Northwest; its our second part exploring Lancashire Folklore, the collection wrote in collaboration between John Harland & T.T. Wilkinson, published in 1867.'The cows of h...
Lancashire Folklore (Part One)
Boggarts, ancient cyphers and miraculous footprints! Welcome to episode 13, part one of our journey through Lancashire Folklore, written by John Harland and Thomas Turner Wilkinson and published by Frederick Warn & Co of Covent Gar...
Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland (Part Three)
The Banshee, the dance of the dead and eagles that fly you to the moon! Its the final part of three with Lady ‘Speranza’ Wilde's 1887 work, Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland.'Sometimes the Banshee a...
Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland (Part Two)
Leprechauns, midnight rides and the doom of the priests! Its part two of our journey across Ireland with Lady ‘Speranza’ Wilde's 1887 work, Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland.'But as to the pot of go...
Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland (Part One)
Horned witches, friendly werewolves and vengeful fairies! We're off to Ireland and the first of three episodes we'll be spending there exploring Lady ‘Speranza’ Wilde's 1887 work, Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland....
Household Tales and Traditional Remains (Part Two)
Fields of fire, witchcraft and a fortune found in the fairy realm! It's part two of Sidney Oldall Addy's 1895 folk tale collection, Household Tales and Traditional Remains.'Now when the weaver came back from Newark the child...
Household Tales and Traditional Remains (Part One)
Enchanted mountains, the bewitching of puddings and high jinks in the Bonehouse - we've not covered anything quite like this yet! It's Sidney Oldall Addy's 1895 folk tale collection, Household Tales and Traditional Remains.'...
The Bishoprick Garland of Durham
Sword dancers, shapeshifting goblins and an ancient mythological worm! What a way to bring in the year! This time it's Sir Cuthbert Sharp's 1834 collection The Bishoprick Garland of Durham.'This poor goblin, whose pranks wer...
The History and Antiquities of the Parish of St Davids
King Arthur, Christian saints and very un-christian Druids! Let's explore our earliest collection to date, George W Manby's 1801 work, The History and Antiquities of the Parish of St Davids.'Although the life of Saint David ...
Christmas Special 2025 (Lancashire Folklore)
A little festive themed episode to see out 2025 with some Lancashire traditions of Christmas and New Year taken from Lancashire Folklore by John Harland & T.T. Wilkinson, published in 1867 by Frederick Warne & Co of Covent Gard...
A Sheaf of Gleanings (Part Two)
Goblins, fairies and haunted Tudor manors! This is part two of Charlotte Sophia Burne's 1883 collection, A Sheaf of Gleanings.'Dun you mean little things as come in the night-time, and sing, and whistle, and make music, and ...
A Sheaf of Gleanings (Part One)
Giants, Divination and Witchcraft! Welcome to part one of Charlotte Sophia Burne's 1883 collection, A Sheaf of Gleanings.'Lasses still use it to discover true lovers, thus, place a key in a Bible at the text Ruth 15–16, tie ...