Ghost Tales by the Fireside - True Ghost Stories Podcast

Alton Towers is known today as Britain’s most famous theme park — but long before roller coasters and thrill rides, this hilltop overlooking the Churnet Valley was home to one of the most extraordinary aristocratic houses in Britain.

In this episode of Ghost Tales by the Fireside, we explore the forgotten history of the Towers and the darker legends that surround the estate.
Once the seat of the powerful Earls of Shrewsbury, Alton Towers grew from a modest country lodge into a vast Gothic mansion filled with galleries, towers and elaborate rooms designed by the architect Augustus Pugin. Today only the dramatic ruins remain — but many believe the past has never truly left.

We explore:
• The lost aristocratic mansion beneath the theme park
• The rise and fall of the Earls of Shrewsbury
• The legendary Chained Oak curse
• Ghost sightings inside the ruined Towers
• The mysterious Lady of the Moat
• Paranormal investigations and unexplained experiences reported by staff

Beneath the laughter of the rides and the crowds of visitors lies a place shaped by centuries of ambition, tragedy and folklore.

And some believe the spirits of Alton Towers still walk its halls.

Ghost Tales by the Fireside explores the haunted history, folklore and unexplained mysteries of Britain’s most atmospheric locations.

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Chanctonbury Ring is one of the most mysterious and haunted sites on the South Downs in West Sussex.
Rising 883 feet above sea level, this ancient hilltop enclosure has witnessed over 4,000 years of history — from Neolithic flint tools and Bronze Age burials to Iron Age earthworks and a Romano-British temple hidden just beneath the chalk.
In this episode of Ghost Tales by the Fireside, we explore the full history of Chanctonbury Ring — including:
The Iron Age enclosure that may never have been a true hillfort
The mysterious ritual pit containing human bone and Cornish granite.
The Roman temple aligned with the rising sun.
Beacon fires during the Spanish Armada.
Second World War military activity.
The devastating Great Storm of 1987.

But Chanctonbury Ring is far more than archaeology.
For centuries it has been known as one of Sussex’s most haunted locations.

According to legend, if you run around the Ring seven times on a dark night, the Devil will appear and offer you a bowl of food — at a terrible price. Others speak of phantom horses, a ghostly rider, a white-bearded druid guarding buried treasure, and an unseen presence that follows visitors through the trees.

We also explore:
Witchcraft and occult associations.
Aleister Crowley and Victor Neuburg’s connection to the site.
Doreen Valiente’s claims of an ancient coven.
UFO sightings and unexplained lights.
Reports of paralysis, levitation, and physical attack.

From sacred landscape to paranormal hotspot, Chanctonbury Ring remains a place where history and legend refuse to separate.
Is it an ancient ritual centre?
A haunted wood?
Or simply a place that magnifies human imagination?
Listen now and decide for yourself.

☕ Support the Podcast
If you enjoy these deep dives into British history and haunted landscapes, you can support the show here:
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Standing at 17 Temple Street, the Trocadero is one of Birmingham’s most visually striking historic buildings — but is it also one of the city’s most haunted pubs?
In this episode of Ghost Tales by the Fireside, we explore the full history of the Trocadero — from its origins as a Victorian fire engine house in 1846, to its transformation into the Bodega wine bar, and later one of Birmingham’s most distinctive Edwardian pubs.
But history is only part of the story.
Over the years, staff and residents have reported shadow figures on the upper floors, unexplained activity in the cellar, sudden cold spots, doors slamming shut, and the chilling tale of a man shot dead on the premises in 1895.
Is the Trocadero truly haunted? Or are the stories simply echoes of its turbulent past?
Listen now and decide for yourself.

If you enjoy these episodes and would like to support the research, filming, and production of Ghost Tales by the Fireside, you can buy me a coffee here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/ghosttales

Every contribution helps upgrade equipment, fund travel, and keep these stories coming.
Thank you for helping keep local history and haunted heritage alive.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Spotify and leave a rating — it really helps more people discover these stories.

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What lies beneath Redditch’s Kingfisher Centre?
Long before the modern town centre existed, this land was home to the Independent Congregational Church — and its graveyard. Although official records state the graves were moved, unsettling stories have continued for decades.

This episode presents a short version of the history and ghost stories connected to this location, including reports of shadowy figures, unexplained disturbances, and a chilling account involving urns removed in the dead of night.

To experience the full stories, you can join the Redditch Ghost Walk, organised by Clem Dallaway of Ghost Tales by the Fireside.

A book of Redditch ghost stories is also currently in progress.

If you enjoy local history, please consider supporting the Redditch Local History Museum, a volunteer-run charity dedicated to preserving the town’s heritage.

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The Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham — known simply as The Alex — is more than a place of entertainment. Behind the curtains lies over a century of history, tragedy, and unexplained events.
In this episode, we explore: • The Lyceum Theatre and the birth of the Alexandra
• Pantomime, repertory, and the Art Deco rebuild
• Leon Salberg and the theatre’s golden age
• Wartime performances and modern reinvention
We then examine decades of reported paranormal activity, including ghostly figures in the auditorium, footsteps on an empty stage, unexplained music, and sightings of long-deceased staff who may still be keeping watch over the theatre.
A calm, documentary-style account of one of Birmingham’s most haunted theatres.

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