Whisht! Lads: North East Folklore

Did you know Tynemouth Priory is home to witches, smugglers, ghosts, and knights?

Explore this ancient site through stories and folklore from author and podcaster, Icy Sedgwick.

If you'd like to join me for a chat to share your favourite folklore place or tale, email me on northeastfolkloresociety@gmail.com

Join me and Miss Alnwick herself, Rosie Bush of Alnwick Walking Tours, for a wander round the gorgeous streets of Alnwick, where we dig up three or four proper folklore tales hiding in plain sight (sorry in advance for the jump scare).

From a vampire lord who beat Bram Stoker to it by centuries, to a pair of cursed 300 year old bottles nobody dares touch, this one's got the lot: plague, riots, a policeman who's never clocked off, and a bairn who swings her legs outside a beautician's.

Come for the vampire, stay for the chat about believing in ghosts you're not sure you believe in.

 

Got a folklore tale, site or story of your own? Email northeastfolkloresociety@gmail.com and I'll meet you where you are.

It's not every day you get to hear a folklore tale from the story's main character, so when I got the chance to speak with Colin Robson - the fella who found the Hexham Heads in 1971 - I was buzzing.

I went to his home in late summer 2026 to hear exactly what happened on that spring day 55 years ago: from the moment of discovery to the days of terror afterwards, and now you can hear it too.

With thanks to Colin for his time and trust - and to you for listening.

Join Zakia Sewell on her quest for Albion in this conversation with British Black Folk Collective's Bianca Wilson.

They chat through the themes of the book: community, folk against fascism, and the hope from curiosity; and about Zakia's own journey through the British folk calendar as a woman of colour.

With thanks to Zakia and Bianca for hosting this conversation with us, and get in touch to have your own! northeastfolkloresociety@gmail.com

Take a wander around Hylton Castle with me and listen North East Nostalgic's retelling of the Cauld Lad of Hylton.

What we lacked in castle access (we didn't check the opening times) we made up for with chat about our favourite North East sites, how to chat to loved ones about their family history memories, and being proud of our North East accent.

Hope you enjoy!

If you'd like to chat about your favourite folklore tale, site, or fact, chuck me a message at northeastfolklore@gmail.com - season 2 is being recorded over May/June and I'd love to have you on there!