Episodios

  • 17 | The Mystery of the Devonshire Footprints

    17 | The Mystery of the Devonshire Footprints
    May 22 2025
    The heavy snowfall overnight in Devon in February 1855 was unusual. But what was even more unusual was the trail of footprints that appeared in the snow, ranging for over 100 miles, crossing rivers and 20-foot-high obstacles. They didn’t seem to be made by any recognisable animal. So who, or what, was walking through Devon that night?


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    Sources:
    Cheshire Observer, Saturday 24th February 1855
    https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000158/18550224/014/0004
    Fanthorpe, Lionel & Patricia, “The World’s Greatest Unsolved Mysteries”, 1997, Dundurn Press
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    13 m
  • 16 | Adolph Beck A Case of Mistaken Identity

    16 | Adolph Beck A Case of Mistaken Identity
    May 15 2025
    In 19th century England it seemed that having a distinctive moustache was risky, as chemist Adolf Beck found out to his misfortune. At the time, eyewitness descriptions of criminals were accepted as fact, in a world without DNA and the scientific advances we now rely on. How was Beck mistaken for a conman who, except for his moustache, didn’t really look like him at all?

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    Sources: ·
    Arkowitz, Hal & Lilienfeld, Scott, 2010, “Why science tells us not to rely on eyewitness accounts”,

    Scientific American Mind, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-the-eyes-have-it/

    Futility Closet Podcast, Episode 165: A Case of Mistaken

    Identity https://www.futilitycloset.com/2017/08/14/podcast-episode-165-case-mistaken-identity/

    The Evening Times, December 24, 1909

    The Sun, May 31, 1914, “Sir Arthur Conan Doyle a detective in real life” https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1914-05-31/ed-1/seq-47/#date1=1789&index=8&rows=20&words=Adolph+Beck&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1924&proxtext=Adolph+Beck&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

    Wikipedia, Court of Criminal Appeal, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_Criminal_Appeal · Wikipedia, “George Edalji” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Edalji
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    17 m
  • 15 | How Pigeons Helped Win WWII: The Secret History of Wartime Messengers

    15 | How Pigeons Helped Win WWII: The Secret History of Wartime Messengers
    May 4 2025
    Few birds are as quintessentially British as the humble pigeon, but at best, they’re seen as comical, at worst, as vermin. But did you know that pigeons served as daring message carriers in the World Wars? In this episode, we’ll explore the contributions of these noble and under-appreciated birds who risked their lives to carry top-secret messages to the front-line in all weather conditions, frequently coming under fire.Operation Turtle Dove: https://www.operationturtledove.orgCheck out Penny's Pigeon Aid at https://www.pennyspigeonaid.com — a wonderful organisation dedicated to improving pigeon welfare through education and awareness. Music:"March of the Spoons" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Sources:https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/homing-pigeons-contributions-world-war-2 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-17138990 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11400814 https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-incredible-carrier-pigeons-of-the-first-world-war https://www.rpra.org/pigeons-in-war/ https://www.rpra.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/national-pigeon-service.pdf https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/animal-awards-programme/pdsa-dickin-medal/gi-joe https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/poultry-101/heroic-pigeons-in-world-war-ii/ https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/poultry-101/the-sport-of-racing-pigeons/ https://www.onekindplanet.org/animal/pigeon/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-62362307 https://www.gchq.gov.uk/information/pigeon-takes-secret-message-grave https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/british-army-entrusted-its-secrets-birdbrains https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/past-times/1760047/winkie-broughty-ferry-homing-pigeon/ https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/british-army-entrusted-its-secrets-birdbrains “Birds”, Collins Gem British Birds: A Pocket Guide
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    25 m
  • 14 | The Drowned Village of Herne Bay

    14 | The Drowned Village of Herne Bay
    May 1 2025
    Hampton-on-Sea, a once-thriving Kent village, now lies beneath the waves—forgotten by time but not by history. Among its final residents was Detective Inspector Edmund Reid, famed for his role in the Jack the Ripper investigation. As the sea devoured homes, Reid waged a desperate, good-humoured battle to save his own. But could anything stand against nature’s relentless march? Join me, Prash, on Curious Britain as we uncover the lost village swallowed by the tide.

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    💰 Make a one-off contribution
    Every little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-time donation, you can do so via PayPal here: https://paypal.me/curiousbritain

    🙏 Thank You!
    Your support means the world to us and helps keep the show alive. We truly appreciate it!



    Sources:
    https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/mystery-heartbreaking-remains-drowned-village-27041964 https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/hampton-sea-drowned-herne-bay-6321829 http://www.abandonedcommunities.co.uk/hampton.html
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    9 m
  • 13 | The Vanishing Heiress Violet Charlesworth

    13 | The Vanishing Heiress Violet Charlesworth
    Apr 24 2025
    Fraud, deception, a striking red cloak, and a crashed car on a lonely Welsh clifftop road. What was the enigmatic story behind this curious little-known incident, and why is this spot still known as “Violet’s Leap” today?

    📢 Get in Touch & Support the Show
    Have a story idea or just want to say hello? Drop us an email at curiousbritainpodcast@gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you!

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    Enjoying Curious Britain? Help us keep the show going by becoming a patron at Patreon. Your support allows us to keep exploring Britain’s most intriguing stories.

    💰 Make a One-Off Contribution
    Every little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-time donation, you can do so via PayPal here: [Donate Now]

    🙏 Thank You!
    Your support means the world to us and helps keep Curious Britain alive. We truly appreciate it!


    Sources:
    https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/welsh-woman-who-stole-2m-24779142 https://www.welshcountry.co.uk/january-1909-the-motor-car-mystery/
    Magazine Echo, 2 October 1954, British Newspaper Archive
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    12 m
  • 12 | The Hammersmith Ghost – A Strange Murder Defence

    12 | The Hammersmith Ghost – A Strange Murder Defence
    Apr 17 2025
    If you shoot a ghost that’s been frightening people to death, is it against the law? This could be one of the strangest murder defences in history, when Francis Smith armed himself with a pistol and went in search of the ghoulish apparition that was haunting Hammersmith in 1804.

    📢 Get in Touch & Support the Show Have a story idea or just want to say hello? Drop us an email at curiousbritainpodcast@gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you!

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    💰 Make a one-off contribution
    Every little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-time donation, you can do so via PayPal here: https://paypal.me/curiousbritain

    🙏 Thank You!
    Your support means the world to us and helps keep the show alive. We truly appreciate it!


    Sources:
    https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/t18040111-79?text=Francis%20Smith
    Hull Packet, 17 January 1804
    London Courier and Evening Gazette, 9 January 1804
    The Lore of the Land by Westwood & Simpson
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    8 m
  • 11 | Hermits for Hire

    11 | Hermits for Hire
    Apr 9 2025
    Think modern fads are strange? Try the Georgian craze for having a hermit living in your back garden. Let’s explore this forgotten trend which saw a spate of advertisements for people to spend seven years living on country estates without washing or cutting their hair, while dispensing contemplative words of wisdom to visitors.


    📢 Get in Touch & Support the Show Have a story idea or just want to say hello? Drop us an email at curiousbritainpodcast@gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you!

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    Enjoying Curious Britain? Help us keep the show going by joining us on Patreon. Your support allows us to keep exploring Britain’s most intriguing stories. https://www.patreon.com/CuriousBritainPodcast

    💰 Make a one-off contribution
    Every little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-time donation, you can do so via PayPal here: https://paypal.me/curiousbritain

    🙏 Thank You!
    Your support means the world to us and helps keep the show alive. We truly appreciate it!


    Music:
    "March of the Spoons" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
    Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Sources:
    Campbell, Gordon, “The Hermit in the Garden: From Imperial Rome to Ornamental Gnome”
    London Courier and Evening Gazette, 10 April 1829
    https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/ornamental-hermits-were-18th-century-englands-must-have-garden-accessory-180982469/https://www.historicmysteries.com/ornamental-hermit
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    14 m
  • 10 | McCaig’s Folly – Scotland’s Colosseum & Oban’s Hidden Gem

    10 | McCaig’s Folly – Scotland’s Colosseum & Oban’s Hidden Gem
    Apr 2 2025
    Did you know there’s a replica of the famous Colosseum of Rome in Scotland? Let’s find out where it came from, who built it, and why, in this episode of Curious Britain.



    📢 Get in Touch & Support the Show Have a story idea or just want to say hello? Drop us an email at curiousbritainpodcast@gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you!
    💡 Support Us on Patreon
    Enjoying Curious Britain? Help us keep the show going by becoming a patron at Patreon. Your support allows us to keep exploring Britain’s most intriguing stories.
    💰 Make a One-Off Contribution
    Every little bit helps! If you'd like to make a one-time donation, you can do so via PayPal here: [Donate Now]
    🙏 Thank You!
    Your support means the world to us and helps keep Curious Britain alive. We truly appreciate it!


    Sources:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCaig%27s_Tower

    https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/mccaigs-tower-p255141

    https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/oban/mccaigstower/index.html
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    6 m
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