This week's episode of Keeping Watch, hosted by Ed Peppitt and Melanie Charles, features a captivating discussion with Mark Lewis, the ALK Education Officer, on lighthouses and the paranormal. Mark shares his exploration of ghost stories, folklore, and scientific explanations related to paranormal phenomena in lighthouses around the world.

Ed and Mel also talk about last weekend's ALK Digital Archive weekend at Bidston Hill Lighthouse.

Key moments

01:05 Lighthouses and the Paranormal
01:25 Weekend at Bidston Observatory
04:53 Digital Archiving Adventures
07:46 Lighthouse News: Long Ships Fog Signal
08:59 Interview with Mark Lewis: Folklore and Paranormal
26:45 Investigating Paranormal Phenomena in Lighthouses
27:36 Ruling Out Natural Explanations
29:14 Suggestibility and Memory in Paranormal Experiences
33:38 Scientific Theories on Paranormal Activity
39:43 Mercury Poisoning and Lighthouse Keepers
41:59 Famous Lighthouse Mysteries and Folklore
45:08 The Romantic Movement and Lighthouse Stories
47:25 Fiction Morphing into Fact
49:31 Favorite Paranormal Stories and Future Projects
53:03 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

KEEPING WATCH is a fortnightly podcast for enthusiasts of lighthouses, lighthouse keepers, light vessels and other aids to maritime navigation.

We’re keen to talk with other former light vessel and lighthouse keepers and crew - as well as others currently working in the lighthouse service. Again, you can email me at alksoutheast@gmail.com.

Please spread the word to friends and family who might be interested in listening. And do like, follow or subscribe to this podcast so that you are notified when each new episode is published. A comment or a splendid review on your podcast platform of choice would be very welcome and really helps us to get noticed.

If you have an idea for a story you'd like us to cover, or an interesting person with a lighthouse connection we might interview, do please drop me a line. Or perhaps you are a fellow enthusiast and would like to contribute to the podcast either once or on a regular basis?

You can contact me at alksoutheast@gmail.com.

KEEPING WATCH is brought to you in association with the ALK - The Association of Lighthouse Keepers - a charitable trust in the UK dedicated to keeping lighthouse heritage alive.

Visit the Association of Lighthouse Keepers:
www.alk.org.uk