Local Legends #29: Paul Weatherhead

On this week's episode of Local Legends, Martin is joined by author, folklorist, musician and songwriter Paul Weatherhead, whose book Weird Calderdale is a must-have for fans of Yorkshire folklore!

Paul is a native of the Calder Valley in Yorkshire, and was brought up in Hebden Bridge.

After finishing school and his BA, Paul spent several years teaching in Greece, Moscow and Northern Siberia before he returned to Calder Valley in the late 1990s.

With a longstanding obsession with the weird history of the area he grew up, he wrote Weird Calderdale, the first edition of which was released in 2003 which went on to become a local best-seller.

After earning his MA, Paul’s writing then began to be published in various magazines and journals, including Psychology Today, The Skeptic, Northern Life and Psychedelic Scene. He frequently writes on topics including mass hysteria, delusions, weird history and folklore.

And on the mass hysteria and delusions front, his latest book, released in September 2024, is called Social Panics and Phantom Attackers – A Study of Imaginary Assailants, which was co-written with renowned sociologist Robert Bartholomew: a mega-interesting topic which we discuss in some depth during this episode.

As well as his research interests, Paul is a musician and songwriter, playing electric mandolin with cult folk rock band The Ukrainians for many years, as well as composing solo work consisting of comic folk horror songs inspired by 60s psychedelia, 80s video nasties and the Hebden Bridge Times.

All of which makes Paul the ideal person to speak to about Yorkshire, and about folk music, too.

To learn more about Paul and his work and books, and to read his excellent blog, do be sure to visit his website at paulweatherhead.com.

Otherwise, settle in for a chat which engages with topics including local witches battling Cliff Richard, Yorkshire’s zombies, the Halifax guillotine, local anti-hero Tom Bell, unidentified flying objects, and so much more!

The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.

Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...

Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.

With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?

Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast

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