Dark Histories
Fortnightly narratives on the unsolved and the unexplained, mysteries, historical true crime, touches of the paranormal and cultural peculiarities.
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Episodes
2 hours ago
2 hours ago
In the fall of 1909, a strange fear settled over the hills and farms of Maryland. Newspapers carried reports of a monstrous winged creature said to stalk the countryside with a host of bizarre descriptions pouring out from witnesses, including glowing eyes, huge claws, and boiling brimstone dripping from its snout. The creature became known as the Snallygaster, and for a time, its legend gripped entire communities until its rapid demise. More than twenty years later, in 1932, the panic returned, proving that some stories refuse to stay buried. But was everything as it seemed? Or were there far uglier things at play than flying monsters?SOURCES
Boyton, Patrick (2011) Snallygaster: The Lost Legend of Frederick County. Self Published
Bridgeton Evening News (1909) The Devil Runs Rampant. Bridgeton Evening News, Fri 22 Jan, p3. NJ, USA
Sheperdstown Register (1909) After The Colored People. Shepherdstown Register, Thu 4 Feb, p3. WV, USA.
The Tennesseasn (1887) The Devil Of Leeds. The Tennessean, Sun 16 Oct, p12. TN, USA.
Chicago Tribune (1909) Devil Which Alarms Jersey Likely To Be Captured Soon. Chicago Tribune, Fri 22 Jan 1909, p5. IL, USA.
The Evening Sun (1932) Bovalopus Snallygaster Swoops Down On Village. The Evening Sun, Fri 25 Nov 1932, p50. MD, USA.
The Evening Sun (1932) John Barleycorn Ends Career Of Snallygaster. The Evening Sun, Thurs 1 Dec 1932, p3. MD, USA.
The News (1932) Snallygaster Captured: Huge Owl Is Shot Down. The News, Thurs 1 Dec 1932, p1. MD, USA.
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For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com
Support the show by visiting our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistories
The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistories
Dark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9
Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast
Or find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories
& Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/
Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.com
or join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFf
The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye
Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017
Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.
Tuesday May 19, 2026
Tuesday May 19, 2026
In 1890, the murders of Phoebe Hogg and her infant daughter in Hampstead became one of the most widely reported criminal cases of the Victorian period. The investigation quickly centred on Mary Pearcey, whilst the public eyed Phoebe’s husband with suspicion. Evidence found at Mary’s home, along with witness testimony, seemed to point to a simple investigation, but persistent rumours of an accomplice left lingering questions that persist until today. SOURCES
Hopton, Sarah Beth (2017) Woman at the Devil's Door: The Incredible True Story of Mary Pearcey & The Hampstead Murders. Mango Books, London, UK.
Portsmouth Evening News (1890) Appalling Crime In Hampstead. Portsmouth Evening News, Sat 25 Oct 1890, p3. Portsmouth, UK.
Thanet Advertiser (1890) Execution of Mrs Pearcy. Thanet Advertsier, Sat 27 Dec 1890, p5. Kent, UK.
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For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com
Support the show by visiting our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistories
The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistories
Dark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9
Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast
Or find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories
& Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/
Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.com
or join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFf
The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye
Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017
Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.
Monday May 04, 2026
Monday May 04, 2026
In 1945, the end of the second world war was approaching, atom bombs were on the way, and science fiction felt more like speculative prophecies than adventure stories. In the pages of pulp magazine, claims that ancient civilizations lived beneath the surface of the earth, armed with forgotten technologies, and mutated into something monstrous and cruel. To some, it was pulp fantasy. To others, a terrifying revelation. Blurring the line between imagination and belief, the Shaver Mystery presented a surreal reality that was anything but ordinary.
SOURCES
Toronto, Richard (2013) War Over Lemuria: Richard Shaver, Ray Palmer & The Strangest Chapter of 1940’s Science Fiction. McFarland & Co. NC, USA.
Palmer, Ray (1945) The Observatory. Amazing Stories, Vol 18, No.3, May 1944. USA
Shaver, Richard (1945) I Remember Lemuria. Amazing Stories, Vol 19, No.1, March 1945. USA
Palmer, Ray (1945) Mantong, The Language of Lemuria. Amazing Stories, Vol 19, No.1, March 1945. USA
Shaver, Richard (1945) Open Letter to the World. Amazing Stories, Vol 19, No.2, June 1945. USA
Shaver, Richard (1945) Thought Records of Lemuria. Amazing Stories, Vol 19, No.2, June 1945. USA
Shaver, Richard (1945) Cave City of Hel. Amazing Stories, Vol 19, No.3, September 1945. USA
Palmer, Ray (1945) Report From the Forgotten Past? Amazing Stories, Vol 19, No.3, September 1945. USA
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For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com
Support the show by visiting our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistories
The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistories
Dark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9
Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast
Or find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories
& Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/
Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.com
or join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFf
The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye
Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017
Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.
Sunday Apr 19, 2026
Sunday Apr 19, 2026
Hey everyone! Here is there first of the bonus episodes I have lined up to go along with the 10 year anniversary of Dark Histories! Thanks so much if you asked a question, and I hope you find something interesting enough in the answers! Cheers!
Monday Apr 13, 2026
Monday Apr 13, 2026
High in the mist-shrouded Cairngorms, where the winter wind bites like a vice, lies the domain of a long-spoken, unsettling presence. For over a hundred years, the climbers of Ben Macdui have told stories of a towering figure pacing just beyond sight and of booming footsteps lost in the fog. Known as the Big Grey Man, few have seen it, several have heard it and even more sensed it, but just about none have ever agreed on what “it” actually is.
SOURCES
Gray, Affleck (1970) The Big Grey Man of Ben MacDhui. Impulse Books, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Baker, Ernest A. (1973) The British Highlands: With Rope & Rucksack. EP Publishing Ltd, UK.
Wood, Wendy (1930) Secret of Spey. Rob Grant & Son, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Alexander, Henry (1926) The Ben MacDhui Giant Spectre. The Cairngorm Club Journal, Vol XI, No.64, July 1926. The Cairngorm Club, Scotland.
Aberdeen Press & Journal (1925) Cairngorm Club. Aberdeen Press & Journal, Mon 30 Nov 1925, p5. Aberdeen, Scotland.
Aberdeen Press & Journal (1925) Letters To Editor. Aberdeen Press & Journal, Tues 1 Dec 1925, p5. Aberdeen, Scotland.
Aberdeen Press & Journal (1925) Mountain Climbers & The Ghost of Ben MacDhui. Aberdeen Press & Journal, Thurs 3 Dec 1925, p6. Aberdeen, Scotland.
Aberdeen Press & Journal (1925) Dr Kellas & His Spectre. Aberdeen Press & Journal, Sat 5 Dec 1925, p4. Aberdeen, Scotland.
The Scotsman (1941) The Grey Man Of Ben MacDhui. The Scotsman, Tues 14 Oct 1941, p7. Scotland.
The Scotsman (1941) Mountain Spectres. The Scotsman, Mon 20 Oct 1941, p4. Scotland.
The Scotsman (1941) Mountain Spectres. The Scotsman, Thurs 23 Oct 1941, p4. Scotland.
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For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com
Support the show by visiting our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistories
The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistories
Dark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9
Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast
Or find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories
& Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/
Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.com
or join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFf
The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye
Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017
Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.
Tuesday Mar 31, 2026
Tuesday Mar 31, 2026
In January 1921, a five-masted schooner was discovered run aground off the coast of North Carolina with no crew aboard and no clear signs of struggle. Personal belongings, navigation equipment, and the ship’s lifeboats were missing, leaving investigators with more questions than answers and a trio of cats, which had been the only signs of life aboard the abandoned ship. Rumors of piracy, mutiny, Russian conspiracies, and even supernatural involvement quickly spread, but no definitive explanation ever emerged, earning the wreck the enduring title of “The Ghost Ship of the Diamond Shoals.”SOURCES
Simpson, Bland (2002) Ghost Ship of Diamond Shoals. Chapel Hill & London, University of North Carolina Press. NC, USA.
New York Times (1921) Skippers Daughter Holds Pirate Theory. New York Times, Thurs 23 June 1921, p2. NY, USA.
New York Times (1921) Soviet Pirate Tale Declared a Fake. New York Times, Fri 26 Aug 1921, p2. NY, USA.
The Sun Journal (1921) All a Fake Admits Gray. The Sun Journal, Mon 29 Aug 1921, p3, Maine, USA.
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For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com
Support the show by visiting our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistories
The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistories
Dark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9
Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast
Or find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories
& Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/
Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.com
or join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFf
The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye
Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017
Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.
Tuesday Mar 17, 2026
Tuesday Mar 17, 2026
In the late 16th century, in the small village of Warboys, just outside Cambridge, everyday life was unsettled by growing fear and uncertainty, when family members of the local gentry began suffering from strange illnesses. Suspicion of witchcraft quickly spread amongst the community, and one neighbouring family found themselves accused by a local population that was searching for explanations in an environment of fear and superstition, forcing ordinary, everyday events to become evidence of something much darker.SOURCES
Man, Thomas & Winnington, John (1593) The Most Strange and Admirable Discovery of the Three Witches of Warboys. Widow Orwin, London, UK.
Almond, Philip C. (2008) The Witches of Warboys. I. B. Taurus, London, UK.
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For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com
Support the show by visiting our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistories
The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistories
Dark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9
Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast
Or find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories
& Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/
Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.com
or join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFf
The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye
Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017
Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.
Tuesday Mar 03, 2026
Tuesday Mar 03, 2026
The East London district of West Ham might be best known globally for the football team of the same name, but in the late 19th century, the area became famous for something much darker. West Ham, and in particular, a single road within the district, became the scene for a series of unusual disappearances that took place over more than a decade, as young girls were vanished away from the streets, never to be seen again. At least until one was found dead and stuffed into a cupboard in an empty house. SOURCES
Bondeson, Jan (2016) Rivals of The Ripper: Unsolved Murders of Women in Late Victorian London. Gloucester History Press. UK.
London Daily Chronicle (1881) Disappearance Of A Girl. London Daily Chronicle, Thurs 21 April, 1881, p6. London, UK.
Tower Hamlets Independent and East End Local Advertiser (1881) Another Mysterious Disappearance. Tower Hamlets Independent and East End Local Advertiser, Sat 23 April, 1881, p3. London, UK.
Birmingham Mail (1881) The Mysterious Disappearance Of Girls. Birmingham Mail, Wed 1 June, 1881, p3. Birmingham, UK.
Chelmsford Chronicle (1881) Stratford. Chelmsford Chronicle, Fri 13 May, 1881, p3. London, UK.
London Evening Standard (1882) Disappearance Of A Girl. London Evening Standard, Tues 31 Jan 1882, p2. London, UK.
London Evening Standard (1882) The Missing Girl Carter. London Evening Standard, Tues 7 Feb 1882, p5. London, UK.
Selby Times (1882) The Disappearance Of Two Girls From West Ham. Selby Times, Fri 10 Feb 1882, p3. Leeds, UK.
Penny Illustrated Paper (1882) The Mysterious Disappearance Of Eliza Carter From West Ham. Penny Illustrated Paper, Sat 18 Feb 1882, p7. London, UK.
Daily News (1884) Unpunished Crimes - Disappearance Of Eliza Carter. Daily News, Tues 12 Feb 1884, p3. London, UK.
Morning Advertiser (1890) Stratford. Morning Advertiser, Mon 3 Feb 1890, p7. London, UK.
Ripon Observer (1890) Opening Of The Inquest. Ripon Observer, Thurs 20 Feb 1890, p6. Ripon, UK.
The Guernsey Star (1890) The West Ham Murder. The Guernsey Star, Sat 22 Feb 1890, p2. Guernsey.
Illustrated Police News (1890) Horrible Crime At West Ham. Illustrated Police News, Sat 22 Feb 1890, p2. London, UK.
Illustrated Police News (1890) The Missing Keys Found. Illustrated Police News, Sat 24 May 1890, p2. London, UK.
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For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com
Support the show by visiting our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistories
The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistories
Dark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9
Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast
Or find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories
& Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/
Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.com
or join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFf
The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye
Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017
Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.
Tuesday Feb 17, 2026
Tuesday Feb 17, 2026
In the early 1700s, when maps still had blank spaces and “here be dragons” felt like a reasonable warning, a stranger arrived in Europe with a fantastic story to tell. Calling himself George Psalmanazar, and claiming to be a native of far-off Formosa, where people lived in underground houses and dined on human meat. He translated scriptures into a language no one had ever heard and tutored missionaries in the customs and culture of his country. But the greatest fiction wasn’t his island at all, it was Psalmanazar himself. And for a while, the world believed every dazzling word.SOURCES
Psalmanazar, George (1704) An Historical & Geographical Description of Formosa. London, UK.
Psalmanazar, George (1764) Memoirs of ****. Commonly Known by the Name of George Psalmanazar, a Reputed Native of Formosa. London, UK.
Keevak, Michael (2001) The Pretended Asian. Wayne State University Press. USA
Foley, Frederic (1968) The Great Formosan Imposter. St. Louis Jesuit Historical Institute, USA.
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For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com
Support the show by visiting our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistories
The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistories
Dark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9
Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast
Or find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories
& Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/
Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.com
or join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFf
The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye
Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017
Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.
Tuesday Feb 03, 2026
Tuesday Feb 03, 2026
At the turn of the twentieth century, a pattern of unusual deaths began to surface, when three unrelated women were found drowned in their bathtubs, following a fit or a feinting. The cases seemed unconnected, scattered across towns and surnames, until the similarities grew too precise to ignore. At the center of the widening suspicion was a man named George Joseph Smith, though very few actually knew him by that name until reports of his crimes began to filter into the newspapers, and purely by chance, people around the country began connecting the dots.
SOURCES
Robins, Jane (2010) The Magnificent Spilsbury & The Case of the Brides in the Bath. F. A. Thorpe, Leicestershire, UK.
Kentish Express (1912) Drowned In A Bath. Kentish Express, Sat 20 July 1912, p5. Kent, UK.
Weekly Dispatch (1914) Bride’s Death In Bath. Weekly Dispatch, Sun 27 Dec 1914, p13. London, UK.
Coleraine Chronicle (1915) The Execution of Smith. Coleraine Chronicle, Sat 21 Aug 1915, p4. Londonderry, UK.
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For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com
Support the show by visiting our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistories
The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistories
Dark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9
Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast
Or find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories
& Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/
Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.com
or join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFf
The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye
Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017
Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.