A wide field with shrubs and trees on the horizon. The sky on the horizon is a strip iof pale gold. The rest of the sky is wavy clouds.

Show Notes and Photographs: A Spectral Army at Sempringham

Posted on by Natalie Doig

Listen to the episode on BBC Sounds here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0lyhtvh

Or everywhere else here: https://weirdinthewade.podbean.com/

black and white image a large tree dominates it's branches bare. My brother stands to the right a tall man in jogging trousers and quilted jacket. There is an old gate and grey clouds.
My brother standing by a large tree

Further reading

Below are links to further reading and information about those who contributed to the episode. To find out more about the future of Weird in the Wade visit here: https://weirdinthewade.blog/2025/08/25/the-future-of-weird-in-the-wade-important-news/

To find out more about the Live Podcast Show of Weird in the Wade visit here: https://weirdinthewade.blog/2025/08/15/weird-in-the-wade-live/

The Priory and Abbey Church

Here’s some information about Sempringham Priory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sempringham_Priory

A grotesque head from the original priory

Visiting the church

The Church of St Andrew still known as the Abbey Church is open to the public over the summer months. It is well worth a visit above is one of the artefacts found from the old priory now kept in the church. Below is an old chest found in the church.

A medieval church chest the wood eaten away in places, rough and blackened with time. It has three heavy locks on it.
Medieval chuch chest with three locks

You can visit St Andrew’s church at Sempringham in September on Sunday 7th and 21st from 2:30 – 5:00pm

Here is a lovely blog post about the church: https://www.britainexpress.com/counties/lincs/churches/sempringham.htm

Here’s alink to a PDF from Lincoln Museum all about the Priory: https://www.lincolnmuseum.com/assets/downloads/IS_arch_17_sempringham_priory.pdf

Here’s a link to the circular route my brother runs, it’s a popular walking route. 4 on the map marks the field where the vision occured and where my brother feels uncomfortable running. https://www.visitlincolnshire.com/things-to-do/walking/pointon-sempringham-and-birthorpe-walk/

The abbey church at Sempringham

St Gilbert

You can find out more about the life of St Gilbert here: https://lincoln.ourchurchweb.org.uk/thegilbertinebenefice/st-gilbert/gilbert/

Here’s a short video about Gilbert with great views of the church and surrounding area.

Fairy hills or forts

Here are some great resources on fairy hills

One of my favourite fairy hills is Doon Hill in Aberfoyle which I hope to make an episode about eventually. Here’s a lovely blog about it: https://ianwjourney.com/2014/11/17/away-with-the-fairies-the-legend-of-doon-hill-and-robert-kirk/

Here’s a different tale to the one I told of the Inverness fairy hill: https://discoverhighlandsandislands.scot/en/story/the-tomnahurich-tale

Icy Sedgwick tells a tale here of the dancing fairies of Northumbria: https://www.icysedgwick.com/northern-dancing-fairies/

Holy Well though no water is rising into it at the moment

The Holy Well and Princess Gwenllian

Here’s some more information about the holy well. There is a natural spring below it but in drought the water does not rise up into the well. It appears there may be iron deposits in the well as some of the area is stained orange. But that could be polution from near by farms.

Can you see the strange light effect just above and to the right of the well. I’m sure its just a tick of the light and censor on my mobile phone camera, but could it be something more mysterious??? đŸ˜‰

https://britishholywells.co.uk/england/lincolnshire/holywellsempringham/holywellsempringham.html

The memorial to Princess Gwenllian, Wales’ lost and last princess

As well as this memorial to Princess Gwenllian there are bilingual leaflets and displays within the church at Sempringham just a few footsteps from the memorial. The picture above was taken in April and daffodills had been left for the princess. Find out more about her history in the link below:

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/Gwenllian-Lost-Princess-Of-Wales/

The battle of Stow, Threekingham and the Vikings

Below are a couple of links to more information about the vikings at Threekingham, were they there or weren’t they? And the chronical that modern historians now believe was “fake news” from the 15th century.Th

Treekingham and Ingulph’s chronicle: https://www.avelandarchive.org.uk/articles/ingulphs-chronicle-relating-to-the-battle-of-stow-threekingham

The truth about Threekingham: https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MLI89096&resourceID=1006

Thanks and credits for the episode

Thanks to Dr Francis Young again for his expertise and knowledge. You can find out more about Francis and his wonderful books here: https://drfrancisyoung.com/about/

Thanks to my brother Chris for taking part. Here’s a picture of us when we were kids!

My brother Chris and me, big sister not impressed with his antics!

Thanks to Emily Elle Watts for playing the role of Edith. You can follow Emily on insta here: https://www.instagram.com/emilyellewatts/

Thank you so much to Olie Campbell for allowing me to play his beautiful song Mon The Burryman, you can follow Olie for music on his soundcloud here: https://soundcloud.com/olie-campbell?ref=clipboard&p=i&c=1&si=756B4A7F699E45D1914C196DE8F3373E&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

A black and white image of a flat field sloping upwards with a track down the centre. There are trees on the horizon. The sky is big and full of rippling clouds.
The spooky field / hill

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Published by Natalie Doig

"Science and sorcery." It's a quote from a beekeeper I saw on the TV, about how he sees the work he does keeping bees, a balance between science and sorcery. For me it also sums up my experience of life, my interests and my outlook. I love photography which is a perfect blend of science and sorcery, using light and technology to create magical images. But when I'm not taking photos you'll find me making the podcast Weird in the Wade. I'm also often to be found writing, reading, knitting, riding my mountain bike or drinking coffee watching the world go by. By day I fight for disability rights, equality and inclusion for all.

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