Show Notes: Top Secret Tempsford: WW2 and 21st Century Ghosts

Posted on by Natalie Doig

Where to listen

BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0nnr6s7

Other podcast platform links: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

A large red brick manor house with lawn and side extension also in red brick but more modern. Large trees surround the manor.
Tempsford Hall today

Tempsford Hall History

Bedfordshire Archive history: https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/Tempsford/Tempsford-Hall.aspx

Ghostly goings on reported in the Evening Standard: https://www.standard.co.uk/business/cityspy/city-spy-kier-s-staff-spooked-by-its-haunted-headquarters-9691357.html

a cellar with whit washed shelves which once held wine bottles.
The cellar with it’s strange cold spot. Could it be a long forgotten well?

Article about the recent sale of Tempsford Hall: https://www.biggleswadetoday.co.uk/news/people/infrastructure-group-completes-sale-of-its-tempsford-headquarters-at-pivotal-moment-for-village-6575162

Looking down the curving wooden staircase within the hall.
The stairs some found creepy!

RAF Tempsford

Wide concrete and expanse with fields in the distance
Looking across to the old airfield

A big thanks to Ash McCrudden for her research into RAF Tempsford and the SOE

RAF Tempsford: Britain’s secret airfield during WW2.

Local archives info: https://virtual-library.culturalservices.net/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/tempsford_digitsation_tempsford_airfield.htm

Tempsford Airfield

The Special Operations Executive

Kate Vigurs On History Extra Podcast reveals the stories of little-known women who parachuted into occupied European territory as secret agents during WW2 https://pod.wave.co/podcast/history-extra-podcast/forgotten-female-secret-agents-of-ww2

We Have Ways of Making You Talk podcast has a great series on the women of the SOE. Available wherever you get your podcasts but also on YouTube:

Check out Clare Mulley’s work on women’s experience on WW2 and the SOE: https://claremulley.com/

Pearl Witherington

A faded blue poster on a dusty cork board. The blue poster says WAAF AENTS at the top. There are 6 photos of women with the names next to them: Pearl Witherington is the first the others are Diana Rowden, Muriel Byk, Yolande Beekman Lilian Rolfe and Yvonne Cormea

Find out more about Pearl Witherington here:

BBC News website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/magazine-23845199

A Mighty Girl website: https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=15570

A Guardian article: https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/apr/01/nationalarchives.secondworldwar

Noor Inayat Kahn

A bronze bust of a young woman with wide mouth and kind expression on a plinth with a backdrop of iron railings and plants.
Statue of Noor Inayat Khan in Gordon Square, London
Noor Inayat Khan – SOE

National Archives information: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/who-was-noor-khan/

A short video about Noor’s character in Dr Who:

The SOE Barn

Above is a video of the barn I made last year. Check out Weird in the Wade social media for more videos about the barn: https://linktr.ee/weirdinthewade

If you want to visit the barn here’s information about it:

Technically the barn is on the Errol estate and if you wish to visit the barn it is advisable to email first admin@erroll.com

Further information can be found here:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/raf-tempsford-memorial-barn and https://memorials.iwm.org.uk/memorial/64023

a photograph of a young woman below which is Cyrillic writing and union and Norwegian flags. There are news paper clippings and other bits of paper around too.
Memorial materials inside the barn
A marble monument with a mosaic of a white bird flying below moon in mother of pearl on a blue tile background.
Memorial to the women of the SOE in Tempsford west side of A1

Tempsford Chantry

Here’s information about Tempsford Chantry: https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/Tempsford/Tempsford-Chantry.aspx

A black and white photo of an old medieval building with wood beams and over hanging first floor.
Tempsford Chantry before it’s demolition

Tempsford New Town

An article about council meeting about the new town proposals: https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/26127132.tempsford-town-impact-a1-near-biggleswade-sandy/

The Campaign for Rural England information: https://www.cprebeds.org.uk/news/government-announces-a-new-town-at-tempsford-what-happens-next/

The open doorway to the barn with a tall triangular shaped tree outside.

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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.

4 thoughts on “Show Notes: Top Secret Tempsford: WW2 and 21st Century Ghosts”

  1. This double episode on Tempsford Hall and RAF Tempsford has been your best ever! I share your RAF connection and was first drawn in to your podcasts after listening to Haunted Henlow (where my husband is currently posted). If you ever feel like doing a podcast on RAF Halton just drop me a line because I’d love to help!

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      1. Thankyou! I’ve so far resisted the temptation of patreon but this may tip me over the edge. I want to know if you cover the unsolved murder of Rita Ellis and other events in Tring. I was born in Queen Mary’s Hospital and, as an adult, did a little urban exploring when the building became derelict looking for the ward my mother was on. It was a very creepy experience. As an architect, I’m very sad to see that Halton House is now closed and, for cost reasons, is highly unlikely to be rescued. I first met my husband when he was posted there so many happy memories.

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      2. I do cover the murder and also the hospital. I was born there too. 😊 I’m very jealous you got to explore the hospital before it was demolished.

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