Author: 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.

Bonus Episode: More Bedfordshire Big Cats show notes.

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Below are some links to further information about big cat sightings and other information mentioned in the bonus episode. Pheasants on a path at Wrest Park, Silsoe Huffington Post Beast of Silsoe article: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/the-beast-of-silsoe-villagers-warned-of-credible-sighting-of-labrador-sized-big-cat_uk_57bc5f4de4b0f78b2b4ba8ca Hybrid Panther sighting in Aberdeenshire: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/hybrid-panther-caught-camera-prowling-31417269#ICID=Android_TMNewsApp_AppShare Link to Owen Staton's Time Between Times podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/time-between-times-storytelling-with-owen-staton/id1573244734 ITV programme about the Zoo Owen… Continue reading Bonus Episode: More Bedfordshire Big Cats show notes.

8. The Most Haunted Pub in Biggleswade

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https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-jnnf5-14e37e5 The Golden Pheasant in Biggleswade is not the town's oldest or even grandest pub, but this real ale beer house is reported to be Biggleswade's most haunted. Over the years strange phenomena and mysterious stories have built up around the establishment. I visited the pub and chatted with regulars and staff to try and… Continue reading 8. The Most Haunted Pub in Biggleswade

Episode 8: The Most Haunted Pub in Biggleswade

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Show notes, links and transcript The Golden Pheasant Pub, October 2023 Show notes and links Here's the website for the Golden Pheasant pub which includes some brilliant old photographs of the pub and Biggleswade high street. Below is an image of the yard at the Pheasant where William Robinson was taken after his accident. You… Continue reading Episode 8: The Most Haunted Pub in Biggleswade

Locations where big cats have been seen around Biggleswade

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I completely forgot to share photographs of the sites where big cats have been seen in Biggleswade. So here they are! You can listen to the big cat episode of the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Penny's sighting: water meadows between the Ivel River and A1 The image is above is looking… Continue reading Locations where big cats have been seen around Biggleswade

7. The Big Cat of Biggleswade and Phantom Felines

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https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-3nek3-14b2718 There have been several sightings of a big cat stalking the water meadows, heaths, and back gardens of Biggleswade in the last twenty years. And they're not your usual black panther type sightings; they're more intriguing. Of course, I just had to investigate. In this episode I speak with an eye witness about the… Continue reading 7. The Big Cat of Biggleswade and Phantom Felines

Episode 7: The Big Cat of Biggleswade and Phantom Felines

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Find out more about my fabulous guest Owen Staton and his podcast Time Between Times here: https://www.welshstoryteller.com/ Show notes and links to further reading General history of big cat sightings General summary: https://thewebinarvet.com/blog/british-big-cats-truth Interactive map of sightings across the UK: https://www.britishbigcats.org/sightings.php Jungle Cats Indian video about jungle cats https://youtu.be/s5G9d5ON9EA?si=V6CsFfO16xGjImYU Here's an article about the Shropshire… Continue reading Episode 7: The Big Cat of Biggleswade and Phantom Felines

A ramble through bramble folklore

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Lithograph by Anton Seder 1890, blackberries, raspberries and gold finch A few weeks back when visiting the secret sunflower field in Biggleswade I tasted one of the wild blackberries growing on surrounding bushes. At that point in the summer we'd had a lot of rain and I suspected that the blackberry would taste quite insipid… Continue reading A ramble through bramble folklore

6. The Potton Poisoner: Part 3

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https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-d79bw-14970eb In this final part of the story of Sarah Dazley, the Victorian poisoner, we follow the evidence shared at William Dazley's inquest and murder trial. We unpick tricky testimony and tangled timelines in an attempt to decide if Sarah really did it. There's gossip, pills and powders, a dead pig, and a teenage pregnancy… Continue reading 6. The Potton Poisoner: Part 3

The Potton Poisoner Part 3 Show notes and transcript

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Notes and Links Articles about broadside ballads which mention Sarah Dazley''s case can be found here: https://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/bbals_02.htm https://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/bbals_04.htm Execution ballads also appear in this episode of the Folklore Podcast: http://www.thefolklorepodcast.com/episode-132.html The actual broadside ballad printed for Sarah Dazley's execution News article about execution memento sold at auction: https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/souvenir-of-last-person-to-be-publicly-hanged-at-bedford-gaol-smashes-pre-sale-estimate-selling-for-2250/ Transcript Part 3 of the Potton Poisoner… Continue reading The Potton Poisoner Part 3 Show notes and transcript

Broken Warf and Trig Lane Stairs: The site of Sarah Dazley’s capture.

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Under the Millennium bridge at Trigg Stairs When I first started researching the story of Sarah Dazley, the Potton Poisoner, one of the aspects of the story that fascinated me was her escape to London and then capture at Broken Warf, Thames Street. An address that still exists though is much changed since 1843. It… Continue reading Broken Warf and Trig Lane Stairs: The site of Sarah Dazley’s capture.