Ancient Barrows & Tolkien

Welcome to another episode of Wyrd Wessex!Join Craig and Andy as they are joined by guest Pat Robinson at the Ancient Technology Centre in Cranborne for a sprawling conversation that explores the past, present, and future of wyrdness. We connect local landmarks to global mythology and share personal hauntings that remind us why these ancient places still hold so much power.In this episode, we're covering:From Wessex to Middle-earth: We discuss how J.R.R. Tolkien drew on local landmarks like Wayland's Smithy, Cheddar Gorge, and Salisbury Plain to inspire the iconic landscapes of his books.Ancient Tales of Barrows: A deep dive into the mythology of burial mounds (barrows), from dragons in Beowulfand the cursed sword Tyrfing in Norse saga, to the Welsh myth of Pwyll entering the underworld.The Vengeance of Weyland: Pat performs an incredible, bone-chilling reading of the Anglo-Saxon tale of Weyland the Smith's revenge, a story that takes place deep within a burial mound.Modern Ghost Stories: We get into chilling modern accounts, including a terrifying listener sleep paralysis story and a ghost story about a woman who was physically pulled by an unseen force inside the West Kennet Long Barrow.Wyrd News: We wrap up with a quick round of Wyrd News, covering glowing lights in a Chinese city, the discovery of an exotic alligator snapping turtle in Cumbria, and an unnerving discussion about the new AI video generator, Sora.If you've got your own strange stories to tell, get in touch! Email us at [email protected] or find us on Facebook and Instagram.Stay Wyrdwww.wyrdwessex.co.ukBuy our merch hereWritten and hosted by Craig Brooks and Andy StevensEdited by Craig BrooksIntro music by Leonell Cassio - The Paranormal Is Real (ft. Carrie) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.