For this week's bonus episode, Eleanor presents the final Dying Arts episode of the series, which is a timely one all about the critically endangered traditional crafts of Clock, Watch and Orrery Making!

We start by chatting through what Orrery's are, and before long we're elbow-deep in discussions of how ancient civilizations like the Greeks and Mayans set about trying to understand the universe, the movements of planetary bodies, and how those concepts manifested themselves in early calendars and shadow clocks.

This takes us through some curious concepts like Flat Earth theories, geocentrism, and significant historical figures like Copernicus, Galileo, and good ol' Tycho Brahe.

Then though, we're into clocks and watches, chewing through everything from candle clocks and hourglasses to amazing devices like the Antikythera Mechanism, the Ancient Chinese 'Cosmic Engine,' and the kinds of water clocks used in the Middle Ages to portion the day up for various prayers. Via verge escapements, pendulums, and the race of the Longitude Prize, we soon find ourselves at the advent of electrified 'Railway Time' and mass production.

Featuring bits of clock and watch folklore, a quick nod to Doctor Faustus, and appearances by the likes of Robert Hooke and our old pal Sosigenes of Alexandria, it's a slightly mind-bending ride.

So, what are you waiting for - there isn't a moment to waste!

(As for how long a moment is, well, we'll let you decide...)

The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.

Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...

Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.

With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?

Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode Eleanor is taking us on a pixie-led journey down to Devonshire in England's South West and telling us her take on the legend of "Kitty Jay's Grave."

We start off chatting about St Cecilia and her death-defying life of chastity and angel-seeing, and after that we're bombing down the A303 to Devon, one of Martin's favourite counties and one cream-and-then-jam-packed with folklore!

We chew over topics such as the wild and mysterious landscape of Dartmoor, the wolf-taming wanderer St Petroc, the 16-sided grotto of A La Ronde, and much more, all before Eleanor explains the difference between Devon Flats and Devon Splits, chats through the county's rich culinary heritage, and offers up a recipe for this week's County Dish, Graveyard Pie...

As for folklore, interspersed with some excerpts from next Saturday's Local Legends interview with Devon's-own Mark Norman, host of The Folklore Podcast and author of many truly excellent books on folklore here and abroad, we talk about the county's legacy in witchcraft and 'piskies,' ghosts including Lady Howard and her carriage of bones, Cutty Dyre, the Ogre of Ashburton, and much more besides.

Then it's on to the main event: Eleanor's story, "Kitty Jay's Grave" which, fair warning in advance, might just leave you in tears as it did Martin!

We very much hope you enjoy it, and will be back on Thursday with the final Dying Arts bonus episode of the series about Clock, Watch and Orrery-Making ahead of Saturday's full Local Legends chat with Mark!

The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.

Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...

Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.

With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?

Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Local Legends, Martin chats all things Worcestershire and the surrounds with folklorist and author Hugh Williams.

Born in Worcester at the heart of the English Midlands, Hugh has gone about things the old fashioned way. Which is to say, he has spent almost his whole life physically exploring, discovering and researching the stranger places of England’s middle counties, and is deeply passionate about telling their stories.

Part of this he does through his blog, which is absolutely amazing, and he has also written three books, The Mystery of Mercia Volumes I and II, which are collections of lore and folktales centred on the old Anglo Saxon kingdom of Mercia, and, more recently, The Magic of Mercia: A History of Witchcraft and Magic in the Midlands of England.

Drawing on traditional sources as well as his own collecting and site visits, Hugh’s work paints a vivid picture of the English heartlands, from their very beginnings right through to the present day. All of which has earned him a prominent position on social media, where he posts pictures and videos of his discoveries to tens of thousands of people. Plus, he’s now moving into the world of TV presenting – he’s just filmed for the new History Channel series Weird Britain which will be released next year!

So, settle in for a chat which folds in Danish reeves being skinned and their outer layers pinned to cathedrals, Cunning Folk, giants, Wild Hunts, foliate heads, and much, much more!

To learn more Hugh and his work, do visit his website at mysteriesofmercia.com and you can find him on social media via @mysteriesofmercia

The Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.

Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...

Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.

With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?

Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.