Haunted History Chronicles

Curl up and enjoy discovering the history and ghostly events that surround different places, locations and people.

“There are more things in heaven and earth… than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” Hamlet

Recent Episodes

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The Devil In The Dock
1
Oct. 2, 2026

The Devil In The Dock

What happens when the Devil enters the courtroom? For centuries, that wasn't simply a theological question. There were times when courts treated Satan, demons and witchcraft as very real forces capable of corrupting bodies, destroying crops, causing death and driving human beings towards terrible acts. But as society changed, so too did the Devil — and so did the law. In this episode, we follow that extraordinary transformation through centuries of legal history. From the brutal machinery of
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Where the Dead Are Never Far Away: Haunted New Orleans
25
Sept. 25, 2026

Where the Dead Are Never Far Away: Haunted New Orleans

What happens when a city doesn't simply remember its dead, but continues to live alongside them? In New Orleans, cemeteries are woven into the cityscape, generations of families carry stories of the unexplained, and traditions of prayer, Voodoo and ancestor veneration keep the boundary between the living and the dead remarkably close. After our previous conversation exploring the extraordinary life and afterlife of the Baroness de Pontalba, Dr Rory O'Neill Schmitt and Dr Rosary O'Neill return
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Blood, Betrayal and Ghosts: The Extraordinary Life of the Baroness de Pontalba
24
Sept. 18, 2026

Blood, Betrayal and Ghosts: The Extraordinary Life of the Baroness de Pontalba

What if the most extraordinary Gothic tale wasn't fiction at all? Born into wealth in New Orleans, Micaëla de Pontalba would endure betrayal, confinement, violence and an attempt on her life — yet somehow emerge unbroken, reshaping not only her own destiny but the city she called home. Her story moves between New Orleans and an ancestral French château, through murder, family secrets and remarkable survival — and, even after death, the ghosts surrounding Micaëla and those places refuse to dis
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Living Magickally: Intuition, Spirits and the Paranormal with Patti Negri
23
Sept. 11, 2026

Living Magickally: Intuition, Spirits and the Paranormal with Patti Negri

What if magick isn't something supernatural at all — but something we've simply forgotten how to notice? This week, I’m joined by Patti Negri to explore intuition, spirit communication and the paranormal — from haunted places and haunted dolls to the energies we may unknowingly create ourselves. It’s a conversation about looking beyond fear, reconnecting with the intuitive and perhaps rediscovering a little of the magick modern life has taught us to leave behind. My Special Guest Is Patti
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Maurice Barbanell: The Forgotten Architect of Modern Spiritualism With Dr Nick Richbell
22
Sept. 4, 2026

Maurice Barbanell: The Forgotten Architect of Modern Spiritualism With Dr Nick Richbell

How does someone shape an entire movement... and yet almost disappear from history? If you've explored Spiritualism, the paranormal or psychical research, you've almost certainly encountered the legacy of Maurice Barbanell—even if you've never recognised his name. In this episode, historian Dr Nick Richbell joins me to discuss his new book, Silver Birch's Medium, and the extraordinary life of the man behind one of the most influential voices in twentieth-century Spiritualism. We explore Barba
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Walking the Borderlands: Ghosts, Folklore and Witchcraft With Hugh Williams
21
Aug. 28, 2026

Walking the Borderlands: Ghosts, Folklore and Witchcraft With Hugh Williams

There are landscapes where history never seems entirely past — where an ancient track, a ruined church, a lonely cave or a stretch of woodland can feel like a threshold between what we know and something altogether stranger. In this episode, we journey into the old borderlands of Mercia, exploring a Midlands steeped in folklore, witchcraft, ghost stories, strange encounters and centuries of belief. We discover how stories become embedded in the places where they are told, why certain landscap
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Recent Blog Posts

The Devil in the Dock: Crime, Folklore and the Changing Face of Evil
Oct. 6, 2026

The Devil in the Dock: Crime, Folklore and the Changing Face of Evil

On 12 January 1807, something terrible happened at Upper Mayfield in Staffordshire. George Allen, a local working man who appears until then to have lived a relatively settled life, murdered three of his children and attempted to murder his wife. Th…
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New Orleans: Where the Dead Are Never Far Away
Sept. 30, 2026

New Orleans: Where the Dead Are Never Far Away

There are cities where the dead seem carefully separated from the living. They are placed behind cemetery walls, remembered on particular days, spoken of in lowered voices and largely kept at the edges of everyday life.  New Orleans has never quite…
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Silver Birch’s Medium: Restoring Maurice Barbanell to the History of Modern Spiritualism
Sept. 8, 2026

Silver Birch’s Medium: Restoring Maurice Barbanell to the History of Modern Spiritualism

Some figures become inseparable from the movements they help to create; others, strangely, become almost invisible within them. Maurice Barbanell belongs firmly in the latter category. Anyone who has spent time reading about twentieth-century Spirit…
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About the Host

Michelle Profile Photo
Michelle

Host, author and producer

Hi I’m Michelle.
Teacher, podcaster, history and paranormal enthusiast and woman who wears many hats and spins many plates including dog whisperer- as you will often find Archie my dog- joining me during podcast recordings where he promptly falls asleep clearly not as enthusiastic about the subject as I am. It does mean his dulcet snoring can often be heard gently in the background- his contribution as occasional co- host needs a little work.
I live in Oxford in the United Kingdom and I love travelling and exploring historical sites throughout the UK for its history and haunted activity. One of the best gifts I ever received was English Heritage vouchers to use to explore various different historical sites. I had the best summer that year. (For friends and family possibly reading this please note that hint for future gift ideas!)
I started this podcast as an adventure through some of my passions. It has been immensely exciting getting to know lots of other people around the world who have these same common interests. I’ve been humbled by the encouragement and support from strangers and people who have become new friends! I truly could not do this without you.
This isn’t something I have done before and I’m learning everything as I go along - from equipment, to editing, to even creating this website. I’m loving it though- it’s a lot of work - but worth every second. Thank you for being patient as I learn and improve along the way. I have big dreams of where to take this podcast and community I hope we build here. If you wish to support that dream and this channel please take a look at the membership page as a means to help with this.

Reviews

Brilliant

"Brilliant, poignant, lovely. Your words take me to the time and place. Thank you!"

MeemsTN | Dec. 3, 2021

Great

"The host has a wonderful calming voice and seems extremely well informed on each subject weather it is history mystery or lore. Highly recommended!!!"

sk1885 | Jan. 7, 2022

Fascinating content- the only reason I look forward to my daily driving

"This podcast is so lovely. Fascinating content, accessing experts you wouldn't even imagine existed. What I look forward to most during my daily commutes!"

Ashlie | May 13, 2023

Lover of History

"Michelle is a great host, I am new to the podcast but everyone I’ve listened to have been entertaining and fun. Hello from across the pond, Eaton Ohio!"

David Sizemore | May 20, 2023

"An incredible podcast that I highly recommend to anyone interested in history, dark history, folklore and superstitions, paranormal research and ghost lore. Each week brings something different wit…"

Nick50 | July 19, 2023

An absorbing listen

"Having been fascinated by all things supernatural, folklore, and the occult since a child, I'm always on the lookout for suitable, special podcasts. This is one of those. The host has a very pleasant…"

Karl Gimblett | July 24, 2023

Extremely Interesting

"A fantastic podcast on the history and ghostly stories of time gone by. A must listen podcast"

Wendy Rammond | Aug. 3, 2023
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