Carlisle Times & Crimes

8 Episodes
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By: Carlisle Times & Crimes

Looking at centuries of crack and scandal from the Great Border City. From murders and manslaughters, to ghost stories and folklore, join me as we explore the darker side of Carlisle. 

The Eagle Of Sevastopol - From Crimea To Carlisle
Last Sunday at 12:00 AM

When the 34th Regiment entered Sevastopol on September 1855, Private Joseph Carruthers took a large, gilded, wooden double-headed eagle from the  ruins of the opera house as a war trophy. However, by the time the eagle arrived in Britain, and in the years following, Sergeant Edward Baker seemingly took credit for capturing the eagle. 


We'll follow the eagle's journey through the decades as it appeared as a prized possession of the 34th, later the Border Regiment. Can we get to the bottom of this Crimean quarrel? 


Join me as we tek...


The Raffles Murder - The Death Of Isabella Steele
02/01/2026

On the 8th September 1887, William Hunter, Mary Steele, and Mary's three year old daughter, Isabella, set out from Wigton to walk around 13 miles to Carlisle. They had been tramping round the county all summer. Poor Isabella would not make it to the city alive. 

Find out what happened that day as we tek a deeks at "The Raffles Murder - The Death Of Isabella Steele".

This episode contains descriptions of violence to children and suicide.

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Burns' Night In Carlisle
01/01/2026

As Scots around the world prepare to celebrate Burns Night, I take you back to 31st May 1787, when Rabbie Burns entered Carlisle, and spent the night at the Malt Shovel pub in Rickergate. I'll tell you what he got up to, and the wisecracking poetic words that Burns spoke in the city, forever being etched into Carlisle lore. 


Also in this episode, I bring you the creation of what I believe to be the first Carlisle Burns Club in 1818, how Carlisle celebrated the centenaries of the birth and death of Burns, and the events o...


A Carlisle Carol
12/01/2025

It's Christmas, and, like Jacob Marley, I bring you three ghosts of Christmas past.


The clock strikes One: The first Ghost takes us back to 1843, where we will see how the wealthy and poor celebrate Christmas as Charles Dickens' festive classic was released.


The clock strikes Two: The second Ghost of Christmas past shows us Charles Dickens in Carlisle in 1861, as he performed his works on stage.


The clock strikes Three: Finally, the third Ghost of Christmas Past arrives to send a chill down...


The Quakers In Carlisle
11/01/2025

In 1653, George Fox arrived at Carlisle to preach his new vision of worship. Charged with blasphemy, and thrown into the dungeon, would the gallows be Fox's divine destiny? Then, two years later, Dorothy Waugh, a follower of Fox's religion, suffered the humiliation of the Scold's Bridle, a barbaric device designed to keep women silent, after also preaching in the town centre. Join me as I explore Carlisle's cruel role in the early days of The Society of Friends, otherwise known as The Quakers.


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Samhain Special: The Fiery Horse And Its Black Rider
10/27/2025

In this bonus Halloween episode, we travel back to the days before the railways, and one woman's terrifying experience in the Botchergate area, where Carlisle's Citadel Station now stands.  Also in this episode, we are teased with another equine-related ghost story from 19th century Botchergate. 


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The Dalston Road Murder - The Death Of Sebra Troughear
09/30/2025

In 1889, a 53-year-old woman's body is discovered at the side of a muddy road with all evidence pointing to a sexual assault taking place before her death. Will the prime suspect be found guilty? Or will the investigation of the facts lead to an acquittal? Join me as we tek a deeks at the Dalston Road Murder.

WARNING - This episodes contains references to  and descriptions of sexual assault. 

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Bones In The Castle
#1
08/31/2025

A shocking discovery at Carlisle Castle in 1819, gives birth to Carlisle's most famous ghost story - the mother and baby found bricked up in the castle walls. But all is not as it seems... Also in this episode, the Victorian obsession with ghosts leads to some terrified soldiers on guard in the dead of the night...

Join me in Carlisle as we take a deeks at the Bones In the Castle


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