The Corpse Roads: Forgotten Paths of the Dead

Host Alison Horrocks explores Britain’s “corpse roads,” ancient paths used to transport bodies to parish churches before modern infrastructure. The episode details folklore surrounding these routes, including phantom funeral processions and Welsh “corpse candles” that appeared as omens before death. Stories from Dartmoor, Cumbria, and the Scottish Highlands illustrate how these liminal spaces became haunted by the repetition of grief and the fear of restless dead.

Topics discussed

Sponsors and cold open story Narrative: The lantern and the phantom hands Episode introduction and title Defining corpse roads and their origins Historical context of pre-modern funerals Sponsor break Sponsor break and rest stones Case studies: Lake District and Dartmoor Literary connections and Dartmoor legends Supernatural reputation and funeral precautions Revenants and phantom funeral omens Corpse candles and lights predicting death Alfred Russel Wallace's Welsh accounts Sponsor break: Carrie movie Dangers of interfering with corpse candles The route of the light and crossing water The To: Phantom funerals in Wales Folklore rules for travelers and natural explanations Scottish corpse roads and spiritual geography Legend of the runaway coffin in Cumbria Why roads become haunted: Repetition Liminality, boundaries, and invisible processions The decline of corpse roads and modern memory Reflections on transitional spaces and folklore Conclusion and final advice Outro and promotion of other podcasts Sponsor: Wise Sponsor: HomeSense

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The Corpse Roads: Forgotten Paths of the Dead

Summary

Topics discussed