S2 Ep14: The Origin of the "Bedsheet" Ghost

S2 Ep14: The Origin of the "Bedsheet" Ghost

Author: Norfolk Folklore Society December 1, 2023 Duration: 36:51
This month’s podcast is all about ghosts – or rather, the ghosts we’d all draw if anyone
asked us to mock up a quick doodle. You know the one: looks like a floating bedsheet with eyes. 

Round on top, wiggly on the bottom, with a couple of eyes holes – it’s the image that
always pops to mind when thinking of ghosts: but why?

This very specific image of ghosts as white sheets has been engrained in our culture for
centuries and, until fairly recently, was considered genuinely terrifying.

We look into the history of the bedsheet ghost, find our own example in Norfolk and recent examples further afield in 2020: the bedsheet ghost, it seems, is still alive and well (dead and well?) even today.

Hosted by Siofra Connor and Stacia Briggs, the Norfolk Folklore Society podcast is a series of audio expeditions into the weird and wonderful layers of England’s most enigmatic county. Each episode is a deep dive, moving beyond well-trodden tales to uncover the living strangeness in the landscape-from whispered ghost stories in forgotten churches and encounters with elusive big cats in the fens, to the peculiar history of village witchcraft and modern accounts of lights in the Broads sky. The conversations feel like joining two deeply knowledgeable friends on a long walk down a muddy lane, where every crumbling wall or oddly shaped tree might have a story. This isn’t just about cataloguing the past; it’s about listening to how these old currents of belief, fear, and magic still ripple through the present. Whether you’re someone who instinctively scans a field for fairy rings or you simply enjoy a compelling, atmospheric story, this podcast offers a unique and grounded perspective. The tone is one of genuine curiosity and respect, treating each subject, no matter how uncanny, with thoughtful consideration. You’ll hear firsthand accounts, historical research, and lively discussion that connects ancient folklore to contemporary experience, all centered on the rich, eerie soil of Norfolk. It’s for anyone who suspects there’s more to a place than what appears on the map.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Norfolk Folklore Society
Podcast Episodes
S1 Ep86: The rising dead at Corpusty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:46
We are back! After a long break, which is explained in the episode, we discuss the tale of the rising dead in the village of Corpusty. Just a warning, this episode does get a little gory so you may not want to listen whi…
S1 Ep85: The Happisburgh Torso [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:11
On this episode we discuss the gruesome tale of the Happisburgh Torso. We actually thought that we'd lost this recording so please excuse the references to Christmas!
S1 Ep84: No Man's Friend [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:59
In this episode Stacia and Siofra discuss No Man's Friend. A field which was said to be cursed and is now lost to the sea.
S1 Ep83: Northrepps Shrieking Pits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:50
On this episode Stacia and Siofra go adventuring in north Norfolk to visit the shrieking pit in Northrepps. It gets a bit windy out there!
S1 Ep82: Cutthroat Lane, Yaxham [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:46
On this episode we discuss the stories behind the name of Cutthroat lane in the little village of Yaxham.
S1 Ep81: The Mistletoe Bride [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:57
On this episode we share the festive tale of mistletoe bride and we look at its possible connection to Norfolk. Merry Christmas everyone!
S1 Ep80: Horning Timeslip [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:07
On this episode Stacia and Siofra discuss an an unsettling time slip in Horning and ask some big questions about time.