S2 Ep17: The Good Sword of Winfarthing

S2 Ep17: The Good Sword of Winfarthing

Author: Norfolk Folklore Society February 1, 2024 Duration: 34:08
Today’s podcast is about the Magical Sword of Winfarthing, the Excalibur of Norfolk which helped women rid themselves of terrible husbands (and find their lost horses) from the safety of their village church.

We have plenty of sword play with a range of topics which see us discuss witchcraft, famous magical swords and why we can’t pronounce most of them, why the sword is associated with supernatural and magical powers and why making swords was so revered.

(Something I forgot to mention in the podcast is what some of those secrets were, such as “the virtues of certain liquids for quenching the hot iron, varying from the water of certain rivers to the urine of a red-haired boy or the juice of radishes mixed with earthworms.” Bear this in mind the next time you make a sword).

Find out why folk magic in a church might not have been the no-no it later became, why women felt the need to ask a sword for help if their husband was a wrong ‘un, a real example of a sword in a stone and how to use a sword for toothache (useful in these days of no NHS dentists).

Siofra also offers an alternative title to the five-series-long Merlin TV series which would have made it a whole lot better and Stacia wonders what excuse you’d need to come up with in order to go and ask a sword to murder your husband once a week for a year.

Both members of the Norfolk Folklore Society would like to make it very clear that they love their husbands very much and have not been visiting (a) Winfarthing or (b) a sword.

We hope you enjoy! 

Love from Siofra and Stacia


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.