Pallinghurst Barrow by Grant Allen

[@manuelluisnavarro7701]

What a great horror story. Thank you for the beautiful narration.

[@kelliryan464]

As long as people stare into the night sky marvelling at stars and warm themselves by a fire transfixed by the flames, we remain connected to our pagan roots. Thank you Tony for another gem. You make my days and nights happier.

[@2476bunny]

i like tony as he reads of the tale and then his closing aftermath and how he is getting on in his life,you know he is a real person,nice one.

[@angelatheriault8855]

Memorandum: 1. Avoid ancient places during the autumnal equinox. 2. Too much cannabis indica may or may not be a good thing. 3. Think for yourself and do not follow the recommendations of light and fairy-like young girls. 4. Always carry a pocketknife. 5. Never doubt the narrator knows his stuff.

[@thewildbirds6070]

And barrows aren't benches. Sit on your coat! This is ace by the way. Foreshadowing MR James and Algernon Blackwood. Exceptional as ever Tony.

[@thelastsausage635]

Sound advice!👍

[@allysonlewis1576]

Agreed.very good advice !

[@oldones59]

6. Don't go down there. It's dark 👻

[@oldones59]

​@thewildbirds6070 Blackwood was incredible. My other favorite is Arthur Machen. I've always found M. R. James to be boring. He was an antiquarian and loved old things. So what?

[@jackiewhite4204]

Aah, the dreaded Canabis Indica! A lesson for us all. Great reading, Tony.

[@StalinLovsMsmZioglowfagz]

Take jus’one wiff’o’ that stuff, and wind up in a drunk tank with tha rummies, or walkin’ down a dark blind alley, with’a gun in yer hand that smells uv cordite, but you don’t remember havin’ fired it, or know where ya got it! Yer in tha rough’n’tumble part’a’town, too… or even mebbe a jail cell, or a loony-bin-not remembering who the heck ya are, or where tha holy heck yev been, or how ya even got there. You’ll be pullin’ what’s left’a yer hair out, rackin’ yer scrambled eggs; tryin’a’figure out if you hurt her; and who she even was… You take my word for it, Chief, that’s’a hot potatah that’ll burn ya, and taste rotten goin’ down…. That’s some hot sauce, ‘n it’s’a little too spicy, for most folkses blood. It sure ain’t for tha’ “avruge Joe”… I’LL SAY! Takes one helluva tough lug’ta deal with thAt heavy ova trip, and the wallop it’ll leave hangin’ all over’ya like anotha’ boxer, holdin’ yer sweaty arms to yer side, with his own overwhelming strength, just playin’ widdya, wearin’ ya down, till he tekes ya’ out’n down fer’da count, widda right cross! If yer’as smart’a cookie as you sound, you’ll take my advice, kiddo, and steer your sailboat well clear of them reefs, n’ that hooch, n’ hav no truck with tha jokers who do, neither! Ah, fiddlesticks… I forgot what I was gonna… is yer mout dry too? Jeepers, creepers, if I ‘aven’caught’da worsest case of tha munchies in tha whole wide wor-- Never mind- wudder YOU lookin’ at, dere. Anyways? Ohhh, a wizegeuy, eh? Thumb yer noodle at me, will ya? So long, sailor… n’ sayanara to yer sister, too…

[@martiwilliams4592]

Gripping, nightmarish tale, love your vivd, masterful narration. Thank you, Tony.

[@thomsbooth4906]

Autumnal Equinox !!!! Of Course !!!! Science !!! Bah!!! Always listen to an old gypsies when it comes to the supernatural !!!! lol I love it. Great story and superb narration. Thanks. 👍👍👍

[@Cthulhuismyhero]

I literally never have a problem expressing myself or just plain old talking, but when I go to comment on a narration....I'm just mute. Lol. Nothing I try to type sounds good or even normal. But I loved the story. And my favorites are the end bits when you talk about the author and sometimes yourself. Thank you again!!!😁😘

[@Scarter63]

This is an excellent reading! I had the luxury to sit and listen intently, with no distractions. I'd never heard "widdershins" described as it is in this story.

[@David-Gerard]

As a hardcore materialist (despite having gone to 12 years of parochial school, I’ve been an atheist since 7th grade) I don’t believe in ghosts, vampires, etc. However, it doesn’t impact my enjoyment of these stories. It would be like if being a sci-fi fan required proof of alien civilizations.

[@ainemoroney9965]

Love that you put up an equinox story before the 23rd. The after talk is very interesting - It really has created an interest in how are written. Book club - now that would be very interesting - that could end up a story in itself....!

[@ClassicGhost]

The cursed book club? The haunted book club. An speisiul cinnte

[@stevenshipman650]

I loved this! You nailed all the various characters’ personalities. I especially loved Joyce during the dinner conversation, and how her knowledge annoyed her Mother so much. Bravo!

[@rayswoop4947]

Childe Roland to the dark tower came😁 Stephen king quoted that in the gunslinger, the dark tower!! A GREAT read

[@ClassicGhost]

+RaySwoop I like that series best of his work really

[@rayswoop4947]

@@ClassicGhost yes sir brother😁

[@gillrippingale1173]

I started listening to you just before Christmas ('22). I had been listening to Danny Robins various ghostly podcasts and was missing them, so stumbled upon your ghostly tails! I'm really enjoying them, and particularly enjoyed this one, as I have a fascination for ancient landscape, barrows, stone circles and the like! I think you read superbly, and I love the extra chat and info! I'll be filling my afternoons catching up with your past videos, listening as I create my artwork. Many thanks!

[@ClassicGhost]

Good. Again flattered to be linked with Danny

[@julielevinge266]

Great story, I never realised what Barrow Downs actually meant until I read Lord Of The Rings. Used to ride over Barrow Downs often as a child, was Berkshire then but now Oxford. Wasn’t quite so keen to ride over those barrows when I realised what they contained!😮

[@ClassicGhost]

I was in Heysham last weekend and they have an old dark age chapel with rock cut graves (very unusual in Britain) and the area is known as The Burrows. I think it’s the same word

[@mattdavey3936]

Wonderfully abundant with the strange allure of ancient mystery

[@Aiko2-26-9]

Just in time for the autumn equinox. I'll be sure to look out for spirits.

[@ClassicGhost]

You must

[@meganmcnelis7136]

I've just listened to this and got a shock at the end. Justin Hopper was one of my best friends in college. What a coincidence he was mentioned!

[@ClassicGhost]

I mention him a lot! I'm going to review his Old Weird Albion in my Late Night Sleep Stories podcast soon.

[@martiwilliams4592]

Good to hear this again.Creepy! Just as gripping this time also. thank you, Tony!

[@toekafrank6998]

I love this writer...especially "The British Barbarians". He was quite a literary maverick for his age...

[@StalinLovsMsmZioglowfagz]

Yes, I’d thought it much more modern when I’d heard it.

[@melanieomer9186]

Oh my, Reefer Madness!

[@ClassicGhost]

Great song

[@bluegreenglue6565]

Terry Pratchett's treatment of Barrows and the dwellers therein is my absolute favorite. This tale portrays a bit more grim image! Great reading, friend. Thanks so much!

[@chasenip2]

I did all three! I found my new home. You’r voice is perfect fir these!

[@carolynlewis9008]

Yes!! Book club!

[@martiwilliams4592]

Ditto this time, Tony. Very enjoyable. Thank you!!!!!

[@todddickinson3262]

Mesmerizing narration!!Thoroughly enjoyed this Tony, as always…

[@MooncatsLady]

Thanks!

[@ClassicGhost]

Thank you very much.

[@dianen407]

Thoroughly enchanting! Many thanks 😊

[@mariameere5807]

Thank you so much Tony!! 🫶

[@Story-Voracious66]

Thanks Tony for a Michaelmas story. I really enjoyed it. I will listen to it again on the 29th if I am able. Hope all is good with you and yours. I'm listening on the night of the passing of H M Queen Elizabeth II. Not sure how this impacts you, but sad news.

[@Story-Voracious66]

Thanks also for the laugh out loud moment. Lately I could do with a few of these.

[@terryolsson4145]

you narrate exquisitely. And you choose such great stories.

[@ClassicGhost]

You are kind twice here and I appreciate you taking the time to tell me

[@meese9140]

This is a funny story, an interesting story, and to my amusement, a story about a man who takes too much weed tincture and sees the devil from 1892 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@frankmcgovern5445]

Loved this one, by the way. Loved the story, loved the acting, especially the antagonists. That was creepy as hell! Barrow wights go in for mad squabbles.

[@susanmercurio1060]

The ghosts that my children and I sensed in the only house where we thought there were some, were from the 1940s and 1930s, so maybe we do see ghosts from a time we are familiar with. Except I thought that they must have lived in that house during those years.

[@achukmvlid.johnson9588]

I love my Sundew! They are beautiful. I also love you sharing your talent to tell a story ❤️

[@ClassicGhost]

If you put your finger in the sundew will It digest it?

[@frankmcgovern5445]

Sorry to butt in - it does not. I raise a lot of drosera, sundew, (and other carnivorous plants) and they will just get sticky mucilage on your fing. However, tape an open Venus fly trap to the end of your finger and after about half a day you’ll find the top layer of skin… eaten. So if you managed to keep your finger coated in sundew mucilage for like half a day nonstop you might get a bit of localized exfoliation. They are beautiful tho.

[@thurayya8905]

If Lovecraft had written it, Rudolf would be a naturally nervous creature who did not like to venture from his home, but would have been drawn by the call of a primordial creature to the barrow and, glimpsing the eldritch bluish shadows, collapsed and knew no more. So we would have never known what was inside. I was intrigued by the gentleman in 16th century dress, presumably lured in one night many years ago.

[@georgemarquardt4435]

Edible cannabis never did agree w me either. The portrayal of the wise child very well done

[@KayBacci]

I recommend Phil Rickman's novel, 'The Cold Calling', about a serial murderer, the Green Man, who returns to stone circles, burial mounds and ancient churches. Rickman's series of books about Merrily Watkins are also excellent. She's a great character.

[@nancynickerson4341]

Thank you Tony. I'd like to hear more by this author.

[@StalinLovsMsmZioglowfagz]

Me 2!

[@bethpemberton7980]

A car trip of abt an hour and I have Tony to keep me company!!!

[@ClassicGhost]

I had a 2 hour drive. I listened to Hawkwind

[@Tipi_Dan]

Love it. So many things I like in there.

[@clarahalfin399]

Tony Walker, one of our Great Story Tellers!!! Skillful Intonation makes all the difference.

[@ClassicGhost]

Thank you indeed

[@thurayya8905]

I get impatient with people who say the ghost they saw was "in old timey dress". Well, that really nails it, doesn't it?

[@stevenshipman650]

I very much enjoy British folk and fairy lore!

[@donaldmccleary9015]

Cool story, great narration! I am a few months into the channel and just listened to this. I think discussing the stories via Zoom or another video chat medium is a great idea! Keep them coming! Thanks!

[@rayswoop4947]

So awesome, these are my favorite kind, that involve the moors and the heath lol

[@libertycowboy2495]

Love your shows!

[@ClassicGhost]

Stay free star child

[@greedyfirstalgorithmlast26]

This is Good, Tony!

[@ClassicGhost]

Glad you enjoyed it my friend

[@hugo8-track727]

Great story. And wonderful chat at the end.. loved it! thank you. [you said "poo" lol]

[@ClassicGhost]

I know. I think I got away with it though... We shall see

[@glosteiger2517]

Liked it a lot. Possibly it was a dream due to cannibas. When you did voices, which were great, I imagined what a sore throat you might have after.

[@JimBagby74]

In "Children of the Stones", it was a poacher that lived in the barrow. And it was actually the safe place to be!

[@ClassicGhost]

I remember. I loved that as a kid. I got the DVD. have we spoken about Penda’s Fen?

[@JimBagby74]

"Children" showed up on American TV when I was a kid, sometime in the mid-80s, and it was terrifying. Visiting Avebury was as cool for that as it was the history. My inn was the doctor's house apparently. What is Penda's Fen?

[@ClassicGhost]

@@JimBagby74 The Red Lion ? Pendas Fen is a short film from about the same period

[@Bbergster]

"Moo Moo Moo!" Good voice acting. Really interesting after talk. Always blow my mind. You know your stuff. Ive heard the sylvester Stallone movie "cobra" has the highest kill count in all movies..... Not sure who counts these things.

[@dartmart9263]

Tony, that lady’s “American” accent was hilarious!

[@ClassicGhost]

I have to say it was intended to be. I’m waiting for the Scots to say something g about the Scottish blokes accent too.

[@dartmart9263]

@@ClassicGhost It was so much fun to listen to. Thanks a million! By the way, you are exactly right about Blavatsky. She’s the founder of most modern New Age Hindu/Tibetan mumbo-jumbo. :)

[@dartmart9263]

@@ClassicGhost Toby, quick question, or two. Am I imagining it or did you do a story about a country girl who leaves her parents to live with a rascal who turns out to have werewolf tendencies? If it was you, what story was that? Thanks

[@toadyuk8391]

“I think the count of monte cristo is one too”, bless you tony for making me laugh hard. I’m not being mean, it just made me chuckle, o think you mean Le Comte St Germain an amazing person and history he has. He also appears in the best ghost story ever (if you can find the secret redacted version with the proper ending) The Haunter and Haunted by Lord Bulwer Lytton. I have as I’m sure you realise more than a passing interest in such matters, and when we meet we will talk of these things, I promise. John Dee and Enochian magic are really my thing, I find the Golden Dawn just a little hard to follow, given it’s ritual magic created for a reflected worship. Finally I must mention my dealing with the other people or the gentry, I will not call then using the F word, as I think they are very real and certainly not harmless. As you know I lived my formative years in cornwall and so rubbed up against tor, barrows, cromlechs and stones all the time. Of course I also rubbed up against those who linger around these areas, a quick story. I went with my sons to camp wild on Bodmin moor near the place known as cheese ring which is a huge stack of stones beside a large cliff face of granite surrounded by moors. It was me, ben aged 6 and Daniel aged 9. We made a little fire, but had to be careful as we were wild camping just near a pathway in the ferns and gorse. It got dark and after the boys had settled down I went for a very short walk around, not going far from the tent. I walked to look up at the cheese ring as there was a glorious moon and it looked almost magical, lost a little in this reverie, and it seemed to suddenly get colder I shook myself off and turned to walk what must be 150 yards to the kids in the tent. Three things then almost seemed to happen at once, a great sound or feeling was around me like a huge string being plucked and going “ping” I felt as much as heard it. I also heard at the same time my kids shouting, clearly in distress, get off and go away being clear above the ruckus. Finally I saw appear in of me on the track a massive shaggy ram, full horns and he was stamping his front hoof and his eyes glowed reddish orange. These Moor dwelling “sheep” are more like wild boars or bulls than what we would usually call sheep and he looked murderous. Given my children were in dire distress, perhaps I imagined being attacked by another murderous ram, I picked up a stick beside the track and ran towards the ram, who immediately started charging me. As he came on I dived to the side, hurting my shoulder and rolling into the bracken and ditch at the side. I was up in a trice and going full speed and adrenaline towards the tent, I had no torch as I had just wandered in the moonlight and not that far, though given the crisis it seemed further than I had thought. I could clearly hear the kids being harassed by something or some things but for the life of me I could not locate them. My panic was super high now, I mean they were only just to the side of the track. I even ran back to the track entry gate to minions that was maybe 300 yards away and I knew we had only come 200 yards in before making camp. Do what I could, I could not see the tent or my children yet all the time I could very clearly hear them being hurt, painful cries and goodness knows what. I was beside myself and muttered to myself as I am given to do at times of crisis Lord Jesus give me strength. This is half frustrated muttering and half my good Methodist upbringing, leaning on gods for support. It was like a sudden change in the weather almost, I heard and felt a huge blanket of humming that I hadn’t been aware was there vanish and I was left in a still and now silent trackway other than cries I could hear to my right, just 10 yards into the bracken and could now clearly see the tent. I quickly ran to the tent and comforted my boys, I broke open the kitkats I had been saving for the next days hike. I asked them once calm what had happened, and this is what they said. Daddy, a strange light woke us up and we could see everything inside the tent and also you were not here, so Daniel went to open the zip as we thought it must be morning. Daniel then says, I unzipped the flap and it was dark outside and then something bit me on the nose, so i ducked back inside. Then Ben and I were pinched and punched all over, there seemed to me something inside the tent with us and there were others outside. It was just like that story where the invisible elves pinch the man who stole their gold. Well, that’s my story and why I don’t take lightly dealings with the others. I was befuddled that night and I am a careful and sensible fellow who isn’t going to lose his kids ten yards from a main pathway. Luckily to say the rest of the night passed calmly and we woke to one of the most magical sights I have ever had as sun rose across the moor. Still, a word of caution when camping wild, be careful on whose lands you pitch your tent !

[@ClassicGhost]

Yes! The Comte de st germain though the Comte de Monte Cristo is going to be in there somewhere . Cornish eh? I used to hang about with a lot of Cornish folk. They made me learn a bit of Cornish too

[@ClassicGhost]

This is a cool story by the way

[@StalinLovsMsmZioglowfagz]

Ha! You made me laugh, with, not “at” Ton Loc. I’ve had some of these, almost Algernon Blackwood experiences myself, but never the physical attack your boys had. More of a glamour they can put on you, as you described. Very interesting story, indeed. Although, I have to say I’d love to hear more about the “gentry”, you passed briefly over. At first I thought you meant the living, landed, but, I’m fairly certain that this was NOT what you meant, at all… Already ominous in it’s vagueness. I know you were speaking rather directly to Tony, so I apologize for butting in, it was just interesting to hear. Cheers

[@toadyuk8391]

@@StalinLovsMsmZioglowfagz no it’s an open format so everyone is included ! I deliberately won’t say the F word and so call them greyfolk, the gentry (Irish term) or other people. They have many names and my experience taught me to be careful around them. I was very frightened, with my boys. On one level it was a panicked father who got lost, but I was there and I think what my boys experienced probably backs up my experience.

[@tinahale9252]

The power of the very name Jesus. I've fought off a man possessed with Jesus.

[@frankmcgovern5445]

He straight up had an edible!

[@SandraJSchultz]

Holy cow you are a good reader!

[@ClassicGhost]

Wow, thank you!

[@samelkins749]

"It's a narcotic, Cannabis Indica" got me cackling as someone who hails from a thc legal region. Be careful not to overdose! 😂

[@carolowen6705]

Love the idea of a book club. I would join in a heartbeat. Sadly I’m no technophile so I hope Rebecca will b able to get u up and running. As an aside, I was amused by your comments about the ideas of some that natural =good as justification for cannibis use. As a psych nurse myself while having conversations with patients about the very real benefit of medication to augment mental health recovery, often hear, “Oh, I don’t want to put ‘chemicals’ in my body, I don’t believe in that”. These comments are often made in the destructive aftermath of a chemical binge on meth or cocaine, etc. As humans we always seem to find ways to justify our choices (destructive or otherwise) and tragically defend those ideas even as the consequences destroy us. I also have never seen a ghost though I would love too. And talking about only seeing ghosts of people with which we are familiar, makes perfect sense to me. I have to have a context to make sense of an experience and that context will obviously be the sum of me and my history, beliefs and on and on. So now I’m thinking about the whole alien abduction thing. ZI mean, those people report visions though they aren’t categorized as ghosts. I wonder how the first abductee used his or her personal context to make sense of something so outside of everyday life. The archetypal alien with tiny prepubescent bodies and oversized heads with big black eyes can’t have been familiar in the beginning. Hmm, I’ve gone off on a tangent. But I love to and a book club discussion would allow us all to explore tangents! What fun !

[@ClassicGhost]

+Carol owen This whole idea of the good being natural of the natural being good is wrong . Like you I have discussed many times with my patients who will take any old stuff someone sells them in the toilet but won’t take researched meds. I’m not 100% for medication but it certainly has its place

[@charlesdexterward7781]

I very much enjoy your channel and story selection. I listened to your endnotes about wanting to do this full time and I have one suggestion: is there a way to reduce the bass in your recordings? I do find I sometimes have to listen more intently to your videos than to other equally excellent narrators such as HorrorBabble and Sherlock Holmes Stories Magpie Audio. Their audio strikes me a little brighter and clearer. I may be the only one who thinks this, and I'm no audio engineer so "bass" may not even be the issue but rather some other audio setting. Cheers

[@ClassicGhost]

It is possible to reduce bass and that might make it a brighter sound. I would do this with the EQ

[@Thomas-wn7cl]

By the sounds of it, the good doctor administered PCP rather than THC.

[@AND-od5jt]

1:09:09 Not sure if I like that expression - "proper" - since it indicates that being a Tuber is still not a proper job (which it really shouldn't be any more by now). Best of luck anywho!

[@ropeburnsrussell]

I loved the dinner party. I assume the american girl was rich, why invite her otherwise.

[@vickiereed643]

You had mentioned about putting in a link to the Alison Kraus with someone? and I don’t see that link. Could you please put it in as a link? Thank you Tony!

[@AND-od5jt]

Yay -- 1001st like ;D

[@thurayya8905]

Mrs. Bouvary-Barton would make an excellent sacrifice for the equinox. Just tie her up with a gag, which she would probably manage to cast off by the time you got to the barrow by violently moving her jaws, shrilly insisting to the Pictish creatures who grabbed her, that this was no way for them to be carrying on, so unscientific of them, as they devoured her.

[@dshe8637]

Oh. You don't like women, do you?

[@missdaisysunshine8633]

No room for it...😂😂😂😂

[@richardstrachmesserschmiti4979]

The Picks - Conan the Barbarian was Pickish

[@richardstrachmesserschmiti4979]

Cromwell 🤮

[@richardstrachmesserschmiti4979]

King Edward 😎

[@susanmercurio1060]

PicTs - Conan the Barbarian was PicTish.

[@richardstrachmesserschmiti4979]

@@susanmercurio1060 Conan was cool

[@susanmercurio1060]

@@richardstrachmesserschmiti4979 : Then he was a cool Pict.

[@frankmcgovern5445]

Tony, you tried to get into the locked drawer today, didn’t you?

[@frankmcgovern5445]

I didn’t hear it so I had to write it.

[@ClassicGhost]

Well what do you think? Should I keep the old intro?

[@frankmcgovern5445]

Huh, that’s a good question. I kinda miss it because I’m used to it but the new one does get to the excellent content sooner, which I like. I think it’s good though! Change is good.

[@susanmercurio1060]

@@ClassicGhost : Yes, yes, yes, keep the old intro. I love the locked drawer!

[@Esmie999]

@@ClassicGhost Much prefer the new intro x

[@CrowSkeleton]

Oh gosh, this story is so pulpy Victorian awful and so well-acted, I don't know how you managed the most absurd racist stuff without breaking into giggles every take. That one chain of 'GHOSTS!..but worse than just ghosts, BROWN PEOPLE!! ...and worse than brown people ghosts, WOMEN!!!' just had me rolling. Alas that unlike Howard he wasn't competing for an illustrated front cover bonus, otherwise the Eldritch Menace to all the values of English Society might have been lesbians as well (evidently they are already poor, as for some reason the Bronze Age bling that should have been known to pop culture from barrow cemeteries is absent). A pity the helpful antiquarian vicar-ghost was never identified, he seems to be the sole sensible person/parson in the entire tale.

[@dshe8637]

And the open misogyny 😂

[@mq9893]

🤓🍻📚

[@BillyTheKidOfficialYT]

That was the worst American accent I ever heard 😂 but this is a great story lol

[@blixten2928]

Such a time-piece! The primitive, ugly, animal-like Barrow Inhabitants, who, like all savages, just want to kill you in ritual glee; the unattractive women's rights hostess; the fifth and sixth dimensions; what more could you want! Well done on the voices of the ur-language ghosts, too, you are great at such things. In short: a real thriller!

[@dshe8637]

Yes a heap of prejudice, superstition, racism, misogyny and privilege. The true horror lies outside the plot and characters

[@charliethirteen3868]

Everything good, apart from your lady voice. It thounds very threaky, it thnot eathy to thleap when thlistening to ik. Everything else good, please get a lady to do those narrations.

[@ClassicGhost]

no

[@charliethirteen3868]

@@ClassicGhost Thair enougth. Lol.

[@ClassicGhost]

@@charliethirteen3868 there’s only me here . when i have paid other narrators people tune out .

[@charliethirteen3868]

@ClassicGhost You are doing well mate. You have great voice and style. If they tune out, they aren't worth having around.