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 your spine as we witness the spirit of The White Woman of Paternoster Row.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed Midwinter.

If you'd like to buy me a wee Christmas drink, you can do so at ko-fi.com/carlisletimescrimes. Any donations are greatly appreciated.

You can also follow, and subscribe to me on Facebook. Search for Carlisle Times & Crimes

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.

Carlisle Times & Crimes is on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1GcE8H4wRB/

And if you'd like to help Carlisle Times & Crimes by making a one-off donation, or buying me a drink, you can do so at:

https://ko-fi.com/carlisletimescrimes

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.

Carlisle Times & Crimes is on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1GcE8H4wRB/

If you'd like to buy me a drink or make a one-off donation to help towards running costs, you can do so at:

https://ko-fi.com/carlisletimescrimes