HMS Asp: What Caused Royal Navy Crew To Faint With Fear?
Danny Robins, Evelyn Hollow and Dr Ciaràn O'Keeffe investigate a haunting onboard a Navy vessel.
It’s the mid-19th century, and HMS Asp is on a routine mission charting the British coastline for the Royal Navy. But strange sounds and a ghostly apparition unsettle the crew, far away from the safety of shore. As fear spreads among the men whispers of a haunting take hold.
Is this the strain of isolation playing tricks on the mind? Do the crew have cabin fever - or could someone, or something, be moving below decks?
0:00 Coming Up: The haunting of HMS Asp
2:14 What was HMS Asp?
3:25 Phenomena begins at sea
5:53 Who was Captain Alldridge?
6:57 History of HMS Asp
7:43 Sailor superstitious beliefs
8:42 The lady's room
9:57 Woman seen on paddle box
11:19 Murder on ship
12:44 Who did the crew see?
14:36 Is the number of witnesses significant?
15:42 Was phenomena a murdered woman?
16:44 Sailors fainting from fear
17:42 Captain Alldridge physically touched
22:44 Pembroke Dockyard: Apparition leaves ship
28:10 Final thoughts
28:54 Contact Danny
29:26 Next episode: Spring-heeled Jack
A Bafflegab and Uncanny Media production for BBC Radio 4
Credit - Thumbnail photograph of Danny: Willie Runte
Credit - Thumbnail illustration: Ashley Thorpe