Stories from the Shadows

Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme

Behind the modern shopfronts, bustling cafés and busy High Street of Forres lies a wealth of secret stories, untold struggles and remarkable lives. Beneath the familiar streets and well-known landmarks are layers of history waiting to be uncovered - stories of ordinary people and events that have quietly shaped the town and its community. Welcome to Stories from the Shadows, a podcast uncovering the hidden histories, forgotten figures and overlooked narratives of Forres and its people. So step back from the modern world. Leave the busy streets behind and take a wander through the forgotten corners of Forres. The past is still here. You just have to know where to look.

Episodes

  1. Sep 21

    10. The Town Hall Comes To Life

    Behind the modern shopfronts, bustling cafés and busy High Street of Forres lies a wealth of secret stories, untold struggles and remarkable lives. Beneath the familiar streets and well-known landmarks are layers of history waiting to be uncovered - stories of ordinary people and events that have quietly shaped the town and its community. Welcome to Stories from the Shadows, a podcast uncovering the hidden histories, forgotten figures and overlooked narratives of Forres and its people. In each episode, we’ll explore the stories behind the town’s most famous landmarks and uncover the lives of those who have slipped from the pages of history, shining a light on the people and places that helped make this historic Royal Burgh what it is today. From unexpected characters and long-forgotten events to the darker, stranger and more fascinating corners of Forres’s past, we’ll look beyond the history we think we know. Because history isn’t just found in grand buildings, monuments and official records. It can be found in the streets we walk every day, in the buildings we pass without a second thought, and in the lives of people whose stories have been almost forgotten. So step back from the modern world. Leave the busy streets behind and take a wander through the forgotten corners of Forres. The past is still here. You just have to know where to look. Margo Henderson writes herself into the walls of Forres’ beautiful Town Hall, the perfect vantage point to observe nearly 2 centuries of life at the heart of the town and the comings and goings of its residents. Stories from the Shadows is part of the Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme project led by Moray Council and part-funded by the Historic Environment Scotland Heritage and Place Programme, the National Lottery Heritage Fund Grants for Heritage - with thanks to the National Lottery players, the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and the Scottish Government via Town Centre Capital Fund, Place Based Investment Fund and Coastal Community Fund. Stories From The Shadows was produced by Adventurous Audio Ltd

  2. Sep 21

    9. James Brown – Taxidermist and Hairdresser

    Behind the modern shopfronts, bustling cafés and busy High Street of Forres lies a wealth of secret stories, untold struggles and remarkable lives. Beneath the familiar streets and well-known landmarks are layers of history waiting to be uncovered - stories of ordinary people and events that have quietly shaped the town and its community. Welcome to Stories from the Shadows, a podcast uncovering the hidden histories, forgotten figures and overlooked narratives of Forres and its people. In each episode, we’ll explore the stories behind the town’s most famous landmarks and uncover the lives of those who have slipped from the pages of history, shining a light on the people and places that helped make this historic Royal Burgh what it is today. From unexpected characters and long-forgotten events to the darker, stranger and more fascinating corners of Forres’s past, we’ll look beyond the history we think we know. Because history isn’t just found in grand buildings, monuments and official records. It can be found in the streets we walk every day, in the buildings we pass without a second thought, and in the lives of people whose stories have been almost forgotten. So step back from the modern world. Leave the busy streets behind and take a wander through the forgotten corners of Forres. The past is still here. You just have to know where to look. In this episode Tom Logie imagines the double life of Tom James Brown, a Forres hairdresser and taxidermist and reveals just what happens to all those hair trimmings! Stories from the Shadows is part of the Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme project led by Moray Council and part-funded by the Historic Environment Scotland Heritage and Place Programme, the National Lottery Heritage Fund Grants for Heritage - with thanks to the National Lottery players, the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and the Scottish Government via Town Centre Capital Fund, Place Based Investment Fund and Coastal Community Fund. Stories From The Shadows was produced by Adventurous Audio Ltd

  3. Sep 21

    7. Josie Falconer – poet and shopkeeper

    Behind the modern shopfronts, bustling cafés and busy High Street of Forres lies a wealth of secret stories, untold struggles and remarkable lives. Beneath the familiar streets and well-known landmarks are layers of history waiting to be uncovered - stories of ordinary people and events that have quietly shaped the town and its community. Welcome to Stories from the Shadows, a podcast uncovering the hidden histories, forgotten figures and overlooked narratives of Forres and its people. In each episode, we’ll explore the stories behind the town’s most famous landmarks and uncover the lives of those who have slipped from the pages of history, shining a light on the people and places that helped make this historic Royal Burgh what it is today. From unexpected characters and long-forgotten events to the darker, stranger and more fascinating corners of Forres’s past, we’ll look beyond the history we think we know. Because history isn’t just found in grand buildings, monuments and official records. It can be found in the streets we walk every day, in the buildings we pass without a second thought, and in the lives of people whose stories have been almost forgotten. So step back from the modern world. Leave the busy streets behind and take a wander through the forgotten corners of Forres. The past is still here. You just have to know where to look. In this episode, George Alexander reads an extraordinary advert for the wares available in Josie Falconer’s shop. As well as being a shopkeeper, Josie was a poet and has crafted his entire advert in Doric verse! Here’s a glossary to help: Glossary Laigh Low Bentit Covered with bent or thatch Saip Soap Curn Quantity Hinny Honey Prie Taste Spice Peppermint Roset Wax Thairm bands Catgut cord for turning a spinning wheel Dragon Boy’s kite Souming Swimming Villipend Belittle Deuce Devil Speer Ask Stories from the Shadows is part of the Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme project led by Moray Council and part-funded by the Historic Environment Scotland Heritage and Place Programme, the National Lottery Heritage Fund Grants for Heritage - with thanks to the National Lottery players, the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and the Scottish Government via Town Centre Capital Fund, Place Based Investment Fund and Coastal Community Fund. Stories From The Shadows was produced by Adventurous Audio Ltd

  4. Sep 21

    6. Falconer Museum and its artefacts come back to life!

    Behind the modern shopfronts, bustling cafés and busy High Street of Forres lies a wealth of secret stories, untold struggles and remarkable lives. Beneath the familiar streets and well-known landmarks are layers of history waiting to be uncovered - stories of ordinary people and events that have quietly shaped the town and its community. Welcome to Stories from the Shadows, a podcast uncovering the hidden histories, forgotten figures and overlooked narratives of Forres and its people. In each episode, we’ll explore the stories behind the town’s most famous landmarks and uncover the lives of those who have slipped from the pages of history, shining a light on the people and places that helped make this historic Royal Burgh what it is today. From unexpected characters and long-forgotten events to the darker, stranger and more fascinating corners of Forres’s past, we’ll look beyond the history we think we know. Because history isn’t just found in grand buildings, monuments and official records. It can be found in the streets we walk every day, in the buildings we pass without a second thought, and in the lives of people whose stories have been almost forgotten. So step back from the modern world. Leave the busy streets behind and take a wander through the forgotten corners of Forres. The past is still here. You just have to know where to look. In this episode, Friends of Falconer who have done so much behind the scenes for years to help bring about the reopening of the Museum, step out of the shadows to bring some of the hidden treasures in the collection to light by allowing the artefacts to tell their own stories. Stories from the Shadows is part of the Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme project led by Moray Council and part-funded by the Historic Environment Scotland Heritage and Place Programme, the National Lottery Heritage Fund Grants for Heritage - with thanks to the National Lottery players, the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and the Scottish Government via Town Centre Capital Fund, Place Based Investment Fund and Coastal Community Fund. Stories From The Shadows was produced by Adventurous Audio Ltd

  5. Sep 21

    5. Ann Mackie – a woman between 2 worlds

    Behind the modern shopfronts, bustling cafés and busy High Street of Forres lies a wealth of secret stories, untold struggles and remarkable lives. Beneath the familiar streets and well-known landmarks are layers of history waiting to be uncovered - stories of ordinary people and events that have quietly shaped the town and its community. Welcome to Stories from the Shadows, a podcast uncovering the hidden histories, forgotten figures and overlooked narratives of Forres and its people. In each episode, we’ll explore the stories behind the town’s most famous landmarks and uncover the lives of those who have slipped from the pages of history, shining a light on the people and places that helped make this historic Royal Burgh what it is today. From unexpected characters and long-forgotten events to the darker, stranger and more fascinating corners of Forres’s past, we’ll look beyond the history we think we know. Because history isn’t just found in grand buildings, monuments and official records. It can be found in the streets we walk every day, in the buildings we pass without a second thought, and in the lives of people whose stories have been almost forgotten. So step back from the modern world. Leave the busy streets behind and take a wander through the forgotten corners of Forres. The past is still here. You just have to know where to look. Lorraine Fraser imagines herself into the shadow story of Ann Mackie. Born in 1812 to a Jamaican mother, she then was taken to Moray at the age of 6 with her Scottish father, William Mackie, where Forres became her home for the rest of her life. Stories from the Shadows is part of the Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme project led by Moray Council and part-funded by the Historic Environment Scotland Heritage and Place Programme, the National Lottery Heritage Fund Grants for Heritage - with thanks to the National Lottery players, the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and the Scottish Government via Town Centre Capital Fund, Place Based Investment Fund and Coastal Community Fund. Stories From The Shadows was produced by Adventurous Audio Ltd

  6. Sep 21

    4. Jessie Henderson

    Behind the modern shopfronts, bustling cafés and busy High Street of Forres lies a wealth of secret stories, untold struggles and remarkable lives. Beneath the familiar streets and well-known landmarks are layers of history waiting to be uncovered - stories of ordinary people and events that have quietly shaped the town and its community. Welcome to Stories from the Shadows, a podcast uncovering the hidden histories, forgotten figures and overlooked narratives of Forres and its people. In each episode, we’ll explore the stories behind the town’s most famous landmarks and uncover the lives of those who have slipped from the pages of history, shining a light on the people and places that helped make this historic Royal Burgh what it is today. From unexpected characters and long-forgotten events to the darker, stranger and more fascinating corners of Forres’s past, we’ll look beyond the history we think we know. Because history isn’t just found in grand buildings, monuments and official records. It can be found in the streets we walk every day, in the buildings we pass without a second thought, and in the lives of people whose stories have been almost forgotten. So step back from the modern world. Leave the busy streets behind and take a wander through the forgotten corners of Forres. The past is still here. You just have to know where to look. Grace Reid gives a poignant and moving account of the long life of Jessie Henderson, spinner of wool and mother to 13 children who settled in Forres in the latter part of the 19th Century. Stories from the Shadows is part of the Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme project led by Moray Council and part-funded by the Historic Environment Scotland Heritage and Place Programme, the National Lottery Heritage Fund Grants for Heritage - with thanks to the National Lottery players, the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and the Scottish Government via Town Centre Capital Fund, Place Based Investment Fund and Coastal Community Fund. Stories From The Shadows was produced by Adventurous Audio Ltd

  7. Sep 21

    3. The Tolbooth

    Behind the modern shopfronts, bustling cafés and busy High Street of Forres lies a wealth of secret stories, untold struggles and remarkable lives. Beneath the familiar streets and well-known landmarks are layers of history waiting to be uncovered - stories of ordinary people and events that have quietly shaped the town and its community. Welcome to Stories from the Shadows, a podcast uncovering the hidden histories, forgotten figures and overlooked narratives of Forres and its people. In each episode, we’ll explore the stories behind the town’s most famous landmarks and uncover the lives of those who have slipped from the pages of history, shining a light on the people and places that helped make this historic Royal Burgh what it is today. From unexpected characters and long-forgotten events to the darker, stranger and more fascinating corners of Forres’s past, we’ll look beyond the history we think we know. Because history isn’t just found in grand buildings, monuments and official records. It can be found in the streets we walk every day, in the buildings we pass without a second thought, and in the lives of people whose stories have been almost forgotten. So step back from the modern world. Leave the busy streets behind and take a wander through the forgotten corners of Forres. The past is still here. You just have to know where to look. In this episode heritage volunteers share the stories hidden in the shadows of Forres Tolbooth, prison, courtroom, council chamber, collection office, treasury and now archive, loving looked after by heritage enthusiasts from the local community. Stories from the Shadows is part of the Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme project led by Moray Council and part-funded by the Historic Environment Scotland Heritage and Place Programme, the National Lottery Heritage Fund Grants for Heritage - with thanks to the National Lottery players, the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and the Scottish Government via Town Centre Capital Fund, Place Based Investment Fund and Coastal Community Fund. Stories From The Shadows was produced by Adventurous Audio Ltd

  8. Sep 21

    2. Provost William Dawson – a dive into the life of a Forres character from the early 18th Century

    Behind the modern shopfronts, bustling cafés and busy High Street of Forres lies a wealth of secret stories, untold struggles and remarkable lives. Beneath the familiar streets and well-known landmarks are layers of history waiting to be uncovered - stories of ordinary people and events that have quietly shaped the town and its community. Welcome to Stories from the Shadows, a podcast uncovering the hidden histories, forgotten figures and overlooked narratives of Forres and its people. In each episode, we’ll explore the stories behind the town’s most famous landmarks and uncover the lives of those who have slipped from the pages of history, shining a light on the people and places that helped make this historic Royal Burgh what it is today. From unexpected characters and long-forgotten events to the darker, stranger and more fascinating corners of Forres’s past, we’ll look beyond the history we think we know. Because history isn’t just found in grand buildings, monuments and official records. It can be found in the streets we walk every day, in the buildings we pass without a second thought, and in the lives of people whose stories have been almost forgotten. So step back from the modern world. Leave the busy streets behind and take a wander through the forgotten corners of Forres. The past is still here. You just have to know where to look. In this episode, Ray Mills gives voice to the ghost of Provost William Dawson, a larger-than-life character from Forres in the 18th Century who supped with Bonnie Prince Charlie. Stories from the Shadows is part of the Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme project led by Moray Council and part-funded by the Historic Environment Scotland Heritage and Place Programme, the National Lottery Heritage Fund Grants for Heritage - with thanks to the National Lottery players, the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and the Scottish Government via Town Centre Capital Fund, Place Based Investment Fund and Coastal Community Fund. Stories From The Shadows was produced by Adventurous Audio Ltd

  9. Sep 21

    1. Forres Town where every street holds a story

    Behind the modern shopfronts, bustling cafés and busy High Street of Forres lies a wealth of secret stories, untold struggles and remarkable lives. Beneath the familiar streets and well-known landmarks are layers of history waiting to be uncovered - stories of ordinary people and events that have quietly shaped the town and its community. Welcome to Stories from the Shadows, a podcast uncovering the hidden histories, forgotten figures and overlooked narratives of Forres and its people. In each episode, we’ll explore the stories behind the town’s most famous landmarks and uncover the lives of those who have slipped from the pages of history, shining a light on the people and places that helped make this historic Royal Burgh what it is today. From unexpected characters and long-forgotten events to the darker, stranger and more fascinating corners of Forres’s past, we’ll look beyond the history we think we know. Because history isn’t just found in grand buildings, monuments and official records. It can be found in the streets we walk every day, in the buildings we pass without a second thought, and in the lives of people whose stories have been almost forgotten. So step back from the modern world. Leave the busy streets behind and take a wander through the forgotten corners of Forres. The past is still here. You just have to know where to look. Storyteller Margot Henderson introduces the Stories From The Shadows series with an imaginary walk through Forres in Moray, diving into some of the stories to be found down every street of this vibrant and historic town. Stories from the Shadows is part of the Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme project led by Moray Council and part-funded by the Historic Environment Scotland Heritage and Place Programme, the National Lottery Heritage Fund Grants for Heritage - with thanks to the National Lottery players, the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and the Scottish Government via Town Centre Capital Fund, Place Based Investment Fund and Coastal Community Fund. Stories From The Shadows was produced by Adventurous Audio Ltd

  10. Sep 9

    8. Constance Grigor – a moving story of mental ill-health and a life in Bilbohall hospital

    Behind the modern shopfronts, bustling cafés and busy High Street of Forres lies a wealth of secret stories, untold struggles and remarkable lives. Beneath the familiar streets and well-known landmarks are layers of history waiting to be uncovered - stories of ordinary people and events that have quietly shaped the town and its community. Welcome to Stories from the Shadows, a podcast uncovering the hidden histories, forgotten figures and overlooked narratives of Forres and its people. In each episode, we’ll explore the stories behind the town’s most famous landmarks and uncover the lives of those who have slipped from the pages of history, shining a light on the people and places that helped make this historic Royal Burgh what it is today. From unexpected characters and long-forgotten events to the darker, stranger and more fascinating corners of Forres’s past, we’ll look beyond the history we think we know. Because history isn’t just found in grand buildings, monuments and official records. It can be found in the streets we walk every day, in the buildings we pass without a second thought, and in the lives of people whose stories have been almost forgotten. So step back from the modern world. Leave the busy streets behind and take a wander through the forgotten corners of Forres. The past is still here. You just have to know where to look. In this episode Lorna Creswell is moved by the heartbreaking shadow story of Constance Grigor and her life spent in Bilbohall Hospital, Scotland’s first mental asylum built for paupers. In this moving and heartfelt episode, Lorna considers how Constance’s story echoes her own. Warning: this episode contains reference to childhood trauma. Stories from the Shadows is part of the Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme project led by Moray Council and part-funded by the Historic Environment Scotland Heritage and Place Programme, the National Lottery Heritage Fund Grants for Heritage - with thanks to the National Lottery players, the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and the Scottish Government via Town Centre Capital Fund, Place Based Investment Fund and Coastal Community Fund. Stories From The Shadows was produced by Adventurous Audio Ltd

  • 10 Episodes

About

Behind the modern shopfronts, bustling cafés and busy High Street of Forres lies a wealth of secret stories, untold struggles and remarkable lives. Beneath the familiar streets and well-known landmarks are layers of history waiting to be uncovered - stories of ordinary people and events that have quietly shaped the town and its community. Welcome to Stories from the Shadows, a podcast uncovering the hidden histories, forgotten figures and overlooked narratives of Forres and its people. So step back from the modern world. Leave the busy streets behind and take a wander through the forgotten corners of Forres. The past is still here. You just have to know where to look.

Information

  • Creator
    Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme
  • Show Website
    Stories from the Shadows