Assume Nothing - 5. The Descendants
The story of Dr William Jackson Crawford, an engineer and teacher, who carried out a series of strange experiments with a teenage medium and her family before his untimely death on the shores of Belfast lough in 1920.
Dr Crawford’s findings were extraordinary and widely published – but was it all a hoax?
Episode 5 – The Descendants
Reggie is back on the road to Bangor to meet Kathleen Goligher’s grand daughter. What more can she tell him about her Grandmother’s life as a spiritualist and medium, and how does she feel about Dr Crawford’s unusual experiments?
Meanwhile – Dr Crawford’s great granddaughter Clare reveals the engineer did not have a good reputation in their family history.
Written and presented by Reggie Chamberlain King
Readings by
Dave Fleming
Lucy McConnell
Mark Claney
Stephen Beggs
Produced by Conor McKay
Editor Andy Martin
A BBC Northern Ireland production
Published on Saturday, 30th May 2026.
Available Podcasts from Assume Nothing
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