The trial of Jane Wenham for witchcraft in 1712 was one of the last in England before the passing of the 1736 Witchcraft Act meant witchcraft was no longer a crime punishable by law. As anyone following here at The Witch, The Weird, and The Wonderful will know by now, Jane and her story have …
Getting back into the swing of things after Christmas seemed the perfect time for a bit of fun. Book-related fun is all the better, so a big thank you to the lovely Dee Dee Chainey for tagging me in the Bookshelf Survey. (Though let’s face it, we hardly need an excuse to talk about books!) …
Tales of bells that have been lost to the sea are a familiar occurrence in many legends, especially those that take place around Britain’s coastline. Whether lost by bad weather, bad luck, or punishment for a rash word spoken in anger, here are a selection of Britain’s drowned bells. The Legend of Kilgrimol: This tale is …
Drowned Churches and Ghostly Peals: Britain’s Lost Bells Read More »
I am very excited to say that I have now booked tickets to see the fabulous new play, Jane Wenham The Witch of Walkern at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in October! As most of you know by now, Jane Wenham is a particular favourite “witch” of mine, and a chapter of Accused looks at her story …
There is a curious sight that can still be seen today in the Channel Islands: the legendary witches’ seat or stone. In evidence in both Jersey and Guernsey, these small plinths or ledges were, it was said, built for a very important purpose. Witches, travelling across the island on their brooms, were often in need …
Where’s a Witch to Rest? Chimney Stacks and Witches’ Seats. Read More »
Since moving to Derbyshire, Matlock Bath has become one of our favourite places to visit. It’s like the seaside but without the sea, (although there is the river, and a lovely big sandpit at the “ship park” where the kids can while away many a happy hour,) and with ice cream in the secret garden, …
In the caves of Wookey Hole, Somerset, rests a witch. She was, as legend goes, turned to stone, many, many years ago, and has remained there ever since, trapped in the glittering limestone caves carved out by the River Axe. As with most tales, the details vary in the telling, but the basic legend asserts …
Among many things, I am a collector of quotes. Whether long, short, amusing, or inspiring, if it catches my interest, down it goes. It was with glee therefore that I reached for my pen at the following chilling pronouncement by historian Edwin Trueman in his 1899 History of Ilkeston. After waxing lyrical on the perils faced …
Man’s Best Friend? Curious Quotes and Spectral Dogs Read More »
Today we take a hop across to the Channel Islands to visit the famous fairy ring at Pleinmont, Guernsey. This fascinating feature consists of a circular ditch surrounding a flat grassy area in the middle, the whole contained by a ring of stones. Located at Pezeriez Point, the south-western tip of the Island, it is …
Fairy Ring or Ancient Picnic Table? La Table Des Pions, Guernsey Read More »
Witches are often associated with the sea, and today we take a trip to windswept Cornwall to hear tales of the fearful Witch of Fraddam who to this day, it is said, still torments those who stray far from the shore. The Village of Fraddam lies eight miles Northeast of Penzance, and nowadays …
The Witch of Fraddam – The Most Powerful Sorceress of the West Country Read More »
