PinnedSeven County Witch HuntsIntroducing the Seven County Witch-Hunt ProjectBetween 1645–1647, when England was embroiled in a bloody Civil War, roughly 300 people in the South East were accused of witchcraft…Oct 27, 2022Oct 27, 2022
Seven County Witch HuntsIntroducing Bridget BonhamI’ve been fascinated by Bridget and John Bonham since the outset of this project. Arrested for witchcraft in 1647, they bear the dubious…Aug 1Aug 1
Seven County Witch HuntsArchives under threatLast week and the week before I spent a delightful six days at Essex Record Office — Britain’s friendliest and most welcoming record…Jul 1Jul 1
Seven County Witch HuntsDeals with the DevilHow seriously can we take confessions to making a deal with the Devil?May 31May 31
Seven County Witch HuntsWitchcraft, history and the publicThis week the Scottish Member of Parliament Natalie Don MSP published the responses to her draft Witchcraft Convictions (Pardons) Bill…Apr 19Apr 19
Seven County Witch HuntsOn writers, witches and childrenOver the last few months, I have been thinking a lot about witches’ families. This, in turn, has led me to question how children are…Mar 28Mar 28
Seven County Witch HuntsFragments Shored Against the Ruins: Suffolk Witch Trial RecordsOur project “England’s Mass Witch Hunt” was always going to be challenging. We’ve committed ourselves to exploring all seven of the…Feb 291Feb 291
Seven County Witch HuntsPeter Burbush, Blacksmith of ElyThe typical image of a seventeenth century witch is an old, widowed, and impoverished woman. We now know that many of those accused didn’t…Jan 30Jan 30
Seven County Witch HuntsThe Only Way is Essex (Record Office)Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to speak at a history festival in Surrey. It gave me the chance, while I was in eastern England…Nov 30, 2023Nov 30, 2023
Seven County Witch HuntsUpdate on Thomasine Read: A theoryA few months ago I wrote a blog post about Thomasine Read, a woman who was living in Haddenham when she was accused of witchcraft in 1647…Oct 26, 2023Oct 26, 2023