Witches in LondonBetween 1542 and 1736, approximately 1,000 people were executed for witchcraft in England, 90% of whom were women. Witchcraft accusations were often made against people who were marginalised or unpopular in their communities, such as widows, single women, and the elderly. Accused witches were often subjected to brutal torture and interrogation, and many were forced to confess to crimes they had not committed.The witch trials in England came to an end in the early 18th century, as people began to question the validity of witchcraft accusations. The Witchcraft Act of 1735 made it no longer a crime to be accused of witchcraft.The witch trials in England were a dark period and today serve as a reminder of the dangers of superstition and intolerance, and of the importance of protecting individual rights and liberties.Roman CursesMuseum of London- Roman Curses Known for being very superstitious, Roman’s would write curses on small scraps of lead, throwing them into the Thames or nailing them to a wall to publicly shame those who had in their view committed a crime against them. The Witchcraft Act of 1541This act allowed for the death penalty to be used for anyone found guilty of using which craft, charm, or sorcery. This was a time of economic and religious uncertainty- with the C of E having been established less than 10 years prior. This uncertainly of station for many gave way to a rise in witchcraft accusations. Tyburn Where Anne Kirk was hung, Elizabeth Sawer was hungIn what is now Hyde Park, a memorial marks where the Tyburn gallows once stood. It was here than many accused witched were hung including Anne Kirk and Elizabeth Sawer. The Witch Queen of Kentish TownKentish Town, 1676Historians have debated weather Jinney Bingham was an actual person or an amalgamation of several people, but the story goes that that her parents were both witches, found guilty of which craft and hung. Jinney herself was a healer and fortune teller who had several husbands that died mysteriously. She was accused of witchcraft but was not found guilty due to lack of evidence. She and her black cat died from poisoning. All Hallows by the TowerElizabeth Sawyer- Sentenced to a year in prison and four appearances at the pillory.Elizabeth Sawer was accused of being a witch who had pledged her allegiance to satan. She was found to have a witches mark on her body and was sentenced to a year in prison and four appearances at the pillory located just outside of All Hollows by the Tower. She was hung at Tyburn in 1621. Sarah Mordike- Paul’s WalkIn 1702 Sarah Mordike was accused of bewitching a neighbour after having a falling out with him. She was tried and acquitted after it was found that her neighbour had faked all of the symptoms supposed to have been caused by witchcraft. He was imprisoned for this fraud. Globe TheatreWitches were a common theme in many plays of the time. When Macbeth was first on stage in 1606 witches were thought to be real and The Weird Sisters a trio of witches in the play would have been assumed to be truly evil.Jane Kent- SpitalfieldsAccusation of witchcraft often happened after a falling out with a friend or neighbour. In 1682 Jane Kent was one such accused after she was refused to buy two pigs on credit. Her accuser claimed she bewitched the pigs, his daughter, and wife. Jane was able to prove she was not in league with the devil and was acquitted. Matthew HopkinsSelf proclaimed Witchfinder General, Hopkins was an English witch hunter in East Anglia. Over 100 of the witches he ‘found’ were hung. The majority were old, poor, and widowed. Joan Peterson- Wapping WallHerbalist Joan Peterson was said to be able to turn into a black cat and speak to animals. She was accused of using her magic to kill an older woman, Lady Powell. A crime for which she was sentenced to death after refusing to accuse her supposed accomplice in the act of which craft. Nicholas Culpeper- Commercial Street A herbalist and physician, Culpeper owned a pharmacy (it stood at 92 Commercial Street) and was a devoted healer who specialised in treating the poor. He was accused of bewitching a widow in 1643 after having a falling out with her after his treatment didn’t cure her ailments. He was acquitted. His knowledge of herbs led him to write Culpeper’s Herbal (1652) which is still in print today.
