September 05, 2025

352. WITCH: Ursula, The Witch of St. Osyth

18 minutes

In 1582, a healer and midwife named Ursula Kemp was accused of witchcraft by her neighbors—and even by her own son. What followed was one of England’s earliest documented witch trials, filled with dark folklore, chilling confessions, and a skeleton that wouldn’t stay buried. This is the story of the Witch of St. Osyth.

Need more WMMM in your life? Join the Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/witchesmagicmurdermystery

Want WMMM Merch? Check out the podcast store: https://witches-magic-murder-mystery-podcast-store.myshopify.com

Our Youtube Channel has longer versions of our episodes, with less editing and more outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/c/WitchesMagicMurderMysteryPodcast

Support our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at www.betterhelp.com/wmmm and get on your way to being your best self.

Sources:

https://www.essexlive.news/news/history/story-witch-ursula-kemp-who-6802161

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Witches-of-Essex/

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG226116

https://witching.org/content/ursula-kemp

https://www.hauntedhappenings.co.uk/haunted-places/ursula-kemps-cottage-st-osyth

https://www.grunge.com/893529/the-tragic-real-life-story-of-ursula-kemp-the-witch-of-st-osyth/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/content/articles/2008/10/30/witches_feature.shtml

https://www.essexmuseums.org/ursula-kemp-st-Osyt

https://thehumanexception.com/episode-40-the-cunning-woman-of-st-osyth-ursula-kemp/

https://www.nationalworld.com/culture/television/ursula-kemp-true-story-real-witch-essex-skull-4231056
https://www.stosythmuseum.co.uk/village-tales/1921-the-witches-skeletons

All Witches, Magic, Murder, & Mystery episodes are a mix of Kara and Megan’s personal thoughts and opinions in response to the information that is publicly available at the time of recording, as well as, in some cases, personal accounts provided by listeners. In regard to these self-reported personal accounts, there can be no assurance that the information provided is 100% accurate.

If you love the Trash Witch art (see our Patreon or the Podcast store), Tiffini Scherbing of Scherbing Arts created her. Like her Scherbing Arts page on Facebook, or follow her on instagram at @scherbingarts76! She can create anything you need.

TikTok: @wmmmpodcast

Instagram: @witchesmagicmurdermystery

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/465405701297488/

Email all your weird stories: [email protected]

Get to know us better:

Kara: @many_adventures_of_kara on Instagram

Megan: @meganmakesjokes on TikTok, @megan_whitmer on Instagram

WMMM Podcast

P.O. Box 910674

Lexington, KY 40591

Music credit: Chloe’s Lullaby (podcast theme) by Robert Austin. Available on Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Bandcamp, and Patreon!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more

View all episodes

By Megan and Kara

4.6

449449 ratings