The Newcastle Witches

In our final episode, we reflect on things we've learned during the making of the podcast and answer audience questions. As always, many thanks to everyone who has supported the production of this podcast, and to our dedicated listeners.

How does the largest execution of witches in England just fade from memory? Why are there so few records of the Newcastle Witches? We speak with Katie Liddane once again, to discuss why Newcastle didn't want to preserve this episode in the city's history.

In this episode we talk to Michelle Brock about contemporary uses of the word 'Witch' and 'Witchtrials'. We also discuss the importance of studying history and the history of witch trials in particular to better understand our own society.

In this episode we discuss accusations made by Ann Armstrong against numerous people in Northumberland in 1673. Ann's testimony is famous for her detailed account of a Witches Sabbath involving local men and women from local villages.

Mary Moore wrote and published a pamphlet accusing a group of witches in Northumberland of causing her children to fall ill and encounter demons. Three out of the four witches accused would either die in jail awaiting a trial for witchcraft, or be executed in 1650 in Newcastle. We're joined by Katie Liddane who helps us go through the pamphlet and understand it's repercussions. This episode is dedicated to Jane Martin.

The witches of Newcastle were buried in the cemetery of a church in the centre of Newcastle. In this episode we speak to Professor Ryrie of Durham University about how puritan beliefs shaped, not just life in Newcastle at the time, but also legal structures and the eventual execution and burial place of the witches. 

Historian David Silk talks us through the trial, imprisonment and execution of the Newcastle witches.

In this episode we interview Professor Marion Gibson, as we try to unearth information about the people convicted in the Newcastle Witch Trials.

We're joined again by Professor Diane Purkiss to dig a little deeper into what physical attributes a witch must have. This episode looks closely at the image of a woman as a mother and provider, and how the expectation that women could and should only be mothers may have let to some being accused of witchcraft. 

In this episode we speak with Diane Purkiss about the portrayal of witches and where those stereotypes come from.