Saw something really unusual today....St. George or anyone throw any light on it?

[FrannyandZooey]

Several bunches of flowers, near the war memorial

ds saw them and said "oh how beautiful" and wanted to go and have a look

on closer inspection they had messages attached saying things like "Remembering all those who were held here during the Witch Trials" (we are in Matthew Hopkins country here)

"For (named historical witch) I cannot imagine how you suffered, blessings be"

etc etc

I was really surprised by this and wondered if it was a thing that modern pagans often did, if it would have been a ritual connected with this time of year, or whether a local Wiccan group have just decided to remember their unfortunate predecessors?

[Yurtgirl]

Do enlighten me - Matthew Hopkins country - means what exactly?

[KathyMCMLXXII]

I know Wiccan groups have been involved with memorials to witches in other parts of the country - there was a museum in the southwest which allowed the skeleton of a woman hanged for witchcraft to be reburied by a local Wiccan group.

The equinox is around now, too - any relevance?

[Kelly1978]

wasn't hopkins the witchfinder general of norfolk or thereabouts? I grew up in norfolk.

[FrannyandZooey]

The Witch Trials were held in East Anglia

Matthew Hopkins was the Witchfinder General

Loads of daft old women and presumably some pretty smart herbalist / wise women types were tortured and burnt at the stake

[FrannyandZooey]

I am finding it quite a moving thing to do

when I first saw it I was like "WHAAAT?"

but it is a nasty part of the history of our county and isn't normally remembered

[KathyMCMLXXII]

Interesting that it's at the war memorial - which in theory would have nothing to do with these women but I suppose it's just an obvious focus for acts of remembrance.

[Yurtgirl]

I see, thanks for enlightening me F&Z

[FrannyandZooey]

Yes Kathy they are not in fact on the war memorial but just near it, and directly outside the gates of a place where Matthew Hopkins held some of his victims

I thought it was quite a canny place to put them

[SaintGeorge]

Mainly hanged not burnt by the way.

Burning in this country was mainly kept for Catholic/Protestent fights.


I know of a few Memorial Rolls for those named and tried as witches, although I have never seen flowers laid at a war memorial. It was Ostara recently, so it is possible that someone local took the opportunity to make an act of remembrance.

[FrannyandZooey]

I think near the War Memorial may have been as near as they could get to the place where the witches were held, without leaving them on council property

I didn't know that, about the hanging. Revolting either way.

[fransmom]

ostara?

[SaintGeorge]

Spring Equinox.

[fransmom]

ah. thank you