The Newcastle Witches

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A podcast about the Newcastle Witch Trials of 1649, which caused the death of 16 people in 1650. We are on a journey to uncover how these murders took place and investigate what caused people to hunt and murder others in the name of Witchcraft.

Candle & Bell


    • Jun 22, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 33m AVG DURATION
    • 17 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Newcastle Witches

    Episode 15: Here Endeth The Lesson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2023 45:03


    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.

    Episode 14: The North Remembers Not

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 28:22


    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.

    Episode 13: They Live Among Us

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2023 27:43


    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.

    Episode 12: Ann Armstrong Witchfinder General

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2023 41:33


    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.

    Episode 11: The Curious Case of Mary Moore

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2023 39:50


    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.

    Episode 10 A Burial On Hallowed Ground

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2023 31:36


    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.

    Episode 9 - Torture and Confession

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2023 32:55


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

    Episode 8: How to Build a Witch with Marion Gibson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2023 26:16


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

    Episode 7: Portrait of a Witch Part 2 with Diane Purkiss

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2022 22:07


    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.

    Episode 6: Portrait of a Witch Part 1 with Diane Purkiss

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2022 23:43


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

    Episode 5: The Wallsend Witches Halloween Special with The Haunted Palace Blog

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2022 48:55


    In this episode we discuss the tale of The Wallsend Witches and the accused witch Janet Pereson of Wallsend and the accusations against her. Was Janet one of the inspirations for the tale of the Wallsend Witches? What was the connection between the The Wallsend Witches and The Delaval family? We also cover fairy lore and how it crosses over into tales and accusations of witchcraft! Additionally, we also briefly chat about the invention of roller skates in the Victorian Era...

    Episode 4: Witch John? With Katie Liddane

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 53:39


    In this episode, we discuss the notorious Scottish Witch Pricker and who they may have been with Katie Liddane. We also talk about what a Witch Pricker is, various witch prickers in Scotland in the 17th Century, why people want to know the identity of the witch pricker so badly and why their name has seemingly been lost from the records.

    Episode 3: Civil Newcastle, Part 2 with David Silk

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2022 36:53


    Join us for part 2 of David's Silk's episode about Newcastle in the 17th Century! This episode focuses on the impact of the Civil War on 17th century Newcastle (The Siege of Newcastle) and the impact it would've had on the Witch Trials in 1649 - 1650.

    Episode 3: Civil Newcastle, Part 1 with David Silk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2022 21:24


    Join us for our 3rd episode where we talk to David Silk from Newcastle Castle! In part 1 of this episode David leads us through the plague in Newcastle in the 17th century, the scold's bridle and introduces us to Ralph Gardiner, the man who wrote down the only account of the Newcastle Witch Trials and his motivations for doing so!

    Episode 2: Magicians and Wizards and Witches with Dr Tabitha Stanmore

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2022 45:45


    Welcome back to the Newcastle Witches Podcast, we are joined by Dr Tabitha Stanmore who is going to talk to us all about magic in the 17th century, the practices and beliefs! What was it that people thought Witches did that was so terrible? What did they think the victims of the Witch Trials were doing? Note: This episode was recorded over Zoom, we apologise for any noises or inconsistencies in audio!

    Episode 1: In Search of Witches with Dr Jo Bath

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2022 35:50


    Joined by Dr Jo Bath, Maria and Caitlin dive into the Newcastle Witch Trials of 1649-1650 while exploring the victims of the trials, a brief history of Newcastle at the time and other Northern Witchcraft.

    Introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2022 12:21


    Welcome to the Newcastle Witches Podcast! Here is our introduction which covers the: who, what, why and when of our investigation into the Newcastle Witch Trials and our reasons for creating this podcast.

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