The last woman convicted of witchcraft in Britain was in 1944 – which… wasn’t very long ago.
These stereotypes creep into life today. We still use the phrase ‘witch-hunt’, and there is comparisons that social media ‘witch-hunts’ are the new form of being burnt at the stake.
This dark part of our history has clearly left a dent.
I spoke with Maria Beadell, founder of London-based Herstorical Tours- ‘Hex and the City’.
Maria Beadell from Herstorical Tours. Credit: Paul Phipps Williams Photography.
With a background in London ghost tours, history, writing and acting, her specialism seemed to be in giving voice to forgotten and misrepresented women in history.
Maria, having spent years researching and writing on this part of history tells City News that even if the early modern witch trials as we understand them are not happening anymore, in other parts of the world, people are still being persecuted as witches today.
“In India there’s a huge rise of women being accused of being witches. It coincided with women gaining wealth, independence and property.”
“In Iran it’s not witch-hunting as such but it’s just hunting women with the erasure of their basic human rights and identity. Women being executed for not wearing a headscarf or speaking out against the government.”
Why is it usually women prosecuted for witch-craft?
Maria highlights that to understand this persecution it stems from idea of the original sin in the Bible, with the idea that women are more inclined to evil because Eve brought sin upon the world.
Women were assumed to be weaker in intellect, mind and emotions, and therefore Maria explains historically it was believed women were more likely seduced by the devil.
“Simple answer is that misogyny is systematically engrained in our institutions… but generally it was about systematically keeping women in their place and making sure the norms and patriarchy are maintained. If you create a culture of constant fear then that’s a way to do it.”
In modern day London – if witch-hunting still exists it is no longer ‘at the stake’ but some use this term to speak about harassment over social media.
I asked Maria if she sees a ‘witch-hunt’ culture continuing today:
Goodwins Court, London
“Absolutely. Its horrific, the internalised misogyny hasn’t died. It’s a bit of a hangover from those times. We haven’t forgotten what we went through. You could look at it like trans-generational trauma that’s been passed down.”
“Its only relatively recently we have felt the freedoms and we don’t have the absolute need to get married and depend on men. That’s very recent – I think the 1970s [the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 first allowed women to apply] was when women could first apply for a bank account in their own name and a mortgage. No wonder women feel they are competing for even just existing.”
In London’s dark tourism industry, there is discourse around whether widespread, sensationalised ‘Jack the Ripper’ tours are appropriate.
A few years ago Laura Watson, spokeswoman for the English Collective of Prostitutes, objected to these tours. She explained:
“What a distortion and abuse of our humanity that five women who were tortured to death are of less interest than the monster who killed them.”
Maria Beadell weighed in on the popularity of these tours:
“Unless you’re focusing on the women’s – the victims – stories I really think we don’t need to glamorise and sensationalise this horrible murderer – or murderers. It might be more than one – we don’t know who Jack the Ripper was.”
“Also even the fact we call it ‘jack the ripper’ – why isn’t it called the Whitechapel murder tours? We are centring the murderer we don’t know – who butchered vulnerable women. It’s quite sick – the fascination with the murderers.”
Maria also questions the legitimacy of the facts on these tours.
“Another thing is, they [the victims] weren’t all prostitutes! It drives me mad that when you go on these tours they tell you that they were prostitutes. They were not. Only one is actually recorded as having done a bit of sex work. None of the others were.”
The contemporary context explains why this misconception came about says Maria:
“The only reason they were called prostitutes was because in those days [1880s] if you were living on the streets as a woman or even walking down the street alone they just assumed you were a sex worker.”
Although these trials are in the past, the repercussions and stereotypes continue to live on.
“We need to change the narrative of them being faceless, nameless women to most of us. It is disgusting.” Maria concludes concerning her feelings on the tours.
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Short Headline
Standfirst
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HeadlineThe lesser told truths about witch-hunt history and ‘Jack the Ripper’
Short HeadlineLondon has a witch-hunt hangover
StandfirstHow 'witch-trials' never really stopped and the ongoing misconception that Jack the Ripper's victims were all prostitutes
The last woman convicted of witchcraft in Britain was in 1944 – which… wasn’t very long ago.
These stereotypes creep into life today. We still use the phrase ‘witch-hunt’, and there is comparisons that social media ‘witch-hunts’ are the new form of being burnt at the stake.
This dark part of our history has clearly left a dent.
I spoke with Maria Beadell, founder of London-based Herstorical Tours- ‘Hex and the City’.
Maria Beadell from Herstorical Tours. Credit: Paul Phipps Williams Photography.
With a background in London ghost tours, history, writing and acting, her specialism seemed to be in giving voice to forgotten and misrepresented women in history.
Maria, having spent years researching and writing on this part of history tells City News that even if the early modern witch trials as we understand them are not happening anymore, in other parts of the world, people are still being persecuted as witches today.
“In India there’s a huge rise of women being accused of being witches. It coincided with women gaining wealth, independence and property.”
“In Iran it’s not witch-hunting as such but it’s just hunting women with the erasure of their basic human rights and identity. Women being executed for not wearing a headscarf or speaking out against the government.”
Why is it usually women prosecuted for witch-craft?
Maria highlights that to understand this persecution it stems from idea of the original sin in the Bible, with the idea that women are more inclined to evil because Eve brought sin upon the world.
Women were assumed to be weaker in intellect, mind and emotions, and therefore Maria explains historically it was believed women were more likely seduced by the devil.
“Simple answer is that misogyny is systematically engrained in our institutions… but generally it was about systematically keeping women in their place and making sure the norms and patriarchy are maintained. If you create a culture of constant fear then that’s a way to do it.”
In modern day London – if witch-hunting still exists it is no longer ‘at the stake’ but some use this term to speak about harassment over social media.
I asked Maria if she sees a ‘witch-hunt’ culture continuing today:
Goodwins Court, London
“Absolutely. Its horrific, the internalised misogyny hasn’t died. It’s a bit of a hangover from those times. We haven’t forgotten what we went through. You could look at it like trans-generational trauma that’s been passed down.”
“Its only relatively recently we have felt the freedoms and we don’t have the absolute need to get married and depend on men. That’s very recent – I think the 1970s [the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 first allowed women to apply] was when women could first apply for a bank account in their own name and a mortgage. No wonder women feel they are competing for even just existing.”
In London’s dark tourism industry, there is discourse around whether widespread, sensationalised ‘Jack the Ripper’ tours are appropriate.
A few years ago Laura Watson, spokeswoman for the English Collective of Prostitutes, objected to these tours. She explained:
“What a distortion and abuse of our humanity that five women who were tortured to death are of less interest than the monster who killed them.”
Maria Beadell weighed in on the popularity of these tours:
“Unless you’re focusing on the women’s – the victims – stories I really think we don’t need to glamorise and sensationalise this horrible murderer – or murderers. It might be more than one – we don’t know who Jack the Ripper was.”
“Also even the fact we call it ‘jack the ripper’ – why isn’t it called the Whitechapel murder tours? We are centring the murderer we don’t know – who butchered vulnerable women. It’s quite sick – the fascination with the murderers.”
Maria also questions the legitimacy of the facts on these tours.
“Another thing is, they [the victims] weren’t all prostitutes! It drives me mad that when you go on these tours they tell you that they were prostitutes. They were not. Only one is actually recorded as having done a bit of sex work. None of the others were.”
The contemporary context explains why this misconception came about says Maria:
“The only reason they were called prostitutes was because in those days [1880s] if you were living on the streets as a woman or even walking down the street alone they just assumed you were a sex worker.”
Although these trials are in the past, the repercussions and stereotypes continue to live on.
“We need to change the narrative of them being faceless, nameless women to most of us. It is disgusting.” Maria concludes concerning her feelings on the tours.
London stations are exhibiting their seasonal Christmas tree, which has raised questions of whether these displays are festive celebrations or clever pieces of brand promotion.
