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Orkney unveiling permanent memorial to 16th century islanders accused of witchcraft

At least 20 islanders were accused of witchcraft between 1594 and 1645 though the real number could be higher

Shaking your hair at someone or using herbal remedies might not seem like serious crimes but in late 16th century Orkney they were enough to see people accused of witchcraft.

Records show at least 20 islanders – 19 women and one man – were tried for this charge between 1594 and 1645, with nine of them executed by burning and strangling.

Their crimes? Elspeth Reoch was executed after she confessed to acts including having “dealings with fairies” since the age of 12, according to Survey of Scottish Witchcraft records.

Permanent memorial

Bessie Skebister was tried and executed for offences including shaking her hair loose at a woman who then became ill, while an accuser of Anie Tailzeour – executed in 1624 – said he saw her face on a cat.

Around 400 years later the Orkney community is now set to commemorate the group by unveiling a permanent memorial to the island’s accused.

The plaque, designed by stonemason Colin Watson, will be placed at the old execution site known as Gallowha’ and will bear an inscription of the words “they wur cheust folk”.

The memorial will be unveiled at the old execution site known as Gallowha’. (Photo: Helen Woodsford-Dean)
The memorial will be unveiled at the old execution site known as Gallowha’ (Photo: Helen Woodsford-Dean)

According to Helen Woodsford-Dean, who led the project in partnership with Orkney Heritage Society, the memorial has been seven years in the making.

While historical records suggest at least 19 people islanders had been accused of witchcraft, Ms Woodsford-Dean said the real number could be as high as 70.

As well as remembering the past, she added the memorial was also aimed at making people stop and think about society today.

‘It was people looking for the easiest target’

“The focus of it is very much about considering where our ‘witches’ are today … when people turn on vulnerable areas of society and take out their issues on them,” she said.

“Going forward, it’s about we are not going to do this again, we are going to think very carefully about life.”

She said some of the accusations detailed in historical records – primarily against women – were “really strange” and could be as simple as having looked at someone in the wrong way.

“We are certainly not looking for any contrition or forgiveness,” she went on.

“It was a time of society where so many areas were going wrong – there were environmental disasters, there was famine. It was people looking for the easiest target in their lives.”

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