Plans for memorial to victims of Chelmsford witch-hunts
We could see a permanent memorial put up in Chelmsford
Talks are underway to erect a permanent memorial to the victims of the Essex witchfinder trials, many of whom were executed in Chelmsford.
John Worland, a retired Essex Police Inspector and historian specialising in the history of the Essex Witch trials of the 16th and 17th centuries, said there was a growing interest in this part of Essex’s past which given there are superstitions still circulating made it even more apposite.
Councillor Marie Goldman, deputy leader of Chelmsford City Council, said she was open to take initial suggestions even further especially given fast approaching International Women’s Day on March 8.
Between 1570 and 1609, 53 Essex ‘witches’ were hanged against a total of 64 executions across all the home counties.
Many – the first being Agnes Waterhouse — were executed in Chelmsford.
Waterhouse, from Hatfield Peverel, was the first woman executed for witchcraft in England when she was hanged on July 29 1566 two days after being tried in front of where Shire Hall now stands.
The site of her death lies on the road leading towards Writtle.
Waterhouse, along with Joan Waterhouse, and Elizabeth Francis were the first of nine women – plus one man – from Hatfield Peverel prosecuted as witches between 1566 and 1589.
And in 1582, 14 women from St Osyth were accused of witchcraft.
After a trial in Chelmsford Ursula Kemp and Elizabeth Bennet were found guilty and hanged. The others received a mixture of acquittals, discharges and reprieves.
Mr Worland said at Chelmsford Full Council: “I am a member of a small group who are keen to see this dreadful period of our history remembered.
“We are not saying that we should beat ourselves up about things that were done by others all that time ago, but it shouldn’t be forgotten either.”
In 2018, with the cross party support of Colchester Borough Council, Mr Worland was able to place a memorial stone in Colchester Castle Park in memory of the 200 plus women and men who were held in Colchester Castle on witchcraft charges.
He added: “You will be well aware that Chelmsford is where most of the capital charges of witchcraft were tried in Essex. We are keen to explore the possibility of having a similar memorial close to where the old Shire Hall stood, to remember the hundreds of people who were tried, and of course many executed, in those dark days.
“Despite Essex having the dubious record of executing more alleged witches than any other county in England, there is no memorial to reflect this.
“When people speak of this time, they tend to talk about the well known villains, and the victims are largely forgotten.”
He added: “There is a growing interest in this part of our history – there are still witch hunts – it is easy to whip up hysteria on social media, gossip becomes fact and innocent people are vilified and attacked.”
Cllr Goldman said: “We would be very open to any discussions about what we can do and possibly even enhance the suggestion.
“It is really important to bring it up at this time of year – there is international women’s day coming up very soon.
“We will definitely take this further.”