THE GREAT NEWCASTLE WITCH TRIAL OF 1650

Author Andrew D Bergin will share his research for his book ‘The Wicked of the Earth’, due to be launched in November, which tells the story of England’s largest witch trial and the extraordinary all-female campaign to save the accused. He will explain how a petition by Ralph Gardiner, a prominent name in the history of North Shields, is the main surviving source detailing the trial.

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It is a pleasure to welcome author and historian Andrew D Bergin to the Old Low Light ahead of the launch of his book ‘The Wicked of the Earth’.

Andrew, who lives in Berwick, will set out how the book tells the story of the country’s largest witch trial which took place in Newcastle in 1650. A petition entitled ‘England’s Grievance Discovered’ by Ralph Gardiner, a North Shields businessman who was prominent during the 17th century in the fight against Newcastle’s monopoly over trading rights on the Tyne, is the main surviving source detailing the actual witch trial.

He will set out how Gardiner’s account contradicts everything he had previously learned about early modern witch hunts. The Newcastle trial involved many more women than elsewhere. At that time around the country, three-quarters of accused witches were acquitted due to the high burdens of proof required by the law, but in Newcastle, out of 30, 27 were condemned. However, while elsewhere to be pronounced guilty usually meant death, in Newcastle of the 27 condemned, only 15 were hanged.

Andrew will talk about some of the strong Northern women involved, the brave defiance of the accused, the extraordinary all-female campaign to free them as well as the context in which all of this was happening, including the rise of capital, radical religion and the exploitation of labour (not least in Shields).

Andrew is now part of a group of historians, heritage professionals and historical fiction writers who are working together to develop a commemorative event on 25 August 2025 to mark the 375th anniversary of the executions on the Town Moor. Their aim is to raise awareness of the Newcastle witches and to establish a permanent memorial.

The ‘Wicked of the Earth’ will be published on 21 November by Northodox Press. Andrew will have copies of the book with him for sale.

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