The History of Witchcraft & Women: Magic, rituals and the patriarchy
About this Event
The witch is a deeply important and enduring figure, and her story is more relevant than ever. Witches weren't evil, and they certainly didn't wear pointy black hats. Instead, society has long used the idea of the witch as a dumping ground for everything it feared or hated in women - and nowhere is that clearer than in the stories of the women who actually stood trial.
In February 1579, four women from Windsor were found guilty of witchcraft. Their story reveals a world of animal familiars, shapeshifting, and demonic accusations. But behind the lurid details lies something more unsettling: a picture of how fear, power, and the image of the female witch combined to send real women to their deaths. Who was doing the accusing, and why? What did witchcraft actually mean to the people who believed in it, and what does it still mean today?
In this talk we'll explore these questions, and put ourselves in the shoes of those caught up in a seventeenth century witchcraft trial - whether making accusations or weighing the evidence. Learning about witches reminds us how much the past still echoes in the present, and why their story is far from over.
Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7:30pm - come down early to grab a good seat!
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Speaker Bio:
Helen Parish is a Visiting Professor in History at the University of Reading, and Senior Tutor at Worcester College, Oxford. She graduated with a first class honours degree in History from the University of St Andrews (1993) and completed her doctorate at the University of Oxford in 1996. Since then she has held a Junior Research Fellowship at Wolfson College Oxford, before moving to the University of Reading where she spent most of her career. Her research and teaching explore the history of belief in the late medieval and early modern period, particularly the history of the European Reformations, church and clergy, as well as magic, witchcraft and the supernatural, and the connections between religion and natural history. Her published work includes book-length studies of clerical celibacy and marriage, debates over miracle and magic during the English Reformation, and a recent textbook on the history of the Reformation in Europe.
Testimonials from our guests
⭐ Truly riveting talks, always enjoy these - a great way to spend an evening with some pals. Already looking forward to the next one. - Alexander P
⭐ Expertly run, talks are always super informative and a lot of fun! Couldn’t recommend these enough! 5 star. - Owen S
⭐ Been to a few talks and all have been super interesting. An enjoyable evening to go to either alone or with friends. The talks make for stimulating conversation. Highly recommend! - Daisy J
Will this event be livestreamed/recorded?
This event won’t be recorded, however, we do record our London events and most of our online events. You can check our our on-demand content at www.seedtalks.co.uk
Agenda
🕑: 07:00 PM
Doors open
🕑: 07:30 PM
Talk starts
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 13.50 to GBP 28.50
