Witches of the North East: Gender and the Supernatural in 17th C. Newcastle

In 1649-50, the people of Newcastle petitioned for a witchfinder to be invited into town, this hunt culminated in the execution of 15 women and 1 man. Then, in the Derwent Valley in 1673 over 30 people were accused of taking part in witches’ Sabbaths; a widespread panic that is remembered as the strange stories of an adolescent girl. Join Dr. Katie Liddane for an exploration of the real history behind broomsticks, black cats and pointed hats, and a look at the role that gender played in the lives of those entangled in witch trials in the seventeenth-century North East.

Bio:

Dr. Katie Liddane is an expert in the supernatural and social history of the North East, with a focus on seventeenth century witch-trials and how they are represented in fiction and at heritage attractions.