REMEMBERING SUFFOLK’S FORGOTTEN WITCHES
Thursday 16th October to Friday 31st October during normal opening hours. Free. A small pop-up exhibition from The Heart of Suffolk working with the Suffolk Archives, and supported by Babergh Mid-Suffolk District Council. Funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund.
After the infamous 1645 Manningtree witch trials, self-appointed ‘Witchfinder General’ Matthew Hopkins and his assistant John Stearne expanded their witch finding efforts into Suffolk and the surrounding counties. Between 1645 and 1647 around 240 accusations of witchcraft came before the authorities in East Anglia resulting in 100 executions.
The Suffolk witch trials were some of the most widespread in England, yet many of the stories—especially those of the 60+ people accused in Babergh and Mid Suffolk — have been lost to history. With records scattered and incomplete, their voices have faded, overshadowed by the notoriety of the witchfinders who condemned them.
This project is about bringing those stories back to light. Instead of focusing on the persecutors, we’re looking at the lives of the accused—who they were, what happened to them, and how these events shook their communities. These weren’t witches; they were ordinary people caught up in fear and suspicion, and by exploring these trials, we can better understand a time when fear and rumour could mean the difference between life and death.
While these events belong to history, they still have something to teach us today through enduring themes of persecution, misogyny, and the fear of difference. A stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and prejudice.
