The History of English Witchcraft & Magic

In medieval and early modern England, magic was part of everyday life. People used spells, charms, and potions to heal illness, protect their homes, and solve practical problems. At the same time, there was a fear of harmful witchcraft, and many believed the Devil could appear in person to tempt or harm them. 

In this talk, Dr Tabitha Stanmore explores how different kinds of magic shaped English society. Some people were accused of being dangerous witches, others worked as priests, or helped their neighbours make spells. These stories remind us that the real history of witchcraft is often stranger, and more fascinating, that the myths we know today. 

Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7.30pm - come down early to grab a good seat!

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Speaker Bio:

Dr Tabitha Stanmore is a postdoctoral researcher on the Leverhulme-funded Seven County Witch Hunt Project at the University of Exeter, and is specialist in medieval and early modern English magic and witchcraft. Her monograph, Love Spells and Lost Treasure: Service Magic in England from the Later Middle Ages to the Early Modern Era, was published with Cambridge University Press in 2022. Her first book for general readers, Cunning Folk: Life in the Era of Practical Magic, was published in 2024 with the Bodley Head. She has written for TIME, The Conversation and The Telegraph, among others, and featured on Radio 3’s Free Thinking and BBC 4’s Plague Fiction.

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