The Bury St Edmunds Witch Trials – 1599 to 1694
East Anglia has a long and gruesome history of witch hunts, but the trials in Bury St Edmunds give Salem a run for its money! It all started with small, petty disputes—neighbours accusing each other of witchy behaviour, claiming to have seen frogs, bugs, and strange dances under the full moon. But then a notorious witch hunter arrived: Matthew Hopkins, the infamous Witchfinder General, responsible for convicting and executing at least 100 witches in East Anglia alone.
In 1612, Hopkins arrested a family of 12 for practicing dark and devilish magic. His star witness? The family’s infant daughter, a child between the ages of 5 and 9, whom he imprisoned and forced to accuse her family of witchcraft, promising to spare her life. Within a week of their arrest, all 12 family members, including the little girl, were hanged—despite Hopkins' empty promise.
Hopkins was paid per witch he found, and executed, providing more than enough motivation to “find” guilt wherever he went. On 27th August 1645, the Witchfinder General declared 16 women and two men, including the local vicar, guilty of witchcraft. All were executed the same day.
So terrified were the townsfolk of the witches' vengeful spirits that they began placing talismans in their homes for protection. In Bury St Edmunds, their charm of choice? A mummified cat, placed within the walls of homes and churches. One such talisman was found in The Nutshell Pub in 1935 during building work. After its removal, strange and terrifying events began to occur—tools went missing, temperatures dropped suddenly, and a worker even had a conversation with a colleague, only to find he was completely alone! The talisman was swiftly returned to its original resting place after the spooked workers pleaded for its return.
Locals also report hearing the Lord's Prayer being recited on warm summer evenings, despite being in total isolation. Some believe it’s the ghost of the executed vicar, offering comfort to his fellow condemned as they walk their final path to the gaol.