Witches of Scotland Campaign

Save the date: 19th January 2022, 7pm! We are absolutely delighted to be bringing Zoe Venditozzi and Claire Mitchell QC of the “Witches of Scotland Campaign” to talk to us about their excellent work. If you’ve followed the Museum Facebook for a while, you’ll know that I’ve recommended their brilliant podcast. You might also have heard them recently on Radio 2, Radio 4 and on the news talking about the campaign as their petition is currently working its way through the Scottish Parliament committee system. I am delighted they are going to be talking to us about their campaign and what they’ve found out about the witchcraft trials in Scotland at this time.An estimated 3837 people were accused of witchcraft in Scotland between 1563 and 1736 and current estimates are that two thirds of those were executed, some 2558 people. 84% of those accused were women. There are small memorials in some places in Scotland which remember those convicted of witchcraft, but like the Witches Well in Edinburgh, they remember the witches, rather than represent an apology for those who lost their lives. To date, there has been no apology, no pardon and no memorial to those who lost their lives in Scotland. Zoe and Claire are working hard to have a pardon for those convicted of witchcraft, an apology for those accused of witchcraft and a national memorial to respect the memory of those convicted and accused.

Book your tickets below for the online session.

In the meantime, listen to the podcast and consider signing up to the campaign for updates. And remember – they were just folk!~Alison