Posted on July 14, 2009 - by Andrew

Aberdeen city council to burn a witch

A Scottish city is set to burn a 16th century witch and is giving people the chance to meet the gaoler before hand.

The re-enactment will be held on Saturday the 18th of July at 11am, 12 noon, 2pm and 3pm at The Tolbooth Museum, Castle Street, Aberdeen.

The council’s press release notes that burnings were rare in Aberdeen except in 1597 when King James the VI encouraged a witch hunt. That year 20 people were executed for witchcraft.

The witches of Aberdeen often ‘confessed’ to dealings with the Devil and Castlegate and Fittie turned out to be the best two places to sign a demonic deal.

The council, in typical council style, also point out that it cost on average £3 for Aberdeen to burn a convicted witch but this price did not include the barriers often needed to hold back the crowds who flocked to watch the executions.

Aberdeen City Council assistant keeper (research) Chris Croly said: ‘It was a very dangerous time, suspicions were rife in Aberdeen and no one knew who would be accused of being a witch next. Even if someone was arrested on suspicion of the charge and found not guilty they would still be branded and banished from Aberdeen”.

In Pure Spirit

What do you think? A good tourist offering from Aberdeen, historical insight or a bad example?

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