Witchcraft Artifacts Displayed at Lincoln Castle

An exhibition focusing on witchcraft has commenced in Lincoln, featuring various artifacts, including a bottle believed to have originally contained a witch’s urine. The display, situated at Lincoln Castle, showcases objects utilized as charms, which were frequently concealed near residential entryways. These items served to safeguard families from witches by warding off evil spirits and deflecting spells. This particular bottle is thought to date back to the 1820s and contained a small leather strap, human hair, and an assortment of pins. Additionally, the exhibition includes a witch ball from the 1800s. Witch balls were often filled with shiny tinsel and were intended to confuse passing witches and deflect the “evil eye”. In Britain, the apprehension surrounding witchcraft reached its zenith during the 16th and 17th Centuries, a period when witches were commonly thought to cast spells and summon evil spirits to inflict harm upon others. Such individuals were held responsible for occurrences ranging from poor harvests to illness and deaths. The artifacts presented in the display indicate that a belief in witchcraft persisted in rural areas well into the Victorian era, according to the collections team at Lincolnshire County Council. The witch bottle, discovered in fragments in Navenby, near Lincoln, in 1999, was subsequently reassembled by the team. The ball was unearthed in Willoughton, a location where a churchwarden was rumoured to be involved in witchcraft, attributed to her lazy eye and her interest in herbal remedies. Lincoln Castle itself possesses a historical link to witches. In 1618, Joan Flower and her daughters Margaret and Philippa were incarcerated in the castle jail, facing accusations of witchcraft following the illness and death of the son of the family they had been working for at Belvoir Castle. Reportedly, during the journey, Joan, resolute in demonstrating her innocence, consented to participate in an “ordeal by bread”. A chaplain consecrated some bread, based on the belief that no witch could eat something as sacred. Joan placed the bread in her mouth, collapsed to the ground, and swiftly passed away. Margaret and Philippa subsequently confessed to employing magic to sicken the son. They were found guilty of witchcraft, condemned to death, and executed by hanging outside the castle walls in March 1619. This exhibition is housed within the castle’s Magna Carta vault and will remain open until Sunday, 5 January 2025. Listeners can find highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, viewers can watch the latest episode of Look North, or individuals can propose stories for potential coverage. This content is copyrighted by BBC in 2024; all rights are reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for material on external websites. Details concerning its external linking policy are accessible.