New plaque aims to increase awareness of women convicted of witchcraft

More than 50 women were falsely accused in the Angus town of Forfar in the 1600s and many of them were killed.

New plaque aims to increase awareness of women convicted of witchcraft STV News

It’s hoped a new plaque in Forfar will help provide a wider recognition of the women who were executed hundreds of years ago on suspicion of witchcraft.

Designed by local artists, the work will soon be on display at the Town House after a short stay at Meffan Museum.

More than 50 women were falsely accused in the Angus town in the 1600s and many of them were killed.

“Many bad things happened during that period in history but this one is a clear and simple case, legally of a miscarriage in justice,” said historian Judith Langlands-Scott.

“We’re working with Witches of Scotland to have that recognised and have these people pardoned, officially.”

The plaque has been created by Kayleigh Skye Esplin and Andrew Rose – the same artists behind a mural in the town.

“With the mural we went for a kind of whole picture of what happened with the ‘Forfar witches’,” said Kayleigh.

“For the plaque we decided to zone and be a bit more positive. To celebrate the life the ‘witches’ had and how it was just people, rather than all the brutality and victimisation that was put on them.”

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