Friday, October 26, 2007

Helen Duncan The Last Witch Of Scotland


Originally uploaded by Andrew Niddrie

Helen Duncan the last woman in UK to be imprisoned as a Witch

In 1944 she was wrongfully accused of pretending to be a Witch, and was forever known as the last person in Britain to be imprisoned as a witch. She live in Craigmillar for a while. Her relations are still in Craigmillar and are seeking a pardon.

Helen Duncan Website
Helen Duncan Deserves A Pardon


A full page article in The Guardian. has reference to Craigmillar.

"Mrs Martin recalls that news of Mrs Duncan's conviction spread through her working-class suburb of Craigmillar in Edinburgh like a virus. "It was in all the papers, and of course the evil eye, witch-spawn - you name it, we were called it. My older sister, Helen, just wouldn't mention it. She shut it out of her mind. It was grim. I was only 11 years old, and children can be the cruellest under the sun. It taught us how to look after ourselves, I can tell you that much."

YouTube - Witches, A True Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMYNjbrpnBA

Read more on Helen and watch 2 BBC videos here:
BBC News on Helen Duncan

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