ROLLRIGHTS! WITCHES! TOADS!!

The Rollright Stones 40

Image by morfe

Jim Tones Aug 15, 2003 20:09:07

I think everyone would like to read this story.

I first read about this bizarre tale in the 'frontiers of belief' section at the back of one of the classic series of magazines 'Man, Myth & Magic'....

http://www.controverscial.com/Murder%20by%20Witchcraft.htm

ENJOY!!!

morfe Aug 15, 2003 23:32:45

Replying to Jim Tones

WoooOOooo,

Wychburyman and myself made a pilgrimage to Meon Hill many many moons ago, it being on home turf (ish). There was some 'spooky' carvings in the trees on the NE side of the hillfort. The whole place is as eerie as pookakapants if you ask me, it was a grey and blustery winter day, bare trees and the hounds of suggestibility baying on the wind :-)

Poor old Charles, think he was a latter day victim of an early day mentality. I did find a book chronicling the story, in my youth, it was in detail, maybe one of Aristotle Tump's (the Black Country historian/detective) journals, but I'm not sure now.
Antiquarians and ghost hunters unite against hypochristmentalities.

Jane Aug 16, 2003 10:45:40

Replying to Jim Tones

Interesting stuff and interesting to re-read this story again. I was born and brought up in Stratford on Avon and my grandfather was a copper in the Warwickshire police force at the time of the Pitchfork murder. He used to tell me stories about it. All very weird. I always felt uncomfortable at Meon Hill and Lower Quinton. I believe its the last recorded case of witchcraft murder in the UK.

Strangely, I've always hated Long Compton, too, (the village closest to the Rollrights), it gives me precisely the same uncomfortable feeling. But I've mentioned this before on this forum, so I'll shut up now...
J
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