Witches plan casts spell over Lottery

A CAMPAIGN to create a permanent memorial to 81 people executed during witch hunts in the Lothians has received a boost from the Lottery.

The plans to commemorate men and women from Prestonpans who were executed in the 16th century on suspicion of witchcraft are now a step closer thanks to 14,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Last year, Dr Gordon Prestoungrange, the 14th Baron of Prestoungrange, officially pardoned the 81 witches and declared the injustice inflicted on them should be marked each year at Hallowe'en.

Now the Lottery has backed proposals to document the witches' story for future generations and become part of the annual commemoration of their deaths.

The memorial is likely to take the form of a mural, which is set to be unveiled this Hallowe'en, along with leaflets to explain the history of the Lothians witch trials.

The grant will also help to create an exhibition at the Gothenburg pub, in Prestonpans, detailing the deaths of the witches and exploring the history of witchcraft in Scotland, while a film to recreate events is also being considered.

Dr Prestoungrange, 67, a former London businessman who returned to the area in 1998, re-established his ancient family title and Prestoungrange Baronial Court. He is spearheading the campaign for the memorial remembering the witches.

Dr Prestoungrange said: "The history of the witches is just one part of the area's past, although it is one which people can easily connect with. We want as many people as possible to know about the terrible injustice done to many hundreds of people in Scotland - and 81 in Prestonpans alone - in the 16th and 17th centuries.

"This grant will help us document the period in creative ways which will help bring the story to life and make sure it is remembered." Most of the 81 witches executed in Prestonpans were killed for their part in the alleged assassination attempt on King James VI, when more than 200 witches were said to have gathered at North Berwick to conjure a storm intended to sink his ship as he returned from Denmark.

Others were condemned simply for owning black cats or cursing a neighbour.

A spokeswoman for the Heritage Lottery Fund said: "So many people in Scotland are not aware of the history of witch hunts. The people who were killed weren't actually witches, they were innocent people. We are in the process of working on some sort of memorial at the moment."

Colin McLean, manager of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: "We're delighted to be able to support the community in ensuring the plight of the witches of Prestonpans is never forgotten. The Heritage Lottery Fund is committed to giving everyone the opportunity to explore their heritage. This project will help people to understand the past and why it's relevant to them."

The Facts

IN 1563, witchcraft became illegal in Scotland. Witch prickers - named after the way they pricked the body of someone accused of witchcraft - were employed. If the person didn't bleed, they used this as evidence to convict them.

Around 1500 people were executed for witchcraft, out of a total of about 3500 accusations. The majority of them were women who already had a local reputation for witchcraft.

Witch hunting declined after the 1660s, when the elite of society began to take a more rational view of the world.

The last witch to be executed was Janet Horne of Dornoch in 1727. The law was finally abolished in 1736.