Now, advocates are advocating for that change to take place. They’re calling on the British government to acknowledge and atone for the injustices of the Maidstone Witch Trials of 1652. The tragic outcome of the trials was the execution of six women charged with the crime of witchcraft. They were tried for several other offences in Maidstone, Kent. The trials go a long way in capturing the societal hysteria that surrounded witchcraft throughout the 17th century. They keep us anchored in the sad truth about the toll this panic took on innocent people.
The Maidstone Witch Trials were a low point in Kent, and England, history. A grand total of 32 people were charged with serious offenses, such as witchcraft, theft, and murder. Without a doubt, the public fear and fascination with witchcraft is best illustrated by the thousands that attended the trials. Arriving at the courthouse, that same accused sat in a small, dark jail on the ground floor of the courthouse. Today, that home for those originals is hidden in the top floor of the restored Town Hall.
The Tragic Outcomes of the Trials
Ultimately, six women were convicted of what was termed “the execrable and diabolical crime of witchcraft” and sentenced to death. They were charged with enchanting a 10-day-old baby, her mother and a three-year-old child to death. This accursed charge brought home the deep cruelty and paranoia of the period.
The notoriety of these trials led to a pamphlet titled “A Prodigious and Tragic History of the Arraignment, Trial, Confession, and Condemnation of Six Witches,” which was published shortly after their conclusion. Maidstone Council keeps a rare surviving copy of this pamphlet. It has further served as a historical artifact—a living, breathing one at that—that continues to document this dark chapter in American history.
The executions took place at Penenden Heath. Today, in stark contrast to the site’s violent legacy, this land has been converted into a beautiful multi-use park with soccer fields and forest. Yet through the trials, it earned the reputation of being a house of public spectacle. “Public executions – they were public participation events. Thousands of people would attend,” said historian Harwood. That’s why the execution site at Penenden Heath was changed multiple times – because of the disruption caused by the countless thousands of gawkers who turned out to witness it.
The Legacy of Injustice
Between the years of 1560 and 1700, more than 500 women were brought to trial for witchcraft in the southeast of England alone. At the height of the Maidstone Witch Trials, they went on to execute 112 people. This unbelievably high number illustrates the widespread hysteria and injustice that swept the period. A commemorative stone plaque in memory of these women and other ‘witches’ executed at Penenden Heath now marks the spot. It is a grim testament to their doomed destinies.
Justice advocates have rightly pointed out that it’s critically important to remember and acknowledge these historical wrongs. Kehily, an advocate for historical justice, emphasized the need to revisit these events: “We need to set the record straight. These were innocent, vulnerable individuals who were brutally judicially murdered – often for political or personal gain. That injustice will echo down the ages.” Kehily further noted that this represents “a very early form of violence against women and girls,” highlighting how such injustices still resonate today.
Kehily calls for justice and not just recognition. Making sure these type of horrors are never repeated is what motivates her to tell her story and teach others about history. “By highlighting it, we remind people that this has happened – and we need to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” she asserted.
The Push for Government Action
Thanks to the movement for justice, that fight continues to grow with people and organizations calling on the federal government to do more. Harwood remarked on the importance of addressing these historical injustices: “To address a wrong that has been made is to try and get it right, to learn from history, and to bring it to the fore. This hasn’t gone away.”
As the nation moves forward, those voices demanding accountability are more important than ever. Advocates believe that recognition of these past wrongs can serve as a foundation for healing and education about women’s rights and societal responsibilities.
