THE NEXT virtual history talk in the popular Bromsgrove Society series is called ‘Hubble Bubble’ and centres on witchcraft in Worcestershire.
The presentation at 7.30pm on Tuesday, October 19 – fittingly just 12 days before Halloween – will be given by Douglas H Smith.
The retired secondary school history teacher has more than 40 years of experience and since his retirement, with more time to spend on his love of history, he has written three books and numerous booklets – Cheer Boys it’s Hartlebury! Whose For the Game? From Trams to Trenches, The Belbroughton Braves and Belbroughton School 1913-1919.
People are introduced to witches from a very early age through numerous fairy tales, such as Hansel and Gretel and Rapunzel and this continues with stories including The Witches, The Worst Witch and Harry Potter series.
Many people take part in Halloween festivities and do not really think about how witches were in the 18th century – real and threatening – and they are even referenced in the Bible.
King James VI and I published his Daemonologie in 1597 and then again in 1603 when he became King of England, stating why witches should be persecuted.
Douglas leads the audience through the origins of witchcraft in Britain to its climax in the 17th century with a particular focus on Worcestershire and the recorded instances of witchcraft in the county.
The talk is free to attend but people need to visit the Bromsgrove Society website – www.bsoc.co.uk – in advance and follow the link to register.
