Object Details

From:NHerts

Name/TitleGelatin print of play about Jane Wenham

About this objectA photograph taken in Walkern in 1965. Eight members of the cast of a play about Jane Wenham 'The Witch of Walkern' gathered around a table. One woman seated on the left, another lower right. All eight women in the photograph wear costumes. Clothes are draped over a washing line at the back.

Jane Wenham, a widow from the village of Walkern, came into conflict with her community and was accused of witchcraft in 1712. The case received a lot of attention and an account of the events was written by clergymen Francis Bragge who gave testimony at her trial.

Bragge wrote how the initial accusation came from the farmer John Chapman who had long beleived that Wenham was the cause of the deaths of local horses and cattle. On New Year's Day Chapman's servant Matthew Gilston was carrying straw when Wenham asked to buy a pennyworth. Gilston refused and Wenham left saying that she would "take it". On 29 January an old woman in a hood asked the same question and wandered away muttering at the refusal. Gilston reported that after this he suddenly felt compelled to run to a farm three miles away and ask the farmer for straw. When he was refused he then searched for straw in dung piles and carried this straw home wrapped in his shirt.

Chapman accused Wenham of being "a witch and bitch" and Wenham took up the matter with local magistrate Sir Henry Chauncy accusing Chapman of slander. Chapman was ordered to pay compensation to Wenham and Jane was angered as she felt that the compensation was not enough. She swore "if she could not have justice here, she would have it elsewhere"

Francis Bragge witnessed the next aspect of Wenham's supposed wrath. Maidservant Anne Thorn, aged 17 was found "stript to her Shirt-sleeves, howling and wringing her hands" pointing at a bundle. The bundle was oak twigs and leaves wrapped in her gown and apron. Thorn stated that there was "Roaming in her Head and her Mind run upon Jane Wenham". Enrgaged Wenham threatened Thorn "If you tell any more such stories of me, it shall be worse for you than it has been yet," and pushed her. After this Thorn suffered from convulsions and pain and was compelled to pick up sticks and submerge herself in the river.

Wenham was arrested on 13 February and examined for witches marks. A local minister tried to get her to recite the Lord's Prayer but she could not. On 16 February Wenham confessed to making a pact with the Devil sixteen years prior.

On 4 March she was brought to trial before the Judge Sir John Powell and accused of various actions, the deaths of two infants and various cattle and for strange events around the village. Including villagers suffering from visitations of noisy cats and of a cat having the face of Jane Wenham. Accusers pointed to the bruises on the body of Anne Thorn and also "cakes of feathers" in her pillows. Judge Powell was skeptical and "Seem'd to wonder that none of these strange cakes were preserved". The jury found Wenham guilty and sentenced her to death, a decision which was reversed by Judge Powell.

Following her trial Wenham was removed from the village for her own safety and lived under the protection of Captain John Plummer until his death, and then with the Earl of Cowper.

MakerHitchin Gazette

Maker RoleIssuer

Date Made1965

MeasurementsWhole height 153mm whole width 215mm

Period20th Century (1901-2000)

Object Typephotoprint

Medium and MaterialsOrganic| Paper

Named CollectionHitchin Museum

Object number9944/532

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved