The WW2 Witch Trial of Hellish Nell

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

History Hit

Society, Sex, Scandal, Education, History

4.8 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 10 October 2023

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What made a working class woman from Edinburgh become such a threat to British intelligence services during the Second World War, that they tried her as a witch?

In today's episode, we're telling you the story of Helen Duncan, aka Hellish Brown, a medium who lays claim to being the last woman in England to be tried as a witch, culminating in her trial in 1944 under the 1735 Witchcraft Act.

Joining us is Jess Marlton, manager of Bodmin Jail where all sorts of paranormal events take place.

What made Duncan's performances so memorable? Why did her trial capture the public's imagination? And how does the 1735 Witchcraft Act live on today?

Let's go Betwixt the Sheets to find out.

This podcast was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Everyone leaves a legacy.
0:02.2	But a legacy can change over time as new generations
0:05.6	re-examine old preputations.
0:07.6	From Wundery and Gohanger podcasts, I'm F4Hersh.
0:11.0	I'm Peter Frankapan, and in a brand new series,
0:14.0	we're exploring the lives of some of the biggest characters in history,
0:17.4	from Napoleon to Picasso.
0:19.2	And asking, what does their past tell us about our present?
0:23.4	This is legacy.
0:24.7	Follow now wherever you get your podcasts.
0:30.2	Imagine you, you in a nice comfy seat,
0:35.4	with your hands behind your head,
0:37.7	taking in the views, instead of taking on the road,
0:41.6	maybe even taking a nap.
0:43.8	That's the bliss of getting where you need to go
0:46.5	without worrying about driving.
0:49.5	Book your train journey via avantiwascoast.co.uk
0:53.3	and we'll take you there.
0:54.8	Avantiwascoast, feel good travel.
1:00.0	Hello, my lovely betwixters.
1:05.0	It's me, Kate Lister.
1:06.6	You know what's coming?
	...

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