Northamptonshire Witch Trials

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The Northamptonshire Witch Trials mainly refer to five executions carried out on July 22nd 1612 at Abington Gallows, Northampton. They may have been a precursor to the Pendle witch trials which began some weeks later, ending in executions in August of the same year.

Those executed at Northampton were:

It may also refer to two women: Elinor Shaw and Mary Philips, who were burned at Northampton in 1705 for witchcraft. They reputedly made a jailor dance naked in the courtyard for a full hour[1].

Although the above were recorded in the original tracts of the time[2], subsequent tracts have also mentioned the following women as accused in 1612, but without evidence that they were ever executed:

  • Katherine Gardiner
  • Joan Lucas
  • Alice Harris
  • Alice Abbott
  • Three 'Wilsons'

In addition, Arthur Bill's mother and father are also said to have been dunked and both floated, condemning them as witches. Ewen explains that the tracts suggest they both committed suicide in prison although there is an alternate story in the same book which says that the father renounced his family to save his own neck after which the mother slit her throat rather than stand trial.

Finally there is mention of one Mother Rhodes who lived just outside Ravensthorpe[3], the next village up from Guilsborough. There is further reference to her in the folklore of Guilsborough.


  1. ^ Marshall, F. (1866) A brief history of witchcraft with especial reference to the witches of Northamptonshire: Collected in great part from original sources. UK: J. Taylor & Son
  2. ^ L'Estrange Ewen, C. (1970/1977) Witchcraft and Demonianism: a concise account derived from sworn depositions and confessions obtained in the Courts of England and Wales. UK: Frederick Muller Ltd & UK: Heath Cranton Limited
  3. ^ Renton, E. L. & Renton, E. L. (1929/2000) The Records of Guilsborough, Nortoft and Hollowell. UK: T Beaty Hart Ltd. Available from Guilsborough village shop.