Witch Trials in Jersey
The history of witchcraft within Jersey dates back to the 1500s where outbreaks of witchcraft panic and mass executions took place all over Europe. Through the space of 160 years (1500-1660) between 50000 and 80000 witches were executed within Europe, and the majority of these executions were women. The Channel islands had a population of around 10,000 between 1560s and 1660s, where there were at least 65 witch trials which were held before Jersey’s Royal Court, with 33 being executed and 8 being banished, majority of these witches were women. This led The Channel Islands to be described as ‘proportionate to their size, the witch hunting capital of Atlantic Europe’. Individuals were able to be brought to trial as long as there was either a confession, proof ‘as clear as day’ or a parish indictment with parishioners deciding whether there was a case to answer. The accused would be held in a prison for up to a year and a day, if they were found guilty they would be hung and then burnt, this was the common practice in Jersey.
Thomasse Becquet
Thomasse Becquet was the first case found in the registers, she was apprehended by the Officers of the Crown on the accusation of being a witch in 1563. She was locked in Mont Orgueil Castle. She was eventually discharged due to an inquest into her crime.
The Plague and its link to Witches:
During the early 1580s the plague spread to Jersey, and many people with the illness resulted to consulting with witches, these people were often called before the parish church to be censured. People believed there was a clear link between the plague and the witch trials.
The Witches of La Rocqueberg
The Witches of La Rocqueberg is a myth I would like to focus on as it will link nicely to the Witch Trials.
To respond to this legend I could photograph Le Rocque, and I would also get someone to dress as a witch and model in the same area. As well as this I could even make a starfish out of clay as it is an important object in the story.
Witches Rock
The story of Witches Rock is another one which would link nicely to both the Witches of La Rocqueberg story as well as the Witch trials in general.
To respond to this one I would do a similar thing as I would photograph a model dressed as a Witch near a rock, I would also take photos of the same model dressed in a beautiful dress. I could then experiment with layering these photos to make a ghostly effect of one of the models, this would be done to represent the way that the beautiful girls disappeared in the story and the witches appeared.
Other Myths and Legends I may focus on:
Jeffrey’s leap
This story took place at Anne Port within Jersey. There is a huge rock in this location named Jeffrey’s leap.
Jeffrey had committed a crime and his punishment was to be thrown off the high rock. Locals came to watch Jeffrey get hurled off the rock and meet his end. But, by a stroke of luck, he survived without injury and swam to shore.
Full of bravery and certainty, Jeffrey boasted he would repeat the leap to show off how easy it was to survive. This time, he wasn’t so lucky as he leapt off, he hit his head on the rocks below and was killed.
I could respond to this legend by placing red fabrics over the rock to symbolise blood. I could then edit these images to make the red stand out more than the other colours.
La Cocagne
This is a lesser known legends within Jersey however I think it would be a good one for a photoshoot.
They would tell of an evil fairy or goblin that would hide under bridges and in wells waiting to lure children with magical concoctions, which if consumed, would curse them never to return to the mortal world.
For this I could photograph someone under a bridge holding some sort of drink, and another younger person stood on the top of the bridge. This is similar to an image which Danny Richardson took based on the same legend.
The ghost bride of Waterworks Valley
One story which I will definitely respond to in my project in the Ghost bride of Waterworks Valley. This is one of the most famous legends within Jersey.
Long ago a bride waited at St. Lawrence’s Church to be married but her groom never arrived. She was so distraught by what had happened that she killed herself. Legend says that, once a year a ghostly horse and carriage with a bride inside rides down the valley in search of her disloyal husband.
To respond to this legend I will photograph a model wearing a brides dress as well as a veil. I will take these photographs in waterworks valley which is where the legend takes place.
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