We’re excited to have the The Heart of Suffolk Witch Trials pop-up exhibition visiting Elmswell Library this November! Come along anytime during opening hours from Tuesday 18 to Sunday 30 November to learn more about the witch trials that took place in Suffolk during the 17th Century.

About the exhibition:

The Suffolk witch trials were some of the most widespread in England, yet many of the stories—especially those of the 60+ people accused in Babergh and Mid Suffolk — have been lost to history. With records scattered and incomplete, their voices have faded, overshadowed by the notoriety of the witchfinders who condemned them.

This project was about bringing those stories back to light. Instead of focusing on the persecutors, we looked at the lives of the accused; who they were, what happened to them, and how these events shook their communities. These weren’t witches; they were ordinary people caught up in fear and suspicion, and by exploring these trials, we can better understand a time when fear and rumour could mean the difference between life and death.

While these events belong to history, they still have something to teach us today through enduring themes of persecution, misogyny, and the fear of difference. A stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and prejudice.