memorial panels
The making of the Memorial Panels.
THE MAKING OF THE MEMORIAL PANELS
As local people may have noticed, a rather beautiful memorial just appeared like magic one day in October 2020 in the centre of Dalkeith. There are 10 panels. 6 depict some of the women who were victims of the witch trials of Dalkeith in the 1660's, 1 of the witch finder and the others are of 3 key locations which feature in the story - The TolBooth, St Nicholas Church and the Watch Tower.
These women were called witches and were tortured, tried and executed.
300 years on and we are only now recognising the injustice of this. The memorial serves to remember them all and the faces that have been created are not those of caricature. They evoke the sense of real women who you might see walking along the high street today.
10 local artists worked in the isolation of lockdown to create this cohesive memorial. Watch this space as we reveal their stories…
The first video to be presented shows the creation of Issobelle Fergussone by Mary Blair.
issobell fergussone
Trial Date: 3 August 1661
Accused of: Bearing the marks of Satan which, when found, caused her to be recorded as a confessed witch.
Outcome: Strangled and burned in Dalkeith on 6 August 1661
Artist: Mary Blair
The second video to be presented shows the creation of Beatrix Leslie by Margaret Bitici.
Beatrix leslie
Trial Date: 3 August 1661
Accused of: Meeting Satan, changing into a dog, and causing a pit to collapse through cursing.
Outcome: Strangled and burned in Dalkeith on 3 September 1661
Artist: Margaret Bitici
The next video to be presented shows the creation of Christian Patersone by Mandy Samson.
Christian Patersone
Trial Date: 3 August 1661
Accused of: Attending witches’ meetings. Tested for witchcraft by pricking on 20 July 1661 and confessed after the ordeal.
Outcome: Strangled and burned in Dalkeith on 6 August 1661
Artist: Mandy Samson
The next in line is Janet Cook by Jacqueline Devine.
Janet Cook
Trial Date: 11 November 1661
Accused of: Demonic pact, having the Devil’s mark, sorcery and cursing to cause death and damage.
Outcome: Strangled and burned in Dalkeith on 26 November 1661
Artist: Jacqueline Devine
More videos for the other panels are currently being created.
The installation of the panels
When we were installing the panels on 9 October 2020, we had many discussions with the general public and it was lovely to receive such positive feedback on our work and the impact that it will have on Dalkeith. We had a good old chinwag with Martin who told us all about the robin who visits the taxi drivers and hops around the nearby planting. They named the robin Godfrey. As promised to Martin, Mary painted Godfrey and he is now keeping our “witches” company. We like to think that Godfrey is looking out for our ladies. We all know the old adage, “Robins appear when loved ones are near”. It’s about time someone cares for these ladies and gives them the respect they deserve.
Dalkeith Arts would like to say a huge thank you to Martin and the taxi drivers for watching over our panels. We have heard that you are voluntarily acting as bodyguards and we really appreciate it. We hope that the real Godfrey has returned now that the Dalkeith Guerilla Gardeners plants have settled and begun to grow.
Martin and Godfrey
“Robins appear when loved ones are near”
A Modern Take on the written records of the women they called witches
Toni Thomson
Writing has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Jotting down nonsense rhymes, poems and short stories which I used in my career as a paediatric nurse and then as a primary teacher.
Now retired I moved to and settled in Lothian 3 years ago and am enjoying discovering my local area and its history. I attended an information evening and workshop ‘Witches and the Power of Words’ held at Dalkeith Library.
The Artists works, theIr notes and the history inspired this piece.
The history of Scottish witches Spreads far and wide
How innocent women were persecuted And many of them died
Women who were different
In looks or in deed
Could find themselves scrutinised
And arrested with great speed
Dalkeith at this time was famous and feared
Women were coerced into admitting guilt
Torture, lies and falsehood
How the case against them was built
Herbs and mixtures used for healing
Became a poison or magical potion
Healers and herbalist helping the sick
Now called witches - the prevalent notion
If a woman had a scar or a birth mark
It was described as a mark from the Devil
Giving proof that this was a witch
Who’s practices were dark and evil
John Kincaid, a famous witch-pricker
Used needles to find this Devil’s mark
Inserting them into a spot or blemish
His methods were savage and stark
He worked all over Scotland
Not stopping till the women confessed
Until he was called out as a fraudster
His wrong doings eventually addressed
Issobell Fergussone had an affair
Accused of fornicating with the Devil
They said she bore the marks of Satan
So she must be a witch who was evil
She suffered the trials and finally confessed
Her family and friends from her turned
On August the 6th 1661
Issobell was strangled then burned
Christian Paterson was a widow
Who confessed to using a hex
Transforming the Devil to human form
So that they could engage in sex
Janet Cook was feisty lady
She would argue and contradict
Angering others around her
Who claimed she was maledict
Several told of her magic
By many she was spurned
Found guilty by witch trial in 1661
Janet was strangled and burned
Beatrix Leslie at 85 a midwife and healer
Her use of herbs to help ease pain
Arrested and accused of witchcraft
She was pricked again and again
She confessed to meeting the devil
Killing children by collapsing a mine
But she refused to renounced her baptism
Throughout the whole of this time
Jenet Davidson placed curses
That spread disease and death
Attending witches meetings
For that she drew her last breath
Katherine Casse’s satanic powers
Were used to cause death by cursing
But insufficient evidence was found
For Katherine this was a blessing
These women suffered great torture
Feared because they were possessed
Sleep deprived and viciously pricked
Until they finally confessed
The trials took place in Dalkeith Tolbooth
In the Courtroom and prison cells
And dungeon known as the black hole
Where imprisoned they couldn’t cast spells
A crowd would gather to watch
As the women were strangled and burned
The sight and the smell so grotesque
Yet, to watch, the townsfolk returned
Their deaths were all recorded
Mothers, daughters, and wives
Because of ignorance and fear
So many lost their lives
The Tolbooth today is still standing
Once a place of terror and fears
Now an historical landmark
With a mixed history over the years.
