‘Pop-Up’ Exhibition
Following the success of our 2025 festival a ‘pop-up’ exhibition has been made possible with funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund and working alongside Suffolk Archives and The Hold.
The exhibition, consisting of informative banners, audio cubes, period costumes and accompanying literature that will be installed at venues around Babergh and MidSuffolk, starting at Sudbury Arts Centre from 16th October – 1st November.
You can then view the exhibition at:
The Bull, Long Melford – 3rd – 16th November
Elmswell Library – 18th – 30th November
Other venues are currently being added, including Tattingstone St Marys, Feb 2026, Stowmarket Library and The Bank, Eye (dates tbc)
About….
After the infamous 1645 Manningtree witch trials, self-appointed ‘Witchfinder General’ Matthew Hopkins and his assistant John Stearne expanded their witch finding efforts into Suffolk and the surrounding counties. Between 1645 and 1647 around 240 accusations of witchcraft came before the authorities in East Anglia resulting in 100 executions.
Remembering Suffolk’s Forgotten Witches
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.
Where did these victims live in Babergh and Mid Suffolk – view our location maps here >>