Yorkshire Witches

by Eileen Rennison

We no longer believe in witches as our ancestors once did. However, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, any unforeseen or unexplained events were likely to be attributed to witchcraft.The stories of the individuals within this book show how superstition and prejudice played an important and powerful part in the lives of the populace of Yorkshire from the Middle Ages right through to the nineteenth century

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Witches

128 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of this book pretty much explains what it's about; various people in Yorkshire accused and/or tried for witchcraft. The chapter on each person is relatively short so it's a good book to dip in and out of

[Ape · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed by this. I think it was lacking in the execution of the book, and the subject matter could have been laid out and written a lot better. More photos and maps, and more relevant pictures would have been nice too. I suppose really this would work almost as a reference work or who's who of Yorkshire Witches. You read a name, wonder who it is and can get a brief biography/info here. Well, I say that, but this doesn't cover every Yorkshire witch. I was hoping to read something more of Abigail Craister, but she doesn't even get a mention here, let alone an entry of her own.

There are a lot of witches and wise men covered in the book. Rennison has decided to tackle them as a section per person, and in alphabetical order. Personally I feel that the book would have had more meaning if they had come in chronological order, and we could have had relevant trends, laws and so forth in witchcraft mentioned for each period. As she's going back and forth all over the place with the alphabet tactic, you lose track of any overarching connection or progression. It would have worked just as well with a simple index somewhere listing all the witches' names (getting your alphabet there) as a reference guide, but leaving the book as something much more readable.

In doesn't go into depth in anything, and you've got your usual line up of confidence tricksters, murderers, mysogynists, farmers with sick cows and parents with sick kids looking for someone to blame. The bonkers thing is that this nastiness is listened to and people are arrested and sent to trial. Some are executed. But this is pre enlightenment and scientific revolution for the most part, and superstition and lack of understanding in science meant that other explanations, such as the grumpy old bag at the bottom of the road that no one likes, being the easy thing to blame.

I've been wanting to read this one for a while, but never been able to find a decently priced second hand copy. Borrowed it from the library and am rather glad I didn't spend any money on it.

[Sarah Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I really struggled knowing how to rate this book. It's CLEAR sooooooo much love and work and research and energy has gone into this book. And honestly, it is a wealth of information. You get lots of little snippets of witchy stories. Like mini freeze frames.

All I would say is, the book isn't always the best written. That doesn't mean it's terribly written because it's not, but it reads a bit like a collection of very short essays from a college or undergrad assignment.

The other thing is, you always feel like you are just scratching the surface of the witchy takes and get lots of repetitive story lines. Obviously, this is because of what evidence & information is available and because the situations ARE similar!

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of stories about people reported to be witches in Yorkshire. Alright if you want the individual stories but the decision to put them in name order instead of time order makes it hard to draw any high level conclusions about the rise and fall of witchcraft persecutions and the lack of referencing means that, for many of the stories, it's unclear is they're accusations found in church record or stories passed through local folklore, for example. The author also makes the unusual choice of occasionally hinting that witches might be real and these women might have supernatural powers granted by satan which, what?

[Kirsty Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I brought this Halloween 2021 and thought it was a interesting read , the tales and speculations of communities of yorkshire were interesting some seemed out of dislike or random blame to people they deemed to be witches. It makes me grateful we’ve moved on from these mindsets, however can relate to gossiping in todays society that went out of hand

[CopperMoonWitch · Rating 2 out of 5]

The content is interesting, especially as a Yorkshire lass m'sen. However, it's just bare bones and not enough meat for my tastes!

Interesting enough to dip in and out of, but not one I'll be keeping in my permanent collection.

[KT · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book for those interested in witches, local history and Yorkshire. Easy to read it documents the witches of Yorkshire and can be read in one go or dip into.

[Ophelia Feyre · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing.

[The Book Barbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the case studies of this book. I guess I would have hoped for a few more grisly moments!

[Matthew Harwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of stories collected through history covering a range of events. There is thorough detail of a range of reported witches and it is entertaining to read.

[Laura Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read, especially as it involves so many places I'm near to. Quick and easy to dip in and out of and provided in a 'gossip' kind of form to heighten the way these stories have been passed down.