BBC Ideas: Witches

What do we know about witches? The woman with magical powers and spells, in a pointy hat, with a broomstick and a black cat? Much of what we think we know about witches actually comes from a short period of time when the infamous ‘Witchfinder General’ Matthew Hopkins carried out witch hunts in East Anglia.
This film was shot on location at St Nicholas Priory in Exeter and explores the deeper story behind the witch hunts and draws parallels with the world we live in today. Has the witch hunt mentality really gone away?

Academic consultant for The Open University: Dr Gemma Allen, Senior Lecturer in Early Modern History.
Made with the help of Dr Tabitha Stanmore at the University of Bristol.
Animation : Arlo Bebbington-Wood
The ‘Witch’: Laura Doble

Year2022Duration04:30ClientsBBC and The Open University