Helen Guthrie
Diedc. December 1662
Forfar, Scotland
Cause of deathExecuted for witchcraft
Known forThe last woman suspected of being a witch to be executed in Forfar

Helen Guthrie (died c. December 1662) was the last woman suspected of being a witch to be executed in Forfar, Scotland.[1]

Biography

A modern view of the start of Victoria Street, Forfar. Former location of the Playfield where Guthrie was executed.
Victoria Street, Forfar. Former location of the Playfield where Guthrie was executed.

In December 1662, Guthrie, along with her thirteen year old daughter Janet and 11 other women Including Isobell shyrie, were accused of witchcraft and held at the Forfar tolbooth. [2] Guthrie was subsequently strangled and burned with tar before being sentenced and judicially executed at the Playfield Forfar (situated on the site of the present day Victoria Street).[3] Janet was released from custody in 1666 after the hysteria of the Great Scottish Witch Hunt of 1661–62 subsided.[2]

Forfar Witches Memorial

In 2010, a memorial was placed to commemorate 22 suspected witches who were executed in Forfar, including Guthrie. The memorial which is dedicated to 'Forfar Witches' contains 22 dots, each representing one of the woman who were executed.[4]

A further memorial to all 50 local witches so far identified, is placed in the Town Hall which is built on the site of the Tollbooth where the majority of the executions took place.[5]

Meffan Institute

The Meffan Institute museum in Forfar contains a walk through and exhibition of historic scenes from the towns history, including the execution of Guthrie.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Strachan, Graeme (2022-10-26). "Forfar Witch Trials: Suffering of executed women to be recognised in 'historic' service". The Courier. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  2. 1 2 "Exhibitions : Revealing Women". www.scan.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  3. ↑ Coleman, Keith (2015-06-20). "Angus Folklore: The Forfar Witches". Angus Folklore. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  4. ↑ The Newsroom (8 June 2010). "We were so sickened by witch deaths, we've erected a memorial". The Scotsman.
  5. ↑ "Memorial plaque to be unveiled in tribute to accused Scottish witches". The National. 2023-11-24. Retrieved 2023-11-24.


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