New immersive trail tells the story of Essex witch trials

A new immersive heritage trail revealing the unique stories of the infamous Essex witch trials has opened thanks to expert input from historian Professor Alison Rowlands.

Professor Rowlands, from the School of Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies, ensured the stories of those impacted by the trials were told authentically and resonated with people today, for Tendring District Council’s new history trail.

Stories of those caught up in the 16th and 17th century witch trials that affected communities in Manningtree, St Osyth, Harwich and Walton-on-the-Naze have been brought to life for the first time using augmented reality, accessed by smart phones.

Unique wooden benches and information boards that reflect each location’s history have been installed, with additional historic information available on the Essex Sunshine Coast website. The trail offers visitors of all ages a living history experience.

Essex had an unusually large number of witch trials compared to other English counties, with nearly 300 people, mainly women, tried at Chelmsford’s Assize Courts between 1560 and 1680.

In 2022 Professor Rowlands was historical adviser on a walking tour around Manningtree and Mistley which commemorated the lives of the 36 Essex women accused in 1645.

Speaking about Tendring’s newest trail, she said: “It is wonderful to see the months of hard work coming to fruition.

“I’m thrilled to see the finished results in their local settings and hope many other people from our region will be inspired to visit them.”

Gary Scott, Tendring District Council Member for Arts, Culture and Heritage added: “The Tendring Witch Heritage Trail is an immersive journey through our district’s past.

“It not only preserves our past, but it brings to life the rich stories that have shaped our history.

“The trail also commemorates the lives of the Tendring communities that were brutally persecuted for witchcraft in the 16th and 17th Centuries.”

The trail was made possible thanks to a £49,385 grant from the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF).