Devon's Forgotten Witches: 1860–1910

by Tracey Norman, Mark Norman

Witchcraft and witches throughout history have long captured the imagination, yet hidden away in archives are records of long forgotten cases. Many of these are tragic, some are unusual – perhaps even inexplicable – but all are fascinating in their own right.

Devon's Forgotten Witches 1860–1910 takes a deep dive through these records, bringing to the surface accusations of witchcraft in the county that have languished, unacknowledged, in the British Newspaper Archive for decades. These are the stories of ordinary people whose lives were touched in some way by witchcraft.

Tracey Norman and Mark Norman examine these cases within their historical context, pulling together details from various news reports to explore what might really have happened. This work provides an intriguing snapshot of press coverage in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, showing how the public were urged to view those who still put their faith in 'incredible superstition'. Most importantly, the retelling of these stories gives a new voice to those whom the historical record has silenced.

Genres: Witches

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2025

Reviews

[Susan]

Another great book by the Normans, such a powerhouse of folklore, historical research, and witch knowledge. With stories pulled from the news archives, the Normans dig into what is known and unknown with an empathetic eye toward accused and accusers alike. That empathy, however, does not extend to the judges, lawyers, and journalists who seemed to enjoy mocking the gullible who believed in witchcraft's promises or perils more than they were interested in justice.