About this Exhibition

Colchester Castle was a key landmark in the Essex witch trials. In the 1500s and 1600s, hundreds of people were imprisoned inside its walls suspected of being a witch. Thousands more were imprisoned and lost their lives across the country. Essex became well known for its persecution of suspected witches, the first person in England to be executed under a Witchcraft Act was Elizabeth Lowys who lived in Great Waltham. 

Five hundred years later, the county’s long history of folklore and magic and many of the stories of victims like Elizabeth are at risk of being lost – overshadowed by tales of people like the famous Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins, who hunted suspected witches throughout the East of England. 

Through ‘Wicked Spirits? Witchcraft + Magic at Colchester Castle’, produced in partnership with the famous Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle, we are bringing the stories of those that suffered and lost their lives out into the open and making sure they are never forgotten. 

More information about the exhibition can be found on our Wicked Spirits webpage.

For useful information, such as how to find us and what facilities Colchester Castle has, we recommend reading our Access information: Access at the Castle | Colchester Museums. Please note, there have been a few changes inside Colchester Castle as we install Wicked Spirits? Once the exhibition opens on Saturday 16th July, our team will be working on an updated sensory map and sensory story.