AFTER being fascinated by the story for three decades historian Tony McAleavy has written a book about the 'witches of Malmesbury’, and has conclusively proved that nearly 350 years ago two women from the town were hanged for witchcraft.

The shameful episode in the town’s long and rich history saw 14 people from Malmesbury, mostly poor, elderly and illiterate women, accused of running a coven of witches in 1672.

Four were eventually tried in Salisbury on a variety of related charges including causing death and maiming through witchcraft, and two of them, Judith Witchell and Anna Tillage were publicly hanged after being found guilty.

They were among the last women ever executed in Britain for witchcraft but the alleged “infamous leader of the coven” Elizabeth Peacock was acquitted.

During extensive research for the 17th Century Witches of Malmesbury, which has now been published by the Athelstan Museum, Mr McAleavy even managed to find the will of Mrs Peacock at the Wiltshire Records Office.

Mr McAleavy, 60, a Malmesbury resident for 30 years, said: “It’s been known for some time that there were accusations of witch hunting in Malmesbury. So this book is not entirely original.”

However, he said, it was “a dramatic but largely untold story.”

He goes on: “No-one has ever looked really closely at what the source material says. I’ve also been able to prove conclusively that two women were hanged after being accused of being involved in a coven of witches in Malmesbury.”

Seventeenth century writer John Aubrey, of Kington St Michael, wrote that “a cabal of witches” were detected in Malmesbury during the 1670s, and that they were involved in “odd things” such as “flying in the aire on a staffe.”

He thought “seven or eight” were hanged. A 17th century magistrate called Sir James Long also wrote an account of events which came to a head in 1672 but which was not published until 150 years later.

Mr McAleavy tells the shocking story of seven prosperous, respected Malmesbury families laying the blame of deaths, disabilities and sickness in their families, along with the horses becoming lame, on witchcraft.

He attained the facts with the help of records from Salisbury Assizes and Salisbury Gaol – including the ten charges, but sadly none of the evidence that presented against four women.

He feels the two found guilty at the Malmesbury Witch Trials confessed, for whatever reasons, including confinement in “presumably appalling conditions” at Salisbury Gaol.

Judith Witchell, who was “ringleader” Elizabeth Peacock’s sister, and Anna Tillage were hanged shortly after receiving the mandatory death sentence for witchcraft.

However, the late 17th century was towards the end of an era which saw women accused of being witches, when a “growing scepticism” about such practices was beginning to emerge.

Mr McAleavy, who works for an education charity, added: “The story of the Malmesbury witches is an interesting story but also one of great sadness – a very tragic story.”

The 46-page booklet is now for sale at the Athelstan Museum shop for £5 during an introductory offer in September.