What do you see in the picture, were do you think it might be? What might this story be about?
The picture shows Peneden Heath, is a small town in Maidstone, Kent. It is known for its heathland area which you can see in the picture. The Heath wasn't always so peaceful as in history it had a different use. The Peneden Heath comes from an Anglo Saxon term "Pinian" which means to inflict pain and suffering.
Can you guess what the heath was used for in history?
Peneden Heath was used as a site for executions in medieval and Tudor times.
There have been no executions on Peneden Heath for a long time, so why do you think this place might make the news in 2025?
The story is about seven women from the year 1652; Anne Ashby, Mary Brown, Anne Martyn, Mildred Wright, Susan Pickenden, Anne Wilson and Mary Reade.
Can you guess what the story is?
On 30th July 1652, these seven women were executed on Peneden Heath for witchcraft.
What was witchcraft?
The seven women were accused of having "monstrous powers" and were convicted together.
Do you think the women did have monstrous powers?
Why were they convicted, were they really witches? What was going on?
In the centuries since 1652, the seven women have been forgotten. But they were not alone; many women across the UK at this time were put on trial for witchcraft. None are remembered today.
The people of Peneden Heath want to right this wrong that happened 373 years ago. The leader of Maidstone Council has written to the home secretary Shabana Mahmood, calling for a new law to pardon the Peneden Heath women and all others convicted of witchcraft; "These historic acts of murder cannot be undone but those women could be granted a general pardon."
What is a pardon?
Why do this today, isn't it 373 years too late?
The campaigners say they want to send out a message about injustice.
What do you think this message is?
Councillor Claire Kehily says, "For some people it's completely pointless and achieves nothing. Yes these women will never know. But I think it sends a strong message that injustice will be called out and fought against. At the end of the day, they weren't witches, they were just women."
What do you think of Claire's point, do you agree, disagree?
Marion Gibson is a professor at Exeter University and she explains; "This was happening all over Britain. Maybe somebody's child had died in sad circumstances that couldn't be explained and the neighbours start to get suspicious" People were told that witches existed and so they believed it. "It was really easy for them to think not just that witches existed but actually that the maybe the old women they didn't like down the road was a witch."
How could this happen so easily?
Why didn't anyone stop it?
Claire Mitchell is one of the campaigners. She says; "We are somebody else's history."
What does that mean?
Claire says that the women in 1652 were a scapegoat.
What is a scapegoat?
"They said, 'these are the people that are causing you ill, and when you get rid of those people, our problems will be over."
Do you think that happened? Were problems over once the women were got rid of?
Some people today say similar things about people who are different. Why do people say these things?
Can we learn anything from history?
What do we say in our school about being different?
Why is this about No Outsiders?
Which British Value is this about?
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No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat (scheme of work for primary schools)
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