Forfar’s notorious witch hunt brought to life at museum

A “truly terrifying time in Forfar’s past” where suspected witches were executed is being told at an Angus museum.

The Meffan has been loaned some of the original witches confessions along with other documents which tell the macabre story.

Forfar was the scene of a terrible witch hunt in the 1660s, which resulted in the torture and execution of nine local women.

Helen Guthrie was the last witch to be executed in Forfar in 1662, suffering the fate of other burgh witches who were strangled and then burned in a barrel of tar.

At least six suspected ‘witches’ were executed on the Playfield, which is now Victoria Street, in full view of the people of Forfar, who treated each execution as a day out.

The macabre fascination with the subject draws many visitors to The Meffan where they can view the torture equipment, such as thumbscrews and branks, and a bridle used to depress the tongue and keep suspects silent.

In recent years locals and visitors have also turned out in good numbers for a witch walk around the town, visiting the key sites in the 17th century hunts.

See Wednesday’s Angus Courier for the full story.