Curses, whispers and a demon fly: this is the story of the first Welshwoman executed for witchcraft

Curses, whispers and a demon fly: this is the story of the first Welshwoman executed for witchcraft

On an October’s day in 1594, Gwen ferch Ellis was led to the gallows in the middle of Denbigh town square in north Wales, and hanged. She was the first recorded woman in Wales to be executed on charges of witchcraft. Her death stands out in the context of European history. While thousands of women – and some men – were executed for witchcraft across Scotland, England and mainland Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries, only five executions t…