School visits and a 17th century witch trial
It’s been a busy start to the year at the Heritage Hub with several school visits, starting off with p1 from Drumlanrig St Cuthbert’s Primary School in Hawick. The wee ones were taken on a tour of the different buildings in the Heart of Hawick, and got to see inside the strong rooms and learn how to move the electronic shelves - an exciting task even for grown-ups!
Next in was Lilliesleaf Primary School, who looked at a record of a witch trial in Selkirk in 1627. The ‘witch’ was Issobell Howetsone from Riddell near Lilliesleaf, and the depositions were from her neighbours who lived in Lilliesleaf, Riddell and Clarielaw nearby. Issobell was a healer who tended sick people and animals, and some of the people who accused her had in fact benefited from her help in the past. An example of the type of evidence brought against her is the depostition from Mark Davidsone in Clarielaw:
[Issobell] came in to his hous ane yeir syne or thairby in the likenis of ane Bee unseen of anie …
The pupils presented the so-called evidence against Issobell, heard questions put to her about the accusations, and then discussed whether they thought she was guilty or not.
Issobell Howetsone, in happier days. She was accused of “metting the belt”, to forecast whether a person would live or die. She would “mett” the belt with a “chairme”, and if the belt crept in there was danger of death. If it didn’t move, there was no danger.
Posted by: Sarah
