Witches of Essex
I have long been fascinated with the story of the witch. Her archetype and what she means for women (and other marginalised gender groups) and their self empowerment as well as the marginalisation and prejudice that comes hand in hand with claiming their witchhood. Essex in particular has a strong connection with the witch, from the famous witchcraft trials of Manningtree to Canewdon witch country. This county is filled with stories, ghostly and magical as well as bloodthirsty and damming and after spending a considerable amount of time reading and exploring the idea of the witch, I wanted to go further and document the experience of Essex witches today. Are they now free from the stigmas of the past or is their still a battle to be had? How does being a witch enrich and empower their daily lives and why do they choose this path? What do the witches of Essex look like today and how does the past vilification of those labelled as witches, impact their experience in the present day?
Are you a witch in Essex and would you be willing to be photographed and interviewed for this project? If so, I would love to hear from you. Please get in touch using the form below.