The Paisley Witches

When people think about witchcraft today; they think of the current Halloween stereotype of a witch…women in tall pointy hats with large noses stirring potions in a black cauldron while plotting their evil actions. But in the 17th century; witchcraft was a very real and serious crime for which a person could lose their life. It wasn’t until 1736 that Scotland repealed the Witchcraft Act of 1563, which ensured that the prosecution of witches were banned. But this was too late for seven women who lived in the town of Paisley in the west central lowlands of Scotland.