A post by Archives & Special Collections Apprentice, Charlie Lough
Amongst the vast Durham Probate Records (DPR) collection is a modest document wrapper from the 16th century. However, upon closer inspection, this unassuming item hints at a world where witchcraft and sorcery were very real fears.
Let’s travel back to 1592, to the village of Chatton in Northumberland, where a man named Steven Revlye died. After his death, an inventory of his belongings was created. But what is really fascinating is not what Steven owned, but what was used to wrap up this inventory; a piece of paper that had served as a public notice. The document in question had the remains of a public announcement about “sorc[ery]” and “incha[ntment],” words that would send shivers down the spines of any 16th century villager. During this time, the word “witchcraft” was used to describe a wide range of practices, some of which were purely imaginary. But whether real or not, those accused of such practices often faced severe consequences.
The church courts played a crucial role in regulating moral behaviour, dealing with cases involving defamation, marriage issues, and even brawling on church property. When it came to matters of witchcraft, the court had the power to impose public penance or, in more serious cases, excommunication.
Public penance was no small matter, designed to shame the individual and serve as a warning to others. One of the most intriguing stories from this time involves a woman named Allison Lawe from Hart. In 1582, she was accused of being a “notorious sorcerer and enchanter”, after two women named Janet Bainbridge and Janet Allenson asked her for a cure of the sick. According to historical records, Allison was convicted of witchcraft and sentenced to public penance. She had to stand in the busy Durham marketplace with a piece of paper on her head announcing her guilt to the entire town, repeating the humiliation at churches in Hart and Norton. This wrapper could very well be a fragment of one of those public notices. But is it real? Documents like this one can be captivating, however, we must approach them with caution. The original source of this story no longer seems to exist and without more evidence or similar records, we should be careful not to jump to conclusions about the document’s authenticity!
This item was recently selected for further investigation by the Archives and Special Collections Digitisation Team. The paper notice was scanned using a high-tech piece of kit, on loan to the university from Factum Arte, called the Selene Scanner. Imagine a machine that can look at an ancient book or document and see things that are completely invisible to the naked eye. That’s exactly what the Selene Scanner does! It uses a clever combination of lights and cameras to capture multiple ultra-detailed images of an object. These photos are then combined to create a 3D image that shows every little bump and texture on the object’s surface, from brushstrokes on a painting to scratches on a book cover. Sadly, the scans did not bring to light any new information, but advancements in technology and important work from people like the Archives and Special Collections Digitisation Team may one day reveal the secrets of this artifact.
The story of this document is a reminder of how fascinating, and sometimes frightening, history can be. Whether it’s a genuine artifact from the 16th century or a later creation, it offers a glimpse into a time when the line between reality and superstition was often blurred. So, what do you think? Could this be a true piece of history, or is it just another story from the past that continues to enchant us today?
Further Information
Links to the Factum Arte website:
https://www.factum-arte.com/en/inicio
https://www.factum-arte.com/pag/1341/selene-photometric-stereo-system
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