Home   Stowmarket   Article

Subscribe Now

Wood Ley Primary School pupils campaign for memorial plaque honouring Stowmarket witch trial victims




Pupils from a Suffolk school have paid tribute to the victims of their town’s historic witch trials by campaigning for a memorial plaque.

Year 6 students from Wood Ley Primary School in Stowmarket were inspired to research the town’s dark history after teacher Jasmine Kay read ‘A Kind of Spark’ by Elle McNicoll to the class.

The book sees an 11-year-old girl campaign for a memorial for the victims of the Scottish Witch Trials – and this inspired the students to look into their own town, leading them to discover that the notorious witch finder, Matthew Hopkins, played a big part in Stowmarket’s trials.

Year 6 pupils from Wood Ley Primary School in Stowmarket with the memorial plaque in the Old Cemetery. Picture: Submitted
Year 6 pupils from Wood Ley Primary School in Stowmarket with the memorial plaque in the Old Cemetery. Picture: Submitted

Hopkins and his colleague John Stearne were responsible for more executions for witchcraft from 1644 to 1647 than all other witch-hunters in England at that time.

After the pupils wrote numerous letters to request a memorial, Stowmarket Town Cllr Darren Dordoy and Summer Lambert, senior communities officer, visited the school to discuss their ideas and plans were made to install a memorial plaque at the Old Cemetery in Bury Road.

The plaque was unveiled on Thursday, July 11 which read: “In memory of the victims of the Stowmarket Witch Trials.

The plaque was unveiled on Thursday, July 11. Picture: Submitted
The plaque was unveiled on Thursday, July 11. Picture: Submitted

“We long for a time when oppression and persecution is only read about in history books.

“We remember the dehumanising actions of the past to help us to build a more inclusive society.

“We now know that diversity is a strength and ignorance has no home in Stowmarket - Wood Ley Primary School.”

During the unveiling ceremony, the pupils held a memorial service to remember the victims and students Abigail, Jessie, Eddie and Farran read a speech they had written while Benji read his poem.

In the speech, they said: “We have worked tirelessly to erect this plaque as a gift to our community and a reminder of the suffering that took place here.

“Let this memorial remind us all of what can happen if we allow people to be blamed wrongfully for the burdens of our society. Rather than blaming people, we should work collaboratively as a community to resolve hardships which will help us to build a more harmonious society.

“If we forget the atrocities of the past, history may repeat itself. Each and every one of us has a duty to ensure that Stowmarket remains an inclusive and safe town.”

Summer Lambert added: “It’s been a pleasure to assist Wood Ley Primary School students create the memorial for the victims of Stowmarket Witch Trials.

“The enthusiasm and passion from the students is inspiring and Stowmarket Town Council are pleased to have been able to make this happen.”