Waves of hysteria about the presence and activities of witches periodically swept over Scotland from the mid 16th to early 18th century. That hysteria was reflected in the Scottish witchcraft act, signed into law in 1563 by Mary Queen of Scots which "forbade, by pain of death, the use of magic. In addition, anyone who consulted a magic user was subject to the same penalty".
Prestonpans was at centre stage during the thousands of witch trails that took place during the 1500 and 1600s. Proportionate to its population four century's ago, there where more accused witches convicted in Prestonpans than any other village, town or city in Scotland, and it's total number of "witches" exceeded that of much larger municipalities. The First arrest was that of Geilie Duncan of Tranent in 1590, who, under torture, confessed to being a witch and named 3 others as being witches-one of which is an Angnes Sampson, who, under torture, confessed to being the leader of the famous 'North Berwick Witches' and named others as witches, and so on and so forth.
A charge of witchcraft was instituted by one of 3 ways; "Accusations by neighbours, a sorcerous reputation, (or) the naming of another individual by a witch under interrogation". Although the charge of witchcraft was deemed to be evidence of guilt, a conviction was assured if it was augmented by a confession.
Knowing it meant a death sentence, the accused "witch" was typically resistant to confessing. consequently extraordinary torture techniques were often employed to encourage a confession. Among the more mundane tactics where sleep deprivation, starvation and being stripped naked and being kept in a cold, damp holding cell for weeks or even months until ones tongue loosened. The more vigorous tactics used to induce a confession included being dipped in a river or held under freezing water, and being skinned live by being forced to wear a "hair shirt dipp'd in vinegar" It was also common for a "Witch pricker" to search for the "witches Mark" by inserting a 3" long needle into various parts of the accused body.
Once convicted, the witch was executed-usually by public strangulation and burning of his or her body. After the execution, the cost of the "witches" torture, trail and execution was reimbursed by the condemned persons estate or family.
Although there where 81 people in Prestonpans convicted of being witches it is believed that the actual number is much higher however these cannot be verified and on 27th July 2004, the Baron Gordon Prestoungrange exercised his ancient baronial authority by pardoning the 81 men woman and children listed in "the Devils Ain" as being convicted and executed for witchcraft and also declared that, henceforth, a remembrance be held on each Halloween to remember these same victims.
PLEASE NOTE: This cache is next to the main road so due care should be exercised. Unfortunately the statue is not at the cache location as it is near a children's playground however you can find it in the estate on the other side of the road.
Congrats to summitplummet and Mr Plenty on FTF and also thanks for pointing out that this is a Andy Scott structure (designer and builder of 'The Kelpies'.)
Have added a waypoint for the actual statue