Show Notes: Witches Apprehended: Mother and Mary Sutton

Posted on by Natalie Doig

You can listen to the episode here

A wood cut scene of a witch being ducked in a mill pond with a vicar in a boat next to her and men on the banks watching or holding ropes. There's also pigs in the water and a giant sow and a broken cart in the picture.
Cover to the 1613 Pamphlet Witches Apprehended

Show credits

The wonderful Welsh storyteller and actor Owen Staton plays the roles of Cornelius Harbird and John Inger in this episode and you can find out more about Owen’s work here: https://www.welshstoryteller.com/

Further Reading

Willow Winsham who has written about Mary and Mother Sutton amongst other witches and on folklore subjects has a website here: https://folklorethursday.com/

Here’s Willow’s blog post about the Suttons: https://winsham.blogspot.com/2014/08/from-hogs-to-hanging-story-of-mother.html

The Higgins Museum Bedford has an article about the Suttons here: https://thehigginsbedford.blogspot.com/2019/03/objects-from-our-collections-and-other.html

A wooden plaque with lists of names carved into it on the right hand side 6th from the top is written 1576 Robert Sutton.
A wooden sign listing the vicars of Milton Ernest inside the church including Robert Sutton

Bedford archives list of Milton Ernest vicars including Robert Sutton: https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/MiltonErnest/ListOfMiltonErnestVicars.aspx

Milton Ernest’s All Saints church is one of the existing buildings in Milton Ernest that Mary and Mother Sutton would recognise.

A large arched shaped heavy wooden door with great iron work hinges and a large iron ring knocker.
The church door
A close up of the chancel with a red carpet and steps leading up to a altar with a black cloth on it which is embroidered in white and red. Behind it are images of the cross and the alpha and omega symbols. There's a stained glass windows and a canopy on the ceiling of gold stars on a blue panels. Then very old wood beams. The walls are white washed and uneven.
The Chancel of All Saints Church

The Chancel is the oldest part of the church dating back to 12th Century. It’s at a slight angle to the rest of the church which is commonly known as a weeping chancel. It’s speculated that these weeping chancels are either architectural mistakes or that they represent the lolling head of Christ on the cross, which is quite a creepy thought.

A wider angle of the chancel showing the ornate iron gate at the entrance to the chancel. The archway into the chancel and a banner to the right with white crosses against a sunrise image. The chancel is unusually narrow and dark.
The weeping chancel

Here’s a photograph of the font in the church where we know George and Margaret Sutton, Mary’s children were baptised. The font dates back to the 14th Century so there’s no doubt this is where they were baptised. I imagined the Sutton family gathered around this font, whilst Robert Sutton the vicar baptised the babies.

An ornately carved pale stone font with wooden lid. Behind it are bright stained glass windows.
The font

I noticed a number of marks scratched on the font and wondered if they were witch marks used for protection and good luck? I’ll be asking an expert about these soon so watch this space …

the wooden lid of the font and then stone with deep lines etched in it.
Possible witch marks on the font.

Here’s some information from Bedfordshire archives on the Mill and Milton Ernest: https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/MiltonErnest/MiltonMill.aspx

a grassy bank leading down to a river. On the right there is a large multi trunked tree. ON the other bank of the river there is grass and winter trees in the distance. The sky has high cloud and a faint milky low sun.
The River Great Ouse at Milton Ernest.

To read more about Milton Ernest’s rich history check out The Importance of Milton Ernest by David Newman https://www.amazon.co.uk/Importance-Milton-Ernest-Village-Heritage/dp/0955292700

This is the Queen’s Head at Milton Ernest which I visited and is another of the buildings that Mary and Mother Sutton would recognise though it was brand new in their day. The pub has a fascinating history and links with Glen Miller. I recommend a visit.

The side and front of a pale beige brick building with mossy roof and large chimneys. The Queens Head is written on the end of the building and the front and the pub sign is penny black stamp. The sky is grey cloud.
The Queen’s Head Pub

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Published by Natalie Doig

"Science and sorcery." It's a quote from a beekeeper I saw on the TV, about how he sees the work he does keeping bees, a balance between science and sorcery. For me it also sums up my experience of life, my interests and my outlook. I love photography which is a perfect blend of science and sorcery, using light and technology to create magical images. But when I'm not taking photos you'll find me making the podcast Weird in the Wade. I'm also often to be found writing, reading, knitting, riding my mountain bike or drinking coffee watching the world go by. By day I fight for disability rights, equality and inclusion for all.

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