The commemorative sculpture, created by town artist Kate Jackson, was commissioned by West Suffolk Council and supported by funding from The Bury Society and The Friends of Moyse’s Hall Museum. It aims to serve as an 'image of defiance rather than suppression and horror'.
The monument depicts women at three stages of life – maiden, mother, and crone – with arms stretched upwards, rising triumphantly from the 'flames of gossip and injustice'. The design incorporates the 'hollow mask effect', where the carved faces appear to follow the viewer. The material used is wood, a significant element from the time of the trials, sourced from a damaged Lime Tree at Nowton Park and carved with local carver John Williams.
Among the names featured are the 16 women and 2 men, including a vicar, hanged in 1645, and Rose Cullender and Amy Denny, whose 1662 trial influenced the Salem trials in the United States.
“"The history of the witch trials is largely a history of the oppression and persecution of women, particularly of women who did not fit into societal norms. These women were falsely accused on the basis of gossip and hearsay, perhaps because they were known healers, midwives or herbalists or simply because they were old, widowed or alone."
“"This sculpture is an emotionally charged and thought-provoking reflection on such a violent, and unjust period of persecution in our local, national and international history. It may be more than 300 years since it took place, but the lessons that history teaches us are as relevant as ever."
The memorial is displayed alongside the crime and punishment exhibits at Moyse’s Hall Museum, including a 310-year-old account of the 1662 trial of Rose Cullender and Amy Denny. The museum also features exhibitions on Edmund and the Great Heathen Army and Things that go bump.
