Findhorn's Ian Turnbull pays respect to local women persecuted during historic witch trials

A MEMORIAL to Forres’ dark past ignored by generations is being highlighted by folk interested in its history.

Retired geologist Ian Turnbull from Findhorn organised a meeting of like-minded people at the Witches Stone outside Forres Police Station on Victoria Road on October 31 to reflect on the power of women in society and the fact that some came to a grisly end because of prejudice.

Ian explained: “I go by the site most years around Hallo’een to leave flowers but this is the second occasion that I have formalised a ritual. Two colleagues and I set out a circle of paper lanterns and lit a fire in a metal basket. Around 40 people showed up. Many have a tender spot for the Witches Stone - everyone identifies with it in their own way.”

Ian informed the police before the meeting in the dark, wind and rain, and ensured the group did not impede passing traffic.

He said: “It would have been enough if just the three of us gathered. As the Weird Sister said in Macbeth: ‘When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning or in rain?’.”

The stone has been split into three, held together with iron staples. A plaque above reads ‘From Cluny Hill witches were rolled in stout barrels through which spikes were driven. Where the barrels stopped they were burned with their mangled contents. This stone marks the site of one such burning.’

According to history, should an individual survive the ordeal, their endurance would be evidence they were in tow with the devil and they would be burned anyway.

According to local legend, the stone was split to be used as building material. The person responsible supposedly became sick after they moved into their new dwelling nearby so it was assumed the stone was cursed. The house was demolished and the stone returned.

It is said the Cluny Hill witch was burned for being one of the three found guilty of bewitching King Duncan in 1040 AD. However, some historians believe the stone dates from after the Reformation. Post-Reformation, witch burnings became more common in Scotland thanks to the passing of the Scottish Witchcraft Act of 1563 which deemed the practice as punishable by death. Some estimates put the number of witches tried in Scotland at more than 4000 with incidents hitting a peak in the late 16th century. The last known execution of a witch in Scotland took place in Dornoch in 1722, with the Witchcraft Act thrown out 14 years later.

“I’ve been moved by the Witches Stone ever since I came to live in Moray in the early eighties,” said Ian. “It’s remarkable that the town maintains this memorial. It serves as a poignant reminder of the suspicion and prejudice held against people who did not conform. The memorial is visited constantly - there’s always flowers left, candles, small icons, pieces of jewellery and wee notes. It’s a strangely sacred place, even while the broken boulder intrudes onto the pavement and the explanatory notice is entirely devoid of sentiment.”

Back at the stone on Halloween, an older woman recounted a brief history of the historic persecution. Attendees sang ‘Who were the Witches, where did they come from? Maybe your great great grandmother was one. Witches were wise wise women they say. And there’s a little witch in every woman today’. They then separated into a group who thought they had some “witchiness” about them and another who thought they had none.

Ian said: “One group was women and the smaller group was only us men. We sang to the women to express our love and respect. We left no sign of our gathering but these rituals live on in our hearts.”