Witchfinder General

29 Oct 2026 · 36 min · Episode 578

Episode Witchfinder General

0:00 36:20

In the aftermath of the Civil War, a remote corner of Essex witnessed the most brutally devastating witch-hunt in English history. A dangerous maverick Matthew Hopkins - the 'Witchfinder General' - hunted down vulnerable people across East Anglia, exploiting the anxiety and lawlessness of the times. Between 1645 and 1647, more than 300 suspects were interrogated and tortured; a third of them were hanged.

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb finds out more about Hopkins and his accomplice John Stearne from Professor Malcolm Gaskill.

The Witch

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How to Kill a Scottish Witch

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Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. Edited and produced by Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

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