Christopher Russell - The Last Witch
BBC Radio 4: Saturday Night Theater
112K
Broadcast: Saturday 28th April 1979 @ 8:30 p.m.
"The Last Witch" is a dramatization of the true story of Jane Wenham of Walkern, Hertfordshire, who had apparently long held a reputation in her village for being a wise woman. This seemed to annoy her, and in 1712 she complained to a magistrate that a local farmer was calling her a witch. The parish priest was brought in as a mediator and suggested that the farmer should pay her a shilling (5p) as compensation for the insult. Jane was not content with this, and according to local rumor, began to use her magical powers against the clergyman and his household. His servant fell mysteriously ill and was pestered by a persistent noise of cats outside her door. Later, she claimed to have seen cats, one of whom had the face of Jane Wenham, and presented her with a knife, urging that she should kill herself with it.The whole village was profoundly disturbed by these
happenings and others were found to state that they had seen a cat with a face resembling Jane's.
Eventually the woman was brought to trial at the Hertford Assizes before Chief Justice Powell, who, being a man of bluff common sense, ridiculed the whole idea of witchcraft. The jury, however, was of a different opinion, and despite the summing up and "direction" from the judge, found that Jane was guilty. Judge Powell had no choice but to condemn her to death, but through his influence she was later given a Royal Pardon.
The case excited great interest not only in the Borough and County, but throughout the country, and a shower of pamphlets and lampoons poured forth both in Jane's favor and against her.
In her later days she gained the sympathy of Earl Cowper of Panshangar, who made some charitable provision for her. In 1736, the old laws against witchcraft were repealed and thenceforward people could be prosecuted only for the pretended exercise of supernatural powers.
With Sylvia Coleridge [Jane Wenham], John Pullen [James Gardiner], Jennifer Piercy [Elizabeth Gardiner / Queen Anne], Gerald Cross [Sir Henry Chauncy], Christopher Good [Arthur Chauncy], Gabriel Woolf [Reverend Francis Bragge of Hitchin], Elizabeth Proud [Anne Thorn], Peter Marinker [Mr. Grant], Gregory de Polnay [John Chapman], Andrew Branch [Matthew Gilston / David], John Gabriel [Judge John Powell], Ronald Herdman [Mr. Franklin], Fred Bryant [Constable / Thomas Ireland], and Tammy Ustinov [Susan Alott / Mary].
Directed by Gerry Jones
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Replies
Dear Rick -
This looks like a great SNT and I will enjoy it tonight.
Thanks for it!!!
Bob
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