The year 1564 was a tumultuous one for the wealthy and connected Bayntun family of North Wiltshire. It started with the death of the head of the family, Sir Andrew Bayntun, owner of the manor of Stanley. Disaster then stuck just before Easter when the infant, William Bayntun, new heir to the family fortune, died in suspicious circumstances. Soon after a Stanley widow, Agnes Mylles, was accused and confessed to killing the child by witchcraft. Implicated by a witchfinder and tried under new witchcraft legislation, she was hanged.

This talk, by Louise Ryland-Epton, looks at the events that surrounded the death of William and its aftermath. We will uncover a tragic chain of events involving a family at war and the murky politics of the Tudor court. Surprisingly, despite circumstances leading to one of the earliest English witchcraft trials, the story has largely been overlooked by historians.

Location
Zoom webinar: The link is sent to ticket-holders on the day of the event, before 7pm.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the talk.

Tickets and booking
Cost: £10 per screen. All proceeds to the Victoria County History Wiltshire Trust, who have organised this lecture.
Booking: essential via ONLINE link below.

Date and Time
Wednesday 23 October 2024, 7.30pm

Terms and Conditions
Unless sold out, bookings will close at 5 pm on the day of the event.
Booking for events
Cancellations, Refunds and T&Cs