Huntingdon’s 1646 witchcraft trial ordeal re-enacted

Hopkins made his first accusations in Manningtree, Essex, and from there his career took off, using brutal methods.

“The accused would be imprisoned, deprived of food, sleep, water, clothes, even the ability to sit down or lie down or sleep, and then after three or four days of this, whilst being harangued and interrogated, most people will crack and confess simply to make it stop,” Mr Orme said.

The re-enactments are based on a pamphlet about the Huntingdonshire trial, recorded by John Stern from Hopkins’ team.

One of the accused “mutters under their breath all the time”, another is described as “a sottish [drunk] woman”.