Professor Marion Gibson's Avatar

Professor Marion Gibson

@witchesetc.bsky.social

Author of Witchland (coming 2026) and Witchcraft: A History in 13 Trials. History, folklore, books, archives.

1,890 Followers  |  1,230 Following  |  139 Posts  |  Joined: 21.09.2023  |  1.9124

Latest posts by witchesetc.bsky.social on Bluesky

Beginnen die Hexenverfolgungen im Mittelalter? | Stimmt es, dass ...? | ARTE
YouTube video by ARTEde Beginnen die Hexenverfolgungen im Mittelalter? | Stimmt es, dass ...? | ARTE

It was a surprising amount of fun making this Arte film about witch trials - I LOVE their animation! #hexenverfolgung #arte youtu.be/iLSSx5lm0So?...

26.01.2026 16:55 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Me in pink- and blue-lit studio with links to other After Dark episodes

Me in pink- and blue-lit studio with links to other After Dark episodes

After Dark - new podcast episode on the Vardo #witch trials with me, @maddypelling.bsky.social and Anthony Delaney
www.historyhit.com/podcast/afte...
If you want to know more: my book Witchcraft: A History in 13 Trials and the work of Norwegian expert Liv Helen Willumsen

16.01.2026 11:10 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Cover of the book Witchland by Marion Gibson showing a bright pink broom against a frosty-looking nightscape of pale blue tree branches

Cover of the book Witchland by Marion Gibson showing a bright pink broom against a frosty-looking nightscape of pale blue tree branches

The beautiful cover of the North American edition - out 2026!

09.01.2026 17:46 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The book doesn’t deal with that, but certainly they were a long-term influence. However, I think the cover image was picked because it’s very striking and and it echoes the cover of the last book

12.12.2025 18:36 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Good! And happy Christmas to you too πŸ˜€

11.12.2025 21:46 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

You can pre-order it! In fact that would make the publisher very happy indeed :) It will be out in late July

11.12.2025 08:29 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Ooh I’m so pleased! I’d like to have heard that discussion :)

11.12.2025 08:26 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Yes it will. It’s only naked women, for heaven’s sake…

10.12.2025 11:52 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

New book cover! Isn’t it lovely?

Er, I wonder if Bluesky will flag this one as β€œadult” like they did the last one?

10.12.2025 11:46 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
Bright pink book cover with four pale pink naked witches based on Hans Baldung Grien’s illustration of witches round a pot spewing magic; they celebrate, one rides a flying goat

Bright pink book cover with four pale pink naked witches based on Hans Baldung Grien’s illustration of witches round a pot spewing magic; they celebrate, one rides a flying goat

New book cover!!! Out in July, telling stories of accused β€œwitches” in #Essex #Suffolk #Norfolk #Berkshire #Newcastle #Cornwall and #Lothian This is the UK and Commonwealth cover 🩷

09.12.2025 13:41 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

It was a cracking evening - and do check out our interview with Marion as released just before Halloween this year. And her *brilliant* books of course, in case you haven't already! πŸ–€

#witchcraft #witches #witchy

02.12.2025 16:03 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Poster advertising Gloucester History Festival digital Winter Warmer event showing Celia Imrie, Alice Roberts, Olivetti Otele and Sebastian Faulks

Poster advertising Gloucester History Festival digital Winter Warmer event showing Celia Imrie, Alice Roberts, Olivetti Otele and Sebastian Faulks

If you missed my chat with @drjaninaramirez.bsky.social @candiamckormack.bsky.social with music and folklore from @threeravenspod.bsky.social and @inkubussukkubus.bsky.social then you can catch up here: www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk

02.12.2025 15:54 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Post image

Looking forward to seeing this exhibition of esoteric artefacts, art and culture! At The Vaults, London… #witches #magic #history

13.11.2025 14:44 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I found this fascinating… #books #bookshops #bookstores #authors

06.11.2025 16:28 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

That was really interesting, thanks!

06.11.2025 16:27 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

And one final #Halloween treat…

31.10.2025 19:27 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Episode 181 ​Listen to the audio podcast on the player below:

Can’t wait for the final? Try our take on #Traitors, #witchhunts, #folklore and #history, especially our favourite faithful @davidolusoga.bsky.social www.thefolklorepodcast.com/episode-181....

31.10.2025 16:34 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A witch toy about ten inches tall, dressed in a black coat and hat with moon and star symbols, a blue spotted dress and orange and white stockings. She’s positioned in front of four pumpkins and above Halloween lights in the shape of pink bats and green spiders.

A witch toy about ten inches tall, dressed in a black coat and hat with moon and star symbols, a blue spotted dress and orange and white stockings. She’s positioned in front of four pumpkins and above Halloween lights in the shape of pink bats and green spiders.

This witch is a dog toy, believe it or not, called β€œCorrina Witch Flattie Toy”. She’s too pretty to let the dogs near her, so she’ll join my collection of bizarre seasonal clutter. Happy Halloween!

31.10.2025 14:45 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
An anthropomorphic root vegetable chauffeur driving a witch and a black cat around in a car made from a hollowed out marrow

An anthropomorphic root vegetable chauffeur driving a witch and a black cat around in a car made from a hollowed out marrow

Happy Halloween!

Keep a close eye out today for witches being driven around the countryside by their root vegetable chauffeurs in a hollowed out marrow car.

31.10.2025 08:02 β€” πŸ‘ 140    πŸ” 46    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 3

More #Halloween goodness here with @folklorepod.bsky.social and me #witches #history #books - enjoy!

28.10.2025 09:35 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Today I'll be giving a talk at The Wharf, Tavistock at 2pm. Come along if you're in the area and interested in witch trials, archival documents and family history

27.10.2025 08:22 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

For our third Local Legends interview of Haunting Season 2025 Martin chats with Dr Marion Gibson a.k.a. @witchesetc.bsky.social πŸ–€

Settle in for a good ol' chinwag about the relationship between the witch and Halloween, ghostly familiar spirits, The Exeter Book, and a whole bunch more...

25.10.2025 10:46 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks!

22.10.2025 07:12 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Don’t know - I don’t yet have Sky History so still haven’t seen it…

21.10.2025 13:52 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
A Latin indictment for β€œscolding” handwritten on yellowed paper in a Great Yarmouth record book

A Latin indictment for β€œscolding” handwritten on yellowed paper in a Great Yarmouth record book

#Halloween is a good time to be editing my next book, Witchland - including the story of Nazareth Fassett, prosecuted for being a woman who wouldn’t shut up (a scold or β€œobjurgatrix”) years before her #witch trial

21.10.2025 10:55 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
A prodigious & tragicall history of the arraignment, tryall, confession, and condemnation of six witches at Maidstone, in Kent, at the assizes there held in July, Fryday 30. this present year. 1652. B...

If you heard me talking about the 1652 β€œMaidstone witches” on Radio 5 Live and want to know more, here’s the original trial story: quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A8545...

12.10.2025 09:11 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Accused witch Bess Clarke - portrayed by actor - with woodcut image of Matthew Hopkins, witchfinder general, and text from his book, advertising Witches of Essex series

Accused witch Bess Clarke - portrayed by actor - with woodcut image of Matthew Hopkins, witchfinder general, and text from his book, advertising Witches of Essex series

New series Witches of Essex 14.10.25 Sky History 9pm with me, experts in crime, theatre, medicine, history, forensics, @profaliceroberts.bsky.social @goingmedieval.bsky.social and Rylan #witches #essex #history

10.10.2025 10:54 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Oh yes, that’s come out wrong hasn’t it! Thanks for noticing

04.10.2025 17:17 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Come to my talk about 19th century spiritualism in Newcastle and Manchester tomorrow! It has fraudulent mediums, clairvoyant doctors, and angry letters to the press!

12.09.2025 10:42 β€” πŸ‘ 70    πŸ” 20    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 0
Title card: The Seven County Witch Hunts episode 6, Archive Highlights

Title card: The Seven County Witch Hunts episode 6, Archive Highlights

The 6th and final episode of our mini-series collaboration with @witches7hunt.bsky.social is now live.

In this one, @witchesetc.bsky.social and @magicnotwitches.bsky.social discuss their favourite stories and the future of the research

Listen free at www.thefolklorepodcast.com/seven-county...

19.08.2025 20:34 β€” πŸ‘ 18    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

@witchesetc is following 19 prominent accounts