What is Bideford witch trial?
The '''Bideford witch trials''' began in 1682. Three women from Bideford were hanged - their crime was [[witchcraft]]. They were the last women in [[England]] to be executed for this crime. The women the were hanged to death were Temperance Lloyd, Susanna Edwards and Mary Trembles. At that time, Bideford was an important part of a growing transatlantic trade route with [[Newfoundland]] and [[Virginia]]. At the time of the deaths, the [[plague]] and [[smallpox]] epidemics, by 1680 the crowded town had a population of 2,600. [[Religion]] and folklore played key parts in the beliefs of those living in the 17th Century. To keep the people interested, there was also a reviving interest in and fear of witchcraft. {{Multistub|history|UK}} [[Category:1682]] [[Category:1680s in Europe]] [[Category:17th century in England]] [[Category:Trials]]