A WOMEN’S history project made a special trip to Mistley to highlight the impact of witch trials.

Snapping the Stiletto is working across Essex to showcase the stories of underrepresented women.

A group of 24 women, along with University of Essex lecturer Alison Rowlands and Essex author Syd Moore, took a tour of Manningtree area as part of the scheme.

The ‘Revisiting the Essex witch trials’ project saw the women mark the trail that will be opened to the public in early 2022.

Snapping the Stiletto project manager Kayleigh Boyle said: “The women would take a name from the list of women who were persecuted by Matthew Hopkins as suspected witches.

“These women lived in the Tendring 100 area and were accused, jailed, or killed by Matthew Hopkins. He was a witch finder general and lived on Manningtree high street in the 17th century.

“Our writers will be writing in the voice of their chosen woman, and the Manningtree trail will have a QR code that the public can access with stories, poems and digital art through augmented reality.”

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Revisiting the Essex witch trials writersRevisiting the Essex witch trials writers

Manningtree will be having two open art workshops in January to complement this trail, which will be in finer typing art style.

Kayleigh added: “In terms of the witch trials in Essex, records were disposed of after the trials, so we have to recreate them because people were embarrassed.

“Women were persecuted, and lives were destroyed for no reason, it’s important that we address that.

“It’s less about the history of the man and more about remembering the women.”

Snapping the Stiletto is funded by the national lottery heritage fund and supported by Essex County council.

The QR trail has support from the town and district council.