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Dr Tabitha Stanmore

@tabithastanmore

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Postdoc at Exeter Uni on Seven County Witch Hunt Project 🧙‍♀️ Author of Cunning Folk: Life in the Era of Practical Magic ✨ Trees 🌳 Books 📚 Cats 🐈‍⬛

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It's always the season of the witch as far as I'm concerned, but autumn does have that special something. So it's only right that we have another witchcraft summit 🧙‍♀️

I had such a great time speaking at this earlier today & getting to hear some of the other talks as well.

Huge thanks to everyone who bought tickets to attend live or to watch the recordings. Thanks also to the whole team @seedtalks who always do such a great job organising and hosting these events, and to our wonderful session managers and especially Emi & Elise.

Stay witchy & magical, everyone ✨️

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This year my work pivoted. My focus has always been on the perimeters. I am passionate about exploring how afterlife belief systems that help people navigate a world of loss but my inner voice has always shouted "Women!" "Witches!" Maybe it was because I didn't see it represented in the field or maybe it just wasn't the right time but after spending the summer voraciously reading everything I could get my hands on, I decided that I was done waiting to focus on witches. Yes, they are having a moment, BUT the thing is, the moment isn't a firework. The moment runs like a current under every conversation amongst women, and in the margins of history. There would be no modern medicine without the midwife and healer. No funerary poetry without wailing women. No planned parenthood without screams from our sisters in the streets. Witches weren't always called by this name, most of the time it was wise woman or cunning folk, and so on and so on. They cooked comfort food (special ingredient: love = *literal spell*) and concocted tinctures (hello cottage pharmacy). THEY STILL DO. So, where are their voices? We must not allow them to be relegated to pop culture alone. Our history deserves representation and our present deserves a spot at the table.

I have spent the last few months in conversations with American witches about how they became who they are, how they operate in the world and how they believe the other side exists in tandem. With that being said, it means I have also had to consistently fight and justify why these voices are important in rooms where men are in charge. On the days this is most tiresome, I look to all the women who came before me that did just that, and without apology. Whether hidden in fiction like the work of @ahoffmanwriter or in memoirs like Grimoire Girl by @hilarieburton or @tabithastanmore beautifully written historical narrative, I draw on their words (like magic!) for the strength to continue on.

Women, you don't have to identify as a practitioner to claim the term 'witch' - allow yourself to step into power of those that came before us, and those that surround us now. Magic is everywhere because our sisters are.

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SJL A Level History students were in court on Wednesday evening…at St. Albans Museum and Gallery listening to the supernaturally fabulous @tabithastanmore bring the early modern period’s ’Cunning Folk’ to life! Thanks for the enriching talk 🧙‍♀️🤩🧹🙌

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On this week's episode of Local Legends Martin chats with Sunday Times bestselling author Marion Gibson a.k.a. @witchesetcinsta! 🖤

Regular listeners will recall that Marion last came on Three Ravens during October 2025 to chat about her wonderful book Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen Trials, at which time we spoke about Marion’s childhood and career, so we this time we skip all that and jump straight into the 17th century and witch hunt fever!

This is all inspired by Marion's new book Witchland: A Tale of Witch Hunting and War in Seventeenth-Century Britain as researched in partnership with the brilliant Tabitha Stanmore, author of Cunning Folk: Life in the Era of Practical Magic and Love Spells.

The book offers readers both a history of the English Civil War and, as a product of months of digging through county archives, never-before-discussed histories of several individual everyday folk accused of witchcraft from Scotland, Newcastle and East Anglia down into Devon and Cornwall.

The book also draws connections between English witch trials and their later American counterparts, all of which we dig into, along with the folkloric deaths of two of history's most infamous witch hunters/accusers...

Available now, wherever you get your podcasts!

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It’s Reshelving Day!

Part of my writing process is letting my books pile up around me as I’m doing research and drafting. Then, when I’m finally done, I get to take a day and reshelve all the books back to their homes (and remove a LOT of sticky notes). It’s a peaceful and calming ritual that also reminds me just how many giants’ shoulders I’m standing on every time I write.

So I thought I’d share that with you and let you see some of the books that were with me this time around! Great ones include:
-Popular Magic, Owen Davies
-Cunning Folk, @tabithastanmore
-Tradition of Household Spirits, Claude Lecouteux
-Dictionary of Superstitions, Opie & Tatem
-Witches, Ghosts, & Signs, Patrick Gainer
-Tao of Craft, @bellwen
-Cunning Man’s Handbook, Jim Baker
-Annotated African American Folktales, @henrylouisgates & @grimmoir
-Book of English Magic, Carr-Gomm & Heygate
-Distaff Gospels, trans. Jeay/Garay
-Cunning Folk & Familiar Spirits, Emma Wilby
-Mules & Men, Z. Hurston
-Spiritual Merchants, C. Morrow Long
-Mojo Workin’, K. Hazzard-Donald
-Secret History of Memphis Hoodoo, Tony Kail
-Voodoo & Power, Kodi Roberts
-Herbal & Magical Medicine, J.W. Kirkland, ed.
-Slave Religion, A. Raboteau
-Witches of the Atlantic World, E. Breslaw, ed.
-Sigil Witchery, @owlkeyme.arts

So many sticky notes! So much to reshelve! (and I know I look more and more deranged as I go on, but the books are just so good!)

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Currently in the midst of research for the autumn talks and looking forward to reading this particular book by @tabithastanmore #research #cunningfolk #historygeek #newbook #weekendreads

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We are still reflecting on what was a truly inspiring few days at this year Magic and Witchcraft Conference in York.
It was a privilege to bring together such a wide range of conversations exploring the intersections of magic, the supernatural, and the natural world. From #landscapes, #seas, #forests, #stones, #plants, #animals,# weather, #healing, #folklore, #belief, #ritual, and the human body, each session offered rich and thought-provoking perspectives on how people across time have understood their relationship with the natural and supernatural world around them.
As organisers, we were delighted to witness so many engaging discussions, new connections, and generous exchange of ideas. It was wonderful to see colleagues reconnect, new collaborations begin and conversations continue well beyond the sessions themselves.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the presenters for sharing their work so generously, to everyone who joined us in person (and braved the incredibly hot temperatures), and to the British Online Archive (with their wonderful tote bags) for joining the conference and showcasing their important new and accessible collection titled Witchcraft and Magic in England, c. 1400-1920. And to our online attendees for helping to create such a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to making this event such as success, and we look forward to seeing you all next year.
You can now find the conference also on Instagram @MagicWitchCon and on Bluesky @MagicWitchCon.bsky.social. Come and follow along if you are interested in staying connected and hearing more about future events.

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Next week - a brilliant range of local authors and locally themed events in Bude, as part of the Literary Festival. Get more details at www.budelitfest.co.uk or from our box office at Bude Library (M/W/F 12-2pm, Sat 11-1pm)

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Just two weeks until these events on SUNDAY 17TH MAY at BudeLitFest.
Grab your tickets at www.budelitfest.co.uk or from our box office M|W|F 12-2pm (except Bank Holiday) or Sat 11-1pm

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✨️ A date for your autumnn 2026 diaries ✨️

Join us in Exeter on 24 October for a day of witchy talks focused on tales from the local area 🧙‍♀️

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On World Book Night - we're asking "Do You Judge a Book By It's Cover" ?!?
Here are just a few of the amazing writers/stories at Bude Lit Fest from 13-17th May 2026. Get more details and tickets at www.budelitfest.co.uk or from our pop up ticket office at Bude Library (M|W|F 12-2pm or Sat 11-1pm)
#worldbooknight

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To any aspiring authors out there! A range of writing workshops available at Bude LitFest (13-17th May). From comedy writing, to myths and legends, lyric writing to free writing and how to get published ... come along for advice from published writers and practical sessions.
More details of each workshop at www.budelitfest.co.uk - but tickets online or at our box office.

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