The last witch burned at the stake met her unfortunate end in Dornoch. Or that’s the story around here at least. It seems the Scottish Highlands was the last area to ban the practice of accusing people of witchcraft, and then killing them in the most unfortunate way. Despite the strong influence of christianity it seems the residents of Dornoch continued this approach to managing social behaviour until 1727.
On the corner of River Street and Carnaig Street there’s one of those history storyboard’s explaining the fate of unfortunate lady. And in the garden overlooking the Struie golf course there’s a grey stone – the Witch’s Stone marking the spot. Across the street is a deep pond, known locally as the Witch’s Pool.
Of course it might just be the hearsay but this always seems an eerie spot to me – almost as if she’s still there, haunting those who treated her so cruelly
The text on the story board tells us:
Witch’s Stone
Janet Horne had been a lady’s maid before she married, but by 1727 she was old and confused. Early that year her neighbours reported that she was using witchcraft to turn her daughter into the devil’s pony.
Janet and her daughter (whose hand was deformed) were imprisoned in Dornoch, where they were tried and found guilty of witchcraft. The daughter escaped before she could be punished but her mother was sentenced to death.
The next day she was stripped, rolled in tar and placed in a barrel. A grim procession carried her to this place, where she was burned alive. She was the last recorded person in Scotland to die in this terrible way.
Janet Horne’ execution place was marked by a stone, now part of the garden in front of you
The date on the stone should be 1727.
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