Washington, ducking stool

HER Number

9394

District

Sunderland

Site Name

Washington, ducking stool

Place

Washington

Map Sheet

NZ35NW

Class

Civil

Site Type: Broad

Legal Site

Site Type: Specific

Ducking Stool

General Period

POST MEDIEVAL

Specific Period

Stuart 1603 to 1714

Form of Evidence

Documentary Evidence

Description

Legend says that a local woman called Jane Atkinson was tried as a witch at the village pond in 1696. Although she sank three times, indicating that she was not a witch, she drowned on the third ducking.

Easting

431000

Northing

556600

Grid Reference

NZ431000556600

Sources

Sunderland City Council, 2009, Washington Village Conservation Area - Character Appraisal and Management Strategy; C. Bennett, 1960s, Washington Local History; Albert L. Hind, 1976, History and Folklore of Old Washington; Audrey Fletcher, 1999-2007, History of Washington webpages www.geocities.com/washingtonlass/HolyTrinityChurch.html